stage 2 weather

what are considered surface weather observations

METARs

AWOS(automated weather observing system)

ASOS(automated surface observing system)

what is ARTCC

Air route traffic control center

what is ARTCC responsible for

maintaining separation between flights conducting IFR in the enroute structure

what is considered upper weather observations

PIREP

what is the primary source for preflight weather information

Flight service station

what service is provided by FSS

Telephone Information Briefing Service(TIBS)

what are the three types of weather briefings

standard

abbreviated

outlook

when should you request a abbreviated brief

when flight has been delayed

when should you request an outlook brief

when departure is more than 6 hours away

what are the typical Aviation weather reports

METAR and PIREP

two types of METAR

SPECI and Routine

what does AUTO mean on METAR

came from automatic source

what does A01 and A02 stand for on metar

A01- no precipitation discriminator

A02-has a precipitation discriminator

what does a R in the visibility section of a METAR stand for

Runway visual range

what does VC stand for on a metar

in a 5 to 10 mile vicinity of airport

what does TCU mean on metar

towering cumulonimbus

what does CB mean on METAR

cumulonimbus

what does OCNL LTGICCG in the remarks section of METAR stand for

occasional lightning in clouds and from cloud to ground

if altimeter pressure is rising or declining what will be shown in the remarks

PRESRR and PRESFR

What is the atmosphere made up of

nitrogen 78%, Oxygen 21%, other gases(argon) 1%

what are the atmosphere layer(lowest to highest)

Troposphere

Stratosphere

Mesosphere

Thermosphere

Exosphere

What are in between each layer

pause layers

what is significant about pause layers

They mark the beginning or end of temperature inversions

what is the standard lapse rate for temperature in atmosphere

2 degress C per 1000ft

what two forces cause wind to move

Coriolis force and pressure gradient force

what is Coriolis force

A force created by the earth rotation that causes air masses to move

what is pressure gradient force

It's a force that pushes air from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure

Why is the wind more bumpy near mountains

the wind typically follows the contours of the terrain causing the wind to push the aircraft into the mountain.

what is the most dangerous type of low level wind shear

microburst

what is a wind shear

a sudden drastic change in wind speed and/or direction

what is most commonly associated with low level wind shear

passing frontal system

thunderstorms

temperature inversion

strong upper level winds

if taking off into a microburst what might you experience in order

increasing headwind

decreasing downdraft

lastly rapidly increasing tailwind.

what typically is associated with a stable atmosphere

low visibility

low turbulence

what is associated with unstable atmosphere

high visibility

high turbulence

what causes a temperature inversion

the ground being cooler than the air

what refers to the amount of water vapor present in the atmosphere at a given time

relative humidity

what do you need for a cloud to form

moisture

cooling

condensation

what type of clouds are typically found below 6500 AGL

Stratus, Stratocumulus, and nimbostratus clouds

what type of clouds are typically found below 20000 AGL and above 6500 AGL

Altostratus and Altocumulus clouds

what type of clouds are typically found above 20000 AGL

Cirrostratus, Cirrocumulus, and Cirrus clouds

what cloud type can start below 6500 AGL and go up to and beyond 20000AGL

cumulonimbus

what altitude is a towering cumulus normally found around

6500 AGL or higher

what type of cloud in the middle clouds can produce turbulence and moderate icing

Altostratus

How do Altocumulus clouds form

By Altostratus clouds breaking apart

When do high clouds typically form

In stable air

what is the most dangerous type of cloud

Cumulonimbus

what causes a cumulonimbus

the rising of warm, moist, and unstable air

What are the three stages of a cumulonimbus cloud

cumulus stage (Warm, moist air rises, only updrafts)

mature stage (The cloud grows tall. Updrafts and downdrafts occur)

dissipating stage(Downdrafts take over)

what distance should you be from a storm

20 NM

what are the types of fog and how do they form (PAIRUS)

Precipitation -Warm rain falls through cool air

Advection -Moist air over cool ground

Ice(Freezing) - water supercooled in air

Radiation - Forms when ground cooled

Upslope - moist stable airs moves up terrain

Steam - Cold dry air moves over warm water

What are the types of airmasses

Maritime

Continental

Tropical

Artic

Polar

what could form prior to a warm front moving in(what type of clouds, what weather, and visibility)

Cirrus and stratiform clouds along with fog

Rain and drizzle

light to moderate precipitation

squall lines(line of thunderstorms)

poor visibility

what forms during a warm front (what type of clouds, what weather, what visibility)

Stratiform clouds

rain drizzle

poor visibility with improvement with winds

what could form prior and during a cold front(type of clouds and weather)

Cumulus and Cumulonimbus Clouds

Thunderstorms

How does a cold front form

Forms when cold air pushes under warm air, forcing it up quickly

how does a warm front form

Forms when warm air slides up over cold air

The slope is gentle, so air rises slowly

what is needed to produce a thunderstorm

Moisture

Unstable Air

Lifting action

what are the types of icing

Clear

Rime

Mixed

how does icing develop

when temperature is below freezing and with known moisture

How often is the ASOS and AWOS updated

Every minute

How often is the ATIS updated

Every hour

What are the three types of Airmet advisories

Tango(turbulence of moderate degree or lower)

Zulu (Icing of moderate degree of lower)

Sierra( IFR and mountainous terrain)

how long is a Airmet valid for

6 hours

When is a Sigmet advisory put out

Severe icing

Severe or extreme turbulence or clear air turbulence

Dust storms or sandstorms that lower surface or in-flight visibilities to below 3 miles

Volcanic ash

(All not associated with thunderstorms)

how long is a Sigmet advisory valid for

4 hours

When is a Convective advisory put out

Severe thunderstorms with surface winds greater than 50 knots

Hail at the surface greater than or equal to ¾ inch in diameter

Tornadoes

Embedded thunderstorms

how long is a Convective advisory valid for

2 hours

what is the process of forming or intensifying a front.

Frontogenesis

what is the process of a front weakening or dissipating. 

Frontolysis

how does a Frontogenesis form

It occurs when air masses with different temperatures and moisture merge

how does a Frontolysis form

It occurs when the temperature gradient across the front weakens

what are the minimums for VFR weather

3000ft ceilings

5 MI visibility

what is considered marginal VFR

1000ft - 3000ft ceiling

3 to 5 MI visibility

what weather minimums are considered IFR

500ft - 1000ft ceiling

1 to 3 MI visibility

what is considered low IFR

below 500ft ceiling

below 1 MI visibility

what is ADIZ

an area of airspace over land or water where the identification, location, and control of aircraft are required in the interest of national security. (normally off the coast). once past need flight plan to return.

What is needed to enter a TRSA

Two way radio communication. No clearance needed

what does AFM stand for

airplane flight manual

where is a SFRA located

over washington D.C.

What is needed to enter a SFRA

Special Flight training

What specific weather information would you expect to receive in a standard briefing that you wouldn’t get in an abbreviated briefing?

Adverse conditions (SIGMETs, AIRMETs, convective SIGMETs, TFRs)

VFR flight not recommended (if applicable)

Synopsis (general weather picture)

Current conditions (METARs, radar, satellite)

Forecasts (TAFs, area forecasts, winds aloft)

NOTAMs

ATC delays (if any)

What should be known before flight? (WXKRAFTN)

Weather

Known traffic delays

Runway lengths

Alternate airports

Fuel req.

Takeoff and landing distances

Notams

What is the number to call FSS

1(800) WXBRIEF

What height does temperature not show up on wind aloft charts

2500

What height does wind not show up on wind aloft chart

1500

What are troughs

Lines of low pressure

What is an occluded front

a weather front that is formed when a cold front overtakes a warm front