aviation weather test 1

What defines thunderstorms?


Unstable air

What do scattered clouds cover?

Less than half of the sky 3/8 and 4/8

What constitutes a ceiling in weather terms?


Broken and overcast clouds

Do scattered clouds constitute a ceiling?


No, they do not

What is the tropopause?


The boundary between the troposphere and stratosphere

What happens to temperature as you go up in altitude?


It gets cooler

What is located above the tropopause?


The stratosphere

What occurs in the ionosphere?


Charged particles interact with radio waves

What are the major gases in the atmosphere?

Nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and carbon dioxide

What does the amount of water vapor in the air depend on?


Air temperature

Why can warm air hold more water vapor than cold air?


Because warm air is less dense

What is the oxygen availability at 10,000 feet?


Not enough for most people to live comfortably without supplemental oxygen

What are altimeter settings used for?


To adjust altimeters to indicate the correct altitude based on local atmospheric pressure

What does the Bermuda High do?


Steers hurricanes

What are soundings?


Measurements of temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind speed at different altitudes

What is the Hadley Cell?


A circulation pattern in the atmosphere that transports heat from the equator to the poles

What are stratus clouds?


Flat-bottomed, layered clouds

What type of clouds are nimbostratus clouds?


Rain clouds

What are cirrus clouds made of?


Ice crystals

What are lapse rates?


The rate at which temperature decreases with altitude

What is adiabatic cooling?

The cooling of air as it rises and expands

What is convection?


The transfer of heat by the movement of a fluid

What is advection?


The transfer of heat by the horizontal movement of a fluid

What is the Coriolis effect?


The apparent deflection of moving objects due to the Earth's rotation

What is the jet stream?


A narrow band of strong winds that flows high in the atmosphere

How does stability affect the tendency of air to rise or sink?


Stable air inhibits upward motion, while unstable air promotes it

What characterizes stable air?


Cooler, denser air sits beneath warmer, less dense air

What factors influence seasonal weather?

• Earth's tilt, Distribution of land and water, and Ocean currents

What is the role of the ionosphere?


• Region of the upper atmosphere

• Charged particles interact with radio waves

How does humidity relate to temperature?


• Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air

• Higher humidity in warmer climates

What is the purpose of altimeter settings?


• Calibrate altimeters to indicate altitude

• Adjust for changes in local atmospheric pressure

What information do METARs provide?


Detailed weather information for airports

What is the Bermuda High's influence on weather?


• High-pressure system

• Influences weather patterns in the Atlantic Ocean, especially during hurricane season

What do soundings measure?


Temperature, Pressure, Humidity, and Wind speed at different altitudes

What is the Hadley Cell's function?


• Large-scale atmospheric circulation pattern

• Transports heat from the equator to the poles

What are the characteristics of stratus clouds?


• Flat-bottomed, layered clouds

• Often produce light precipitation

What are the characteristics of nimbostratus clouds?


• Thick, dark clouds

• Can produce heavy precipitation, including rain, snow, and sleet

What are lapse rates and their significance?


• Rate at which temperature decreases with altitude

• Influences atmospheric stability and weather patterns

What is the process of adiabatic cooling?


Cooling of air as it rises and expands

What is the process of adiabatic warming?

Warming of air as it descends and compresses

What is advection in meteorology?


Transfer of heat by the horizontal movement of a fluid

What is the Coriolis effect?


Apparent deflection of moving objects due to the Earth's rotation