Causes of Weather
The average height of the troposphere in the middle latitudes is
A. 20,000 feet.
B. 25,000 feet.
C. 37,000 feet.
C. 37,000 feet.
A common type of ground or surface based temperature inversion is that which is produced by
A. warm air being lifted rapidly aloft in the vicinity of mountainous terrain.
B. the movement of colder air over warm air, or the movement of warm air under cold air.
C. ground radiation on clear, cool nights when the wind is light.
C. ground radiation on clear, cool nights when the wind is light.
The presence of standing lenticular altocumulus clouds is a good indication of
A. a jetstream.
B. very strong turbulence.
C. heavy icing conditions.
B. very strong turbulence.
Consider this AIRMET which includes your route of flight:
DFWS WA 211445 AIRMET IFR . . . OK TX FROM END TO TXK TO HOU TO LBB TO END CIG BELOW 010. CONDS ENDG 15-18Z
This indicates
A. there will be icing in clouds below 10,000 feet MSL.
B. visibility will be less than 3 SM until 15Z.
C. the area will have low ceilings before 15Z.
C. the area will have low ceilings before 15Z.
The Low-Level Significant Weather Prognostic Chart depicts weather conditions
A. that are forecast to exist at a valid time shown on the chart.
B. as they existed at the time the chart was prepared.
C. that existed at the time shown on the chart which is about 3 hours before the chart is received.
A. that are forecast to exist at a valid time shown on the chart.
Frontal waves normally form on
A. slow moving cold fronts or stationary fronts.
B. slow moving warm fronts and strong occluded fronts.
C. rapidly moving cold fronts or warm fronts.
A. slow moving cold fronts or stationary fronts.
A temperature inversion will normally form only
A. in stable air.
B. in unstable air.
C. when a stratiform layer merges with a cumuliform mass.
A. in stable air.
If squalls are reported at your destination, what wind conditions should you anticipate?
A. Sudden increases in wind speed of at least 16 knots rising to 22 knots or more, lasting for at least 1 minute.
B. Peak gusts of at least 35 knots for a sustained period of 1 minute or longer.
C. Rapid variation in wind direction of at least 20° and changes in speed of at least 10 knots between peaks and lulls.
A. Sudden increases in wind speed of at least 16 knots rising to 22 knots or more, lasting for at least 1 minute.
SIGMETs are issued as a warning of weather conditions potentially hazardous
A. particularly to large commercial operators.
B. to all aircraft regardless of size or operating environment.
C. particularly to light aircraft.
B. to all aircraft regardless of size or operating environment.
The product that best provides an overview of forecast weather conditions for a complete picture of weather affecting regions across the United States is
A. Terminal aerodrome forecasts (TAFs).
B. satellite mapping.
C. Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA).
C. Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA).
Which are characteristics of an unstable cold air mass moving over a warm surface?
A. Cumuliform clouds, turbulence, and poor visibility.
B. Cumuliform clouds, turbulence, and good visibility.
C. Stratiform clouds, smooth air, and poor visibility.
B. Cumuliform clouds, turbulence, and good visibility.
Which conditions are favorable for the formation of radiation fog?
A. Moist air moving over colder ground or water.
B. Cloudy sky and a light wind moving
C. Clear sky, little or no wind, small temperature/dew point spread, and over a land surface.
C. Clear sky, little or no wind, small temperature/dew point spread, and over a land surface.
What is indicated by the term “embedded thunderstorms”?
A. Severe thunderstorms are embedded within a squall line.
B. Thunderstorms are predicted to develop in a stable air mass.
C. Thunderstorms are obscured by massive cloud layers and cannot be seen.
C. Thunderstorms are obscured by massive cloud layers and cannot be seen.
Interpret the remarks section of METAR surface report for KBNA.
METAR KBNA 211250Z 33018KT 290V260 1/2SM R31/2700FT +SN BLSNFG VV008 00/M03 A2991 RMK RAESNB42
A. The wind is variable from 290° to 360°.
B. Heavy blowing snow and fog on runway 31.
C. Rain ended 42 minutes past the hour, snow began 42 minutes past the hour.
C. Rain ended 42 minutes past the hour, snow began 42 minutes past the hour.
Pilots of IFR flights seeking ATC in-flight weather avoidance assistance should keep in mind that
A. ATC radar limitations and, frequency congestion may limit the controllers capability to provide this service.
B. circumnavigating severe weather can only be accommodated in the en route areas away from terminals because of congestion.
C. ATC Narrow Band Radar does not provide the controller with weather intensity capability.
A. ATC radar limitations and, frequency congestion may limit the controllers capability to provide this service.
Which of the following combinations of weather producing variables would likely result in cumuliform-type clouds, good visibility, rain showers, and possible clear-type icing in clouds?
A. Unstable, moist air, and no lifting mechanism.
B. Stable, dry air, and orographic lifting.
C. Unstable, moist air, and orographic lifting
C. Unstable, moist air, and orographic lifting
What situation is most conducive to the formation of radiation fog?
A. Warm, moist air over low, flatland areas on clear, calm nights.
B. Moist, tropical air moving over cold, offshore water.
C. The movement of cold air over much warmer water.
A. Warm, moist air over low, flatland areas on clear, calm nights.
Which weather phenomenon signals the beginning of the mature stage of a thunderstorm?
A. The start of rain at the surface.
B. Growth rate of cloud is maximum.
C. Strong turbulence in the cloud.
A. The start of rain at the surface.
In the following METAR/TAF for HOU, what is the ceiling and visibility forecast on the 7th day of the month at 0600Z?
KHOU 061734Z 0618/0718 16014G22KT P6SM VCSH BKN018 BKN035
FM070100 17010KT P6SM BKN015 OVC025
FM070500 17008KT 4SM BR SCT008 OVC012
FM071000 18005KT 3SM BR OVC007
FM071500 23008KT 5SM BR VCSH SCT008 OVC015
A. Visibility 6 miles with a broken ceiling at 15,000 feet MSL.
B. 4 nautical miles of visibility and an overcast ceiling at 700 feet MSL.
C. 4 statute miles visibility and an overcast ceiling at 1,200 feet AGL.
C. 4 statute miles visibility and an overcast ceiling at 1,200 feet AGL.
What flight planning information can a pilot derive from constant pressure charts?
A. Clear air turbulence and icing conditions.
B. Levels of widespread cloud coverage.
C. Winds and temperatures aloft.
C. Winds and temperatures aloft.
What are the characteristics of an unstable atmosphere?
A. A cool, dry air mass.
B. A warm, humid air mass.
C. Descending air in the northern hemisphere.
B. A warm, humid air mass.
Which weather condition can be expected when moist air flows from a relatively warm surface to a colder surface?
A. Increased visibility.
B. Convective turbulence due to surface heating.
C. Fog.
C. Fog.
Where can wind shear associated with a thunderstorm be found? Choose the most complete answer.
A. In front of the thunderstorm cell (anvil side) and on the right side of the cell.
B. In front of the thunderstorm cell and directly under the cell.
C. On all sides of the thunderstorm cell and directly under the cell.
C. On all sides of the thunderstorm cell and directly under the cell.
When the visibility is greater than 6 SM on a TAF, it is
A. expressed as 6PSM.
B. expressed as P6SM.
C. omitted from the report.
B. expressed as P6SM.
The locations of fronts and pressure systems as of chart time are best determined by referring to a
A. constant pressure analysis chart.
B. CIP/FIP chart.
C. surface analysis chart.
C. surface analysis chart.