Layers of the Atmosphere
In which layer of the atmosphere do we live and planes fly?
What causes all weather on Earth?
Unequal heating of the Earth by the sun
At what latitudes would you find the predictable pattern of belts?
0-30
30-60
60-90
What is the relationship between atmospheric pressure and altitude?
As x ______, y _______.
As atmospheric pressure increases, altitude decreases.
As atmospheric pressure decreases, altitude increases.
What are the characteristics of low clouds?
can change rapidly
can reduce visibility
can include fog
What does "nimbus" mean?
rain
Which moves faster, warm fronts or cold fronts?
Cold fronts move faster
warm = 10-25 / cold = 25-30
What is the difference between observations and forecasts?
Observations are in the present
Forecasts are in the future and based on gathered data that is projected 6-30 hours into the future.
In which layer of the atmosphere does most weather occur?
Troposphere
Weather (the movement of masses of air of differing temperatures and pressure) is created because the Earth is always seeking what?
What direction do high pressure systems circulate?
clockwise / anticyclonic
What is the relationship between atmospheric pressure and temperature?
As x _____, y _____.
As atmospheric pressure increases, temperature decreases.
As atmospheric pressure decreases, temperature increases.
(Hot air is less dense / more forceful molecular collisions bc of more kinetic energy = more heat)
What are the characteristics of middle clouds?
can produce turbulence
What type of fog forms in low lying areas when the ground cools rapidly and the air temperature reaches the dew point?
Radiation
How does an advancing warm front take over / replace a body of colder air?
The slope of the advancing warm front slides over the top of the cooler air and gradually pushes it out of the area.
What is a weather briefing?
government generated wx summary that applies to a specific flight and aircraft
What is at the top of the troposphere that separates it from the next layer?
Tropopause
What direction does HOT air move? Does HOT air have higher or lower pressure?
Rises / lower
At the equator, what direction does the rotation of the Earth (Coriolis effect) deflect wind?
to the East
What is the relationship between atmospheric pressure and density?
As x ____, y ____.
As atmospheric pressure increases, density increases.
As atmospheric pressure decreases, density decreases.
What is the cloud prefix for middle?
alto-
Name at least 5 kinds of precipitation - include liquid and solid.
rain, snow, hail, freezing rain, drizzle, freezing rain, freezing drizzle
What are some characteristics of the contents of a warm front?
warm air that has very high humidity
What are the differences among a standard, abbreviated, and outlook briefing?
standard - most complete, includes adverse wx, current conditions, enroute and destination forecasts
abbreviated - shortened for updated conditions
outlook - more than 6 hours in advance of TO, useful for flight planning
How high does the troposphere extend?
What direction does pressure always move?
from high to low
High chases low
If a pilot was flying from East to West and needs to navigate around a LOW pressure system, what side of the system should they navigate?
to the North
With respect to temperature and pressure, why does most of the weather occur in the troposphere?
There is the greatest variance of temperature and pressure in the troposphere so the Earth / atmosphere is working the most to find stability.
What are the characteristics of high clouds?
typically frozen ice crystals
usually no threat to aviation
Why might precipitation pose a threat to the safety of flight?
low ceilings and reduced visibility
aircraft that have ice or frost built up on their surfaces can experience airflow disruption
water in the fuel tanks
slick runways
What type of front moves faster and is often associated with sudden weather changes (thunderstorms, heavy rain, and rapid temperature drops)?
cold fronts
What type of weather chart show the "big picture" of the current weather?
Surface Analysis Chart
What are the 5 layers of the atmosphere in order from closest to Earth to space?
Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere
When do sea breezes typically occur? Why?
During the day because the land heats faster than the water.
What is the effect on performance of high density altitude?
Significantly decreases
What is the prefix for high clouds?
cirro-
What type of fog is the marine layer?
advection fog
What type of front is associated with moving slower and causing widespread cloudiness and precipitation, with temperatures rising as the front passes.
Warm front
What type of chart shows the METARS in a graphical format?
Weather Depiction Chart
What weather phenomena is a cumulonimbus cloud associated with?
Thunderstorms
What type of front occurs when a cold front and a warm front stop moving because neither is strong enough to displace the other. Depicted on weather maps with alternating red and blue symbols. They can cause steady, light precipitation or drizzle.
Stationary front
What type of chart is intended for use for the VFR pilot?
Significant Weather Prognostic Chart
What are the three stages of a thunderstorm?
Cumulus > Mature > Dissipating
What type of front forms when a fast-moving cold front overtakes a slower-moving warm front? It can create a mix of weather conditions from both warm and cold fronts, including widespread cloudiness and precipitation.
Occluded front