METARS/TAFS/PIREPS
Station Plots
ASOS and Symbols
Altimetry Basics
Pressure and Density Altitude
100
What is the Sea-Level Pressure at the METAR below?
KJFK 301651Z 28015KT 10SM FEW065 FEW250 02/M13 A3029 RMK AO2 SLP255 T00171128
1025.5 mb
100
Examine the Aviation Weather Center (AWC) interactive station plot below to answer the question. What is the altimeter setting?
29.92" Hg
100
T/F: The visibility sensor of an ASOS/AWOS responds quickly to increasing visibility and slowly to decreasing visibility.
False
100
What 3 variables of the ideal gas law typically decrease with height in the Troposphere?
Temperature, Pressure, Density
100
________________ is the pressure altitude corresponding to the station pressure.
Surface Pressure Altitude
200
Using the TAF below, what time do we see visibility decrease to 3 statue miles?
KJFK 301434Z 3015/3118 32014G23KT P6SM FEW060
FM301700 28014G21KT P6SM FEW035
FM302200 25008KT P6SM FEW080
TEMPO 3109/3112 5SM -RA BKN015
FM311200 23008KT 3SM -RA BKN009 OVC015
12Z
200
A layer of clouds at 3,500 feet are covering 3/8ths of the sky. At 10,000 feet clouds are covering an additional 2/8ths of the sky. How would this be coded in a METAR?
SCT035 BKN100
3500 ft: 3/8ths: SCT
10000ft: 5/8ths: BKN
200
The ______________ is an infrared laser beam determines cloud base height computed over time as clouds drift over sensor.
Ceilometer
200
You are on approach to an airport and the current altimeter setting is 29.20 "Hg. However, your Kollsman window is incorrectly set to 29.70 "Hg. The runway elevation is 1000 ft. What will be your approximate indicated altitude when you touchdown on the runway?
1500 ft
200
What is the surface pressure altitude for an altimeter setting of 29.38"Hg and an elevation of 2000 ft?
2500 ft
300
According the METAR below, what is the ceiling height?
KMSY 301653Z 15019G28KT 10SM FEW025 BKN250 OVC300 24/19 A3004 RMK AO2 PK WND 14032/1640 SLP176 T02440194
25000 ft
300
Using the standard station plot, what is the current temperature?
1 degree F
300
ASOS instruments are coded into a ___________ format.
METAR
300
If the altimeter setting is 30.19"Hg and the station pressure is 29.38"Hg, what is the airport elevation?
750 ft
300
If the weather station at your airport is reporting a station pressure of 27.82"Hg, what is the surface pressure altitude? Assume the airport is at an elevation of 1,500 ft above sea-level.
2000 ft
400
What is the reported cloud layer in this PiREP?
TLH UA /OV TLH060030/TM 1644/FL011/TP A320/SK OVC012-TOP048
Overcast from 1200 FT TO 4800 FT
400
You go outside and notice the wind is blowing from 160 degrees. What is the wind direction?
SSE
400
What does ASOS stand for?
Automated Surface Observing Systems
400
When temperature and sea level pressure are warmer than standard, the ___________ altitude is higher than the __________ altitude.
True; Indicated
400
What is the density altitude if the altimeter setting is 30.0"Hg at an elevation of 2927 ft and a surface temperature of 60 degrees F?
3500 ft
500
What is the dewpoint temperature according the METAR below?
KLGA 301651Z 31016G22KT 10SM FEW040 00/M14 A3028 RMK AO2 SLP252 T00001144
-14 degrees C
500
Using the Interactive Station Plot below, what is the flight category?
MVFR (BLUE)
500
What is the maximum height that a ceilometer can report cloud layers?
12000 ft
500
If the station pressure is 27.32" at an elevation of 1500 ft, what is the altimeter setting?
28.86"Hg
500
What variable do we need to account for humidity in our density altitude calculations?
Dewpoint!