Dispatching part 121 > 103 > Flashcards

103 Flashcards

(90 cards)

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1
Q

Surface Analysis—primary purpose?

A

Locate fronts & pressure systems.

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2
Q

Surface Analysis—reported or forecast?

A

Reported.

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3
Q

Surface Analysis—how often?

A

Every 3 hours.

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4
Q

Surface Analysis—solid lines called?

A

Isobars (equal pressure).

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5
Q

Surface winds vs isobars?

A

Nearly parallel.

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6
Q

Why not exactly parallel to isobars?

A

Surface friction.

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7
Q

Surface Analysis—can you determine ceiling heights?

A

Yes (from station plots).

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8
Q

Frontolysis means?

A

Weakening of a front.

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9
Q

Weather Depiction—reported or forecast?

A

Reported.

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10
Q

Weather Depiction—how often?

A

Every 3 hours.

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11
Q

Weather Depiction—shaded area means?

A

IFR conditions.

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12
Q

Weather Depiction—contoured (no shading) area means?

A

MVFR conditions.

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13
Q

IFR threshold?

A

C < 1,000 ft and/or V < 3 sm.

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14
Q

MVFR threshold?

A

C 1,000–3,000 ft and/or V 3–5 sm.

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15
Q

Station plot—bracket on right means?

A

Automated station.

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16
Q

Station plot—no visibility value shown means?

A

Visibility > 5 sm (VMC).

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17
Q

Station plot—solid black circle with “X” symbol note?

A

Sky obscured.

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18
Q

Example station plot—OVC with ceiling 100 ft indicates?

A

Overcast, ceiling 100 ft.

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19
Q

“Breaks in overcast, ceiling 900’” describes?

A

BKN/OVC with 900 ft ceiling.

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20
Q

Radar Summary—reported or forecast?

A

Reported.

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21
Q

Radar Summary—how often?

A

Hourly at H+35.

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22
Q

Radar Summary—numbers like “200” on cells mean?

A

Echo tops in hundreds of feet MSL (e.g., 200 = 20,000 ft).

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23
Q

Radar Summary—R, RW, SW, TRW stand for?

A

Rain; Rain shower; Snow shower; Thunderstorm w/ rain shower.

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24
Q

Radar Summary—“SLD” tag means?

A

Solid line.

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25
“Solid” line coverage means?
Precipitation coverage ≥ 80%.
26
Radar Summary—boxes on the chart mean?
Severe weather watches.
27
“WS0105” means?
Severe thunderstorm watch #105 of the year.
28
Other watches shown?
Yes—tornado watches (WT).
29
Warnings on Radar Summary?
No.
30
NE / NA / OM mean?
No echoes / Not available / Out for maintenance.
31
Radar Summary—does it show area/line movement?
No.
32
How to determine movement from Radar Summary?
Compare charts over time or view radar loop.
33
Arrow in upper-left of example means?
Cell movement E–NE at 51 kt.
34
Could precip extend beyond depicted edge—how check?
Use reports (METARs, PIREPs, etc.).
35
Constant Pressure Analysis—are values reported or forecast?
Reported (forecast versions exist).
36
Constant Pressure Analysis—issuance?
Twice daily.
37
Constant Pressure Analysis—solid lines are?
Contours (equal height).
38
Winds vs contours?
Parallel.
39
Isotachs are what?
Thin dashed lines of equal wind speed.
40
Shaded vs clear wind-speed blocks mean?
Shaded ≈ 70–110 kt, 150–190 kt…; Clear ≈ 110–150 kt, etc. (40-kt blocks).
41
Thin dashed temperature lines called?
Isotherms (equal temperature).
42
850 / 700 / 500 mb approximate altitudes?
5,000 / 10,000 / 18,000 ft.
43
300 / 250 / 200 mb approximate altitudes?
30,000 / 34,000 / 39,000 ft.
44
Aircraft plot example shows?
Wind NNW 50 kt; Temp −48°C; Aircraft FL320.
45
Satellite plot example shows?
Wind SW 65 kt; Cloud tops 29,000 ft.
46
Radiosonde plot example shows?
Wind NW 60 kt; Temp −41°C; Spread 7°C; Height 9,480 m; ↑50 m in last 12 hrs.
47
Using different pressure-level charts helps identify?
VWS, possible inversions, leaning lows.
48
Lifted Index (LI) / K Index (KI)—which is which on the graphic?
Top number = LI; bottom number = KI.
49
LI measures?
Stability of the air.
50
KI measures?
Thunderstorm potential / moisture.
51
LI negative implies?
Unstable air.
52
KI “low” implies?
Very low storm probability.
53
More severe storms likely where values are?
Where LI is more negative.
54
LI severity guide (from slide)?
0 to −2 weak; ≤ −6 strong.
55
KI probability guide (from slide)?
KI 31–35 → 61–80%; 36–40 → 81–90%.
56
LI/KI charts—reported or forecast? Issuance?
Reported; twice daily.
57
Winds & Temps Aloft—reported or forecast?
Forecast.
58
Winds & Temps Aloft—issuance?
4 times daily.
59
Decode example “12” with barb to NE?
Temp −12°C; wind NE 10 kt.
60
Decode example “0” with barb to SW?
Temp 0°C; wind SW 20 kt.
61
Avg temp along route B→A (example)?
≈ −51°C.
62
Low-level Prog—reported or forecast?
Forecast.
63
Low-level Prog—issuance?
Four times daily.
64
Low-level Prog—upper vs lower panels show?
Upper: Surface–400 mb (12-hr & 24-hr). Lower: Surface (12-hr & 24-hr).
65
Upper panels—what phenomenon/altitudes in example?
CAT from SFC to 16,000 ft.
66
Upper panels—scalloped vs solid lines?
Scalloped = MVFR areas; Solid = IFR areas.
67
Upper panels—thin dashed lines mean?
Freezing levels.
68
Zig-zag lines mean?
Freezing level at the surface.
69
Lower panels—thin lines labeled “08, 16, 24” are?
Isobars.
70
Lower panels—shaded area means?
Precipitation coverage > 50%.
71
High-level Prog—reported or forecast?
Forecast.
72
High-level Prog—issuance?
Four times daily.
73
High-level Prog—jet stream “breaks” mean?
Wind-speed change in 20-kt increments.
74
Inner CAT area severity/limits (example)?
MDT–SVR from 26,000′ to 33,000′.
75
ISOL / OCNL / FRQ coverage?
ISOL < 1/8; OCNL 1/8–4/8; FRQ 5/8–8/8.
76
Numbers in boxes signify?
Tropopause height.
77
Why tropopause height matters?
Turbulence; can inhibit t-storm growth; ozone.
78
“L” on tropopause chart means?
Relative low tropopause height.
79
Arrow with “5” at its end means?
Frontal movement, NNE at 5 kt.
80
Other phenomena possibly shown on High-level Prog?
Sand/dust storms, tropical storms/hurricanes, volcanic eruptions.
81
Are volcanic ash clouds depicted on the High-level Prog?
No.
82
Where to look for volcanic ash info?
SIGMETs (also VAFTAD).
83
Convective Outlook—reported or forecast?
Forecast.
84
Convective Outlook—issuance? Valid until?
Five times daily; valid until 1200Z next day.
85
Convective Outlook—purpose?
Outline areas at risk for severe/general T-storms.
86
“Severe” per slide definition?
Surface winds ≥ 50 kt and/or hail ≥ 3/4″ diameter.
87
Visible satellite shows? Brightness means?
Location of clouds/fog; brighter = more moisture.
88
Infrared satellite shows? Brightness means?
Cloud/fog temperatures; brighter = higher tops.
89
Water vapor imagery shows?
Degree of water vapor; highlights moisture contrast (e.g., dry lines).
90
Satellite imagery usage?
Use visible, IR, and water vapor together.
Dispatching part 121
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