What is considered a ceiling
Broken and then overcast. So scattered or few is not a ceiling
What is a METAR
Hourly surface weather report
What is a SPECI
When the metar report needs to be updated before the hour is up due to rapid changing weather
What is AWOS and ASOS
Computer generated weather observing system by minute
What is a PIREP
A pilot report of severe weather such as icing conditions or turbulence. There is UA for routine pirep and UUA for urgent
Which layer of the atmosphere does most weather occur
The troposphere
What is our atmosphere made up of
Nitrogen and oxygen with small amount of water vapor
78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0-5% water vapor
Standard temp and pressure
15 degrees Celsius and 29.92
Why does weather change
Uneven heating of the earths surface from the sun
Tell me how weather heats and cools in standard temp
Sun heats the earths surface,
Explain airmets and signets
Potentially hazardous weather. Airmet is smaller aircraft less severe and sigmet is all aircraft more severe
How long is airmet good for
6 hours
How long is sigmet good for
4 hours
Name the 3 types of airmet
Sierra, tango, Zulu
Explain the 3 types of airmets
Sierra is IFR conditions, low vis, mountain obstruction
Tango is turbulence, surface winds over 30kts
Zulu is icing conditions
What are some sigmets
Severe icing or turbulence, dust or sand storm
What is a convective sigmet
Severe weather caused by lifting activity
How long is a connective sigmet good for
2 hours
What are some convective sigmets
Thunderstorms, hail more then 3/4 of an inch, squall line, embedded thunderstorm, surface wind over 50kts, tornado
What are the 3 things needed to form a thunderstorm
Visible moisture, lifting property and unstable air
What is wind shear
Rapid change is direction or speed of wind
What is a microburst
Intense level of wind shear with strong downdrafts
What causes wind shear
Thunderstorm, mountain waves, connective clouds
How does high and low pressure move
High pressure always moves to low pressure
