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Aviation weather reports Flashcards

(85 cards)

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1
Q

Types of METAR reports

A

METER or SPECI

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2
Q

METAR station identifier prefix

A

K - stations in the contiguous US
P - stations in Alaska and Hawaii
C - Canadian stations
M - Mexican & Western Carribean stations

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3
Q

METAR modifier

A

“AUTO” - the report is automated
(lack of “AUTO”) - manually produced report
“COR” - the report has been corrected

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4
Q

Prevailing visibility

A

reports the greatest visibility equaled or exceeded throughout at least half of the horizon circle (180 degrees). reported in statute miles

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5
Q

Weather phenomena intensity qualifiers

A

intensity: + -> heavy, - -> light

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6
Q

Weather phenomena descriptor: MI

A

shallow

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7
Q

Weather phenomena descriptor: BC

A

patches

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8
Q

Weather phenomena descriptor: DR

A

low drifting

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9
Q

Weather phenomena descriptor: BL

A

blowing

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10
Q

Weather phenomena descriptor: SH

A

showers

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11
Q

Weather phenomena descriptor: TS

A

thunderstorm

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12
Q

Weather phenomena descriptor: FZ

A

freezing

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13
Q

Weather phenomena descriptor: PR

A

partial

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14
Q

Weather phenomena: DZ

A

drizzle

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15
Q

Weather phenomena: RA

A

rain

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16
Q

Weather phenomena: SN

A

snow grains

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17
Q

Weather phenomena: IC

A

ice crystals

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18
Q

Weather phenomena: PL

A

ice pellets

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19
Q

Weather phenomena: GR

A

hail

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20
Q

Weather phenomena: GS

A

small hail or snow pellets

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21
Q

Weather phenomena: UP

A

unknown precipitation

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22
Q

Weather phenomena: BR

A

mist -> visibility is restricted to between 5/8 to 6 miles

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23
Q

Weather phenomena: FG

A

fog -> visibility is restricted to less than 5/8 mile

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24
Q

Weather phenomena: DU

A

dust

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25
Weather phenomena: SA
sand
26
Weather phenomena: HZ
haze
27
Weather phenomena: PY
spray
28
Weather phenomena: VA
volcanic ash
29
Weather phenomena: FU
smoke
30
Weather phenomena: PO
dust/sand whirls
31
Weather phenomena: SQ
squalls
32
Weather phenomena: FC
funnel cloud (does not touch the ground)
33
Weather phenomena: +FC
tornado or water spout (touches the ground)
34
Weather phenomena: SS
sand storm
35
Weather phenomena: DS
dust storm
36
Sky condition: SKC
clear
37
Sky condition: CLR
clear
38
Sky condition: FEW
<= 2/8 cloud coverage
39
Sky condition: SCT
3/8 - 4/8 cloud coverage
40
Sky condition: BKN
5/8 - 7/8 cloud coverage
41
Sky condition: OVC
8/8 coverage
42
Sky condition: VV
vertical visibility(indefinite ceiling), 8/8 coverage
43
Cloud type: TCU
towering cumulous. Reported after the height, ex: BKN025TCU
44
Cloud type: CB
cumulous. Reported after the height, ex: BKN025CB
45
Cloud ceiling definition:
Base of the lowest broken or overcast cloud layer, or the vertical visibility into an obscuration
46
An airport is VFR when:
cloud ceiling is 1000AGL or higher and visibility 3 SM or greater
47
An airport is IFR when:
cloud ceiling is < 1000AGL or visibility < 3 SM
48
Temp and dew point coding:
deg celsius / dewpoint ex: 15/11
49
METAR Altimeter format
A + 4 digits representing " of mercury. ex: A2992
50
Automated station type: A01
unable to distinguish between liquid and frozen precip
51
Automated station type: A02
able to distinguish between liquid and frozen precip
52
Remark: RAB05
rain began 5mins after the hour
53
Remark: SNE20
snow ended 20 mins after the hour
54
Remark: CIG005V010
ceiling height variable 500 to 1000 ft
55
What times are TAFs generally issued
00:00z, 06:00z, 12:00z, and 18:00z
56
What is the radius of a TAF
5 SM
57
Radar weather report symbol: R
rain
58
Radar weather report symbol: RW
rain shower
59
Radar weather report symbol: S
snow
60
Radar weather report symbol: SW
snow shower
61
Radar weather report symbol: T
thunderstorm
62
Radar weather report precipitation intensity: -
light
63
Radar weather report precipitation intensity: +
heavy
64
Radar weather report precipitation intensity: ++
very heavy
65
Radar weather report precipitation intensity: x
intense
66
Radar weather report precipitation intensity: xx
extreme
67
Max forecast duration for an AIRMET
6 hours (8 hours in Alaska)
68
AIRMET:
notice of significant weather phenomena which are particularly hazardous to small aircraft
69
SIGMET
notice of non-convective weather that is potentially hazardous to ALL aircraft
70
Max forecast duration for a SIGMET
4 hours
71
Conditions in which an SIGMET may be issued
-severe or greater turbulence -severe icing -widespread dust storm -widespread sand storm -volcanic ash
72
Convective SIGMET criteria
Routine issuance criteria: -a line of thunderstorms at least 60 miles long with thunderstorms affecting at least 40 percent of its length -an area of active thunderstorms covering at least 40 percent of the area exhibiting strong radar reflectivity intensity, significant satellite or lightning signature -embedded or severe thunderstorm(s) are expected to occur for more than 30 mins Special issuance criteria: -tornado, hail >= 3/4 in, or wind gusts >= 50kts -forecasters discretion based on rapidly changing conditions
73
Airmet Sierra
-IFR conditions -widespread mountain obscuration
74
Airmet Zulu
-moderate icing -freezing levels
75
Airmet Tango
-moderate turbulence -non-convective low level wind shear potential below 2000 AGL -sustained surface winds > 30kt
76
Weather phenomena proximity qualifier: VC
within 5-10 miles of the observation (ex: VCSH: shower in the vicinity)
77
CWA:
Center Weather Advisory: Issued by ARTCC and broadcast over center frequency when: -an Airmet, Sigmet, or convective sigmet exists -Airmet, Sigmet, or convective sigmet conditions are observed or expected to exist -Airmet, Sigmet, or convective sigmet criteria do not exist, but weather conditions exist that will adversely affect the safe flow of traffic with the center
78
CWA is valid for up to:
2 hours
79
CWA is issued by:
Center Weather Service Unit
80
CWAs may be issued when there is no existing advisory in effect and any of the following conditions occur:
-conditions meeting convective sigmet criteria -moderate or greater icing -moderate or greater turbulence -Heavy and extreme precipitation -freezing precipitation -conditions at or approaching LIFR -surface wind gust >= 30kts -low level wind shear (<=2000ft) -volcanic ash, dust storms or sand storms -conditions adversely affect the safe flow of traffic based on the judgment of the forecaster
81
Surface analysis chart
Shows pressure patterns affecting the larger weather picture
82
Weather depiction chart
Weather chart generated from METAR reports that shows flight weather conditions over a wide area
83
Low level significant weather prognostication chart
Forecast chart showing significant weather from the surface up to 400 millibars (~24k msl) Surface position of flight categories (vfr/ifr), turbulence, and freezing levels. 12hr and 24hr charts are issued at 00,06,12, and 18z
84
Convective outlook chart
Forecasts the potential for severe convective weather, such as: -tornadoes -areas of general thunderstorms (TSTM) -wind gusts 50kts+ -hail 1"+ -specific severe weather threats over the next 8 days
85
PIREP observations should be limited to:
-cloud coverage and heights -visibility -winds -turbulence -icing -other pertinent information related to flight conditions
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