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Funds. of Weather
Block 4
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Earth’s Atmosphere | The atmosphere is a cloud of gas and suspended solids extending from the Earth’s surface out thousands of miles. |
| Troposphere | The troposphere is the lowest layer of the Earth’s atmosphere and extends around 36,000 feet out from the Earth’s surface; Almost all clouds and precipitation occur; Most weather takes place |
| What happens in the troposphere when altitude increases? | Everything decreases |
| The transition boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere is called? | the tropopause |
| Stratosphere | extends from the tropopause up to 31 miles above the Earth's surface; devoid of significant weather; Where thunderstorm tops reside |
| Standard Atmosphere | Sea level pressure = 29.92 inches of mercury Sea level temperature = 15°C / 59F° Decrease of temperature with height (lapse rate) in the troposphere = 2°C / 3.5°F / 1,000 feet Pressure altitude of the tropopause = 36,000 feet (FL 360) |
| Jet Streams | Jet streams are migrating streams of high-speed winds present at high altitudes. |
| Two types of Jet Streams | Polar and Subtropical |
| Flow of a Jet Stream | east to west |
| Nature of a Jet Stream | naturally extend around the globe but are segmented |
| Boundaries of a Jet Stream | associated with the boundaries between hot and cold air. Since these boundaries are most pronounced during winter, that is when jet streams are strongest. |
| ATC Challenges of a Jet Stream | air traffic control (ATC) separation more difficult. They often produce Clear Air Turbulence (CAT) and cause aircraft to move at different ground speeds |
| Water Vapor | The gaseous form of water. |
| Evaporation | The phase transition by which a liquid is changed to a vapor (gas). |
| Sublimation | The phase transition by which a solid is changed into vapor (a gas) without passing through the liquid phase. |
| Temperature | A numerical value representing the average kinetic energy of the atoms and molecules within matter. Temperature depends directly on the energy of molecular motion. |
| Dew Point | The temperature an air parcel must be cooled at constant pressure and constant water vapor pressure to allow the water vapor in the parcel to condense into water (dew). |
| Condensation | The phase transition by which vapor (a gas) is changed into a liquid. |
| Relative Humidity | The ratio, usually expressed as a percentage, of water vapor actually in the air parcel compared to the amount of water vapor the air could hold at a particular temperature and pressure. |
| Saturation | The maximum possible quantity of water vapor |
| Dew Point Depression / Spread | The difference between air parcel’s temperature and its dew point temperature is the dew point depression |
| What is a cloud? | visible aggregate of minute water droplets and/or ice particles in the atmosphere above the Earth’s surface. |
| Cloud Formation | A parcel of rising air expands and cools as pressure decreases with altitude (Low pressure, clouds form) |
| Cloud Dissipation | parcel of sinking air warms as it encounters increasing pressure and is compressed (high pressure, clouds dissipate) |
| Cirriform | High clouds above 20,000 feet; composed of ice crystals |
| Cumuliform | white and fluffy; tops over 60,000 feet; upward vertical motion or thermal uplift of air |
| Stratiform | layer/blanket; produces IFR weather; little to no turbulence; can produce icing |
| Clouds from which rain is falling? | Nimbostratus |
| Clouds where precipitation is produced? | Cumulonimbus |
| A parcel of ________ air expands and cools as pressure decreases with height. | Rising |
| What is wind? | Wind is the air in motion relative to the surface of the Earth |
| High weather effects occur when? | a maximum of atmospheric pressure in two dimensions (closed isobars) on a surface chart, or a maximum of height (closed contours) on a constant pressure chart; also known as an anti-cyclone. |
| Low weather effects occur when? | minimum of atmospheric pressure in two dimensions (closed isobars) on a surface chart, or a minimum of height (closed contours) on a constant pressure chart; also known as a cyclone. |
| Air Mass Moisture Properties | - Continental (c) – A dry air mass which develops over land - Maritime (m) – A moist air mass which develops over water |
| Air Mass Temperature Properties | - Arctic (A) – An extremely deep, cold air mass - Polar (P) – A relatively shallow, cool-to-cold air mass which develops over high latitudes - Tropical (T) – A warm-to-hot air mass which develops over low latitudes |
| Cold air mass moving over a warm surface often produces unstable air associated with: | - Turbulence - Good visibility (outside of clouds) - Cumuliform clouds and showers |
| A warm air mass moving over a cold surface often produces stable air associated with: | - Smooth air - Poor visibility - Stratiform clouds, fog, and drizzle |
| What is a front? | boundary or transition zone between two air masses of different density and usually different temperatures. |
| Cold Front | typically move faster than warm fronts, so in time they "catch up" to warm fronts. When this occurs, colder air replaces warmer air; Steep slopes; Cumulus Clouds |
| Warm Front | front that moves in such a way that warmer air replaces colder air; gentle slope; stratiform clouds |
| Stationary Front | Neither air mass is strong enough to replace the other, which renders it stationary or nearly so |
| Occluded Front | A composite of two fronts as a cold front overtakes a warm front or stationary front. The cold air undercuts the retreating cold air mass associated with the warm front, |
| What type of precipitation occurs when there is a shallow layer aloft with above-freezing temperatures, with a deep layer of below-freezing air based at the surface? | Ice Pellets |
| A cold air mass moving over a warm surface often produces which type of air? | Unstable |
| Precipitation | is any of the forms of water particles, whether liquid or solid, that fall from the atmosphere and reach the ground |
| Precipitation formation requires three ingredients: | water vapor, lift, and growth process |
| Snow (SN) occurs when | the temperature remains below-freezing throughout the entire depth of the atmosphere |
| Rain (RA) | Precipitation, either in the form of drops larger than 0.02 inch (0.5 mm), or smaller drops that, in contrast to drizzle, are widely separated. Rain occurs when there is a deep layer of above-freezing air based at the surface |
| Freezing Rain (FZRA) | Rain that freezes on contact with the ground or exposed objects; Occurs when there is a deep layer aloft with above-freezing temperatures, with a shallow layer of below-freezing air at the surface |
| Ice Pellets (PL) | Precipitation of transparent or translucent pellets of ice. Sometimes called “sleet”; there is a shallow layer aloft with above-freezing temperatures, with a deep layer of below-freezing air based at the surface |
| National Weather Service (NWS) | federal agency under the Department of Commerce’s (DOC) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); Provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the protection of life and property |
| Center Weather Service Unit (CWSU) | NWS offices located in every Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), providing meteorological consultation, forecasts, and advice to ARTCCs and other FAA facilities regarding weather impact on their: Missions, Equipment outages and repairs and Staffing |
| The Center Weather Coordinator (CWC) | staffed by controllers and is the designated interface between CWSU meteorologists and: - ARTCC controllers - FAA facilities within the ARTCC area of responsibility |
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