Name: ______________________
Weather Homework
Intro to Principles of Flight (Aerospace Studies 30098)
Directions: Below are fifteen (15) short answer questions, each worth one (1) point, and
one (1) bonus question. Answer them in concise sentences, or through the use of a list,
wherever appropriate. Sentence answers need not be longer than 2-3 sentences. List
answers should be as long as necessary.
Multiple Choice
1. What is the driving factor behind all weather processes?
a. Wind patterns
b. Heat
c. Coriolis force
d. Air pressure
2. Coriolis Effect causes
a. all wind to curve to the right.
b. all wind to curve to the left.
c. all wind to deviate away from the poles.
d. wind in the Northern Hemisphere to curve to the right.
3. What are the wind patterns about a high pressure system?
a. Downward, clockwise, outward
b. Outward, clockwise, inward
c. Outward, counter-clockwise, outward
d. Downward, clockwise, inward
4. The dewpoint is
a. The temperature at which air will become saturated
b. The temperature at which dew will always form
c. The temperature at which sweating will occur
d. Always below temperature
5. How is stability measured?
a. Turbulence
b. Lapse rate
c. Air pressure
d. Vertical cloud development
6. What should every pilot receive before departing?
a. A cup of coffee
b. An endorsement
c. Good luck
d. A Standard Briefing
“Teaching the Science, Inspiring the Art, Producing Aviation Candidates”
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7. Which report/chart would best show areas of heavy precipitation?
a. Surface Analysis
b. Weather Depiction
c. Radar Summary
d. Severe Weather Chart
8. To best determine general forecast weather conditions over several states to include
the forecast height of cloud tops, the pilot should refer to
a. Area Forecasts.
b. Weather Depiction Charts.
c. Surface Analysis Charts.
d. Low-Level Prognostic Charts.
9. In general, thunderstorms should be avoided by
a. 20 NM.
b. remaining outside of the clouds and skirting the storm to minimize time.
c. 40 NM.
d. closing your eyes and following the “If you can’t see them, they’re not there”
philosophy.
10. Individual forecasts for specific routes of flight can be obtained from which weather
source?
a. Area Forecast
b. HIWAS
c. TWEB
d. ASOS
Short Answer
11. What are the three (3) stages of a thunderstorm?
12. What are the five (5) types of fog?
13. What is windshear?
14. What are the standard temperature and pressure values at sea level?
Weather Interpretation
15. Interpret the following METAR.
KSBN 170754Z 31023G30KT 2 1/2SM -SN BLSN BKN017 OVC024 M03/M06
A3009
16. Interpret the following TAF from 0600Z until 1800Z.
KSBN 170539Z 170606 31025G32KT 5SM -SN BR OVC010
FM1400 30015G25KT P6SM BKN015
FM1800 31014G20KT P6SM BKN030
FM0000 31013KT P6SM BKN030
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17. Interpret the following Winds Aloft for FWA at 34,000 feet.
DATA BASED ON 171200Z
VALID 171800Z
FOR USE 1700-2100Z. TEMPS NEG ABV 24000
FT 3000
6000
9000
12000
18000
24000 30000 34000
FWA 3315 3225-12 3034-13 2856-15 2896-23 7814-32 784643 785153
JOT 3316 3119-14 2833-16 2855-16 2795-24 7709-32 784943 786252
18. Interpret the following PIREP.
BUF UA /OV BUF /TM 1810 /FL 070 /TP B737 /SK OVC025-TOP065 CLR
ABV/TB CONT LGT BLW070 /IC NEG /RM DURD FM SE
19. Below is an excerpt from the Chicago Area Forecast, and the outlook has been
deleted. Given what you know about weather reports and what is generally
considered IFR and VFR, what do you think the outlook is for Indiana?
CHIC FA 171945
SYNOPSIS AND VFR CLDS/WX
SYNOPSIS VALID UNTIL 181400
CLDS/WX VALID UNTIL 180800...OTLK VALID 180800-181400
ND SD NE KS MN IA MO WI LM LS MI LH IL IN KY
.
IN
AGL SCT-BKN025 CIG BKN035 TOP 080. 00Z AGL SCT025 BKN CI.
03Z BKN150 TOP FL250. 06Z SCT-BKN080 BKN100.
20. Look at the Weather Depiction Chart. Is the weather in South Bend VFR, MVFR, or
IFR? How about Terre Haute?
http://nd.edu/~ndpi/current/hw/Weather/2020.gif
21. Look at the Radar Summary Chart. At what altitude is the highest echo return
reported on the chart? What does the “NE” in northern Indiana mean?
http://nd.edu/~ndpi/current/hw/Weather/2080.gif
22. Look at the 24 hour Significant Weather Prognostic chart (top right panel). What
type of AIRMET might you expect to find issued for the area defined by the red
outline over Colorado?
(http://nd.edu/~ndpi/current/hw/Weather/3000.gif)