ATPL Meteorology 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What type of fog forms when warm, moist air moves over a cooler surface?
- Radiation fog
- Advection fog (Correct answer)
- Upslope fog
- Steam fog
Correct answer: Advection fog
Advection fog forms when warm, moist air is transported horizontally over a cooler surface, causing the air to cool below its dew point.
Question 2: A SIGMET advisory for the contiguous US is valid for a maximum of how many hours?
- 2 hours
- 4 hours (Correct answer)
- 6 hours
- 8 hours
Correct answer: 4 hours
SIGMETs for the contiguous US are valid for up to 4 hours, though convective SIGMETs are valid for only 2 hours.
Question 3: Which cloud type is most associated with severe turbulence, icing, and lightning?
- Cumulonimbus (Correct answer)
- Altostratus
- Cirrostratus
- Nimbostratus
Correct answer: Cumulonimbus
Cumulonimbus clouds are towering convective clouds that produce severe turbulence, heavy icing, lightning, and can contain hail.
Question 4: What is the standard lapse rate of temperature in the troposphere?
- 2°C per 1,000 ft
- 3°C per 1,000 ft (Correct answer)
- 2°C per 500 ft
- 1°C per 1,000 ft
Correct answer: 3°C per 1,000 ft
The International Standard Atmosphere (ISA) defines the standard lapse rate as approximately 3°C (or 2°C) per 1,000 feet — the ISA value is 1.98°C/1,000 ft, commonly rounded to 2°C for calculations, but the standard used in ATPL is 2°C/1,000 ft or 6.5°C/km.
Question 5: A temperature inversion is characterized by:
- Temperature decreasing with altitude
- Temperature increasing with altitude (Correct answer)
- Constant temperature with altitude
- Rapid pressure drop with altitude
Correct answer: Temperature increasing with altitude
A temperature inversion is a layer of the atmosphere where temperature increases with altitude rather than the normal decrease, trapping pollutants and moisture below.
Question 6: What weather phenomenon is indicated by a rapidly falling altimeter setting?
- Improving visibility
- Approaching high pressure
- Approaching storm or low-pressure system (Correct answer)
- Stable air mass
Correct answer: Approaching storm or low-pressure system
A rapidly falling altimeter setting (barometric pressure) indicates an approaching low-pressure system or storm, signaling deteriorating weather conditions.
ATPL Meteorology 1
What type of fog forms when warm, moist air moves over a cooler surface?