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Aviation Meteorology Flashcards

7 cards from real CPL practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Aviation Meteorology flashcards as text

  1. A Significant Meteorological Information (SIGMET) for convective activity is valid for a maximum of how many hours?

    Answer: 4 hours

    Convective SIGMETs are valid for up to 2 hours, but standard (non-convective) SIGMETs for the contiguous U.S. are valid for up to 4 hours.

  2. What weather phenomenon is indicated by the presence of 'mammatus' clouds hanging below the base of a cumulonimbus anvil?

    Answer: Severe turbulence and potential for violent downdrafts associated with intense storms

    Mammatus clouds form on the underside of a cumulonimbus anvil and indicate severe turbulence and strong downdrafts, signaling a particularly intense and hazardous thunderstorm.

  3. When flying from a high-pressure area to a low-pressure area at a constant indicated altitude, what happens to terrain clearance?

    Answer: Terrain clearance decreases because actual altitude is lower than indicated

    Flying toward lower pressure causes the altimeter to over-read, meaning actual altitude is lower than indicated, which reduces terrain clearance — summarized by 'from high to low, look out below.'

  4. What is the key characteristic of a 'stable' atmosphere regarding vertical air movement?

    Answer: Air parcels displaced vertically tend to return to their original position

    In a stable atmosphere, a displaced air parcel is cooler and denser than surrounding air and returns to its original position, suppressing vertical motion and convective development.

  5. A pilot encounters an area of 'restricted visibility' in a METAR shown as 'FU' in the weather group. What does 'FU' represent?

    Answer: Smoke

    In METAR notation, 'FU' is the code for smoke (from the French word 'fumée'), which can significantly reduce visibility.

  6. Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) weather is most accurately described as:

    Answer: Persistent convective activity with frequent thunderstorms due to convergence of trade winds

    The ITCZ is a belt of converging trade winds near the equator that produces persistent convective activity, heavy precipitation, and frequent thunderstorms year-round.

  7. A cross-section of a cold front shows that the cold air mass advances at what angle relative to the surface?

    Answer: Steep angle (1:50 to 1:100), rapidly lifting warm air ahead of the front

    Cold fronts have a relatively steep slope (approximately 1:50 to 1:100) compared to warm fronts, causing rapid lifting of warm air that produces narrow bands of intense weather.