Meteorology and Weather Interpretation Flashcards

What is the definition of a 'cold front'?

Answer: A boundary where cold air replaces warm air at the surface

A cold front is the leading edge of a cooler air mass that replaces warmer air at the surface.

Which cloud type is most associated with severe turbulence, lightning, and heavy precipitation?

Answer: Cumulonimbus

Cumulonimbus clouds (thunderstorms) produce the most hazardous flying conditions including severe turbulence, hail, and lightning.

A pilot observes a METAR reporting '+TSRA'. What does the '+' indicate?

Answer: Heavy intensity

In METAR weather codes, '+' prefix indicates heavy intensity of the following phenomenon.

What weather phenomenon is indicated by the PIREP term 'CAT'?

Answer: Clear air turbulence

CAT stands for Clear Air Turbulence, which occurs at altitude without visible clouds or precipitation.

The dew point spread (temperature minus dew point) is 4°C. What does this suggest?

Answer: High relative humidity and possible fog or low clouds

A small dew point spread (≤4°C) indicates the air is near saturation, favoring fog, low clouds, or precipitation.

Which type of icing is considered most hazardous to aircraft because it is clear, heavy, and difficult to detect?

Answer: Clear (glaze) ice

Clear or glaze ice forms from large supercooled water droplets and accumulates rapidly as a heavy, transparent sheet, making it especially dangerous.

What does a Station Model barometric pressure reading of '132' represent in millibars?

Answer: 1013.2 mb

Station model pressures drop the leading '9' or '10' and the decimal; '132' decodes to 1013.2 mb.