CPL Aviation Meteorology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A pilot observing a rapidly falling barometric pressure reading during flight should anticipate which condition?
- Improving visibility and clearing skies
- Approaching low-pressure system with deteriorating weather (Correct answer)
- Stable high-pressure ridge building overhead
- Decreasing wind speeds at altitude
Correct answer: Approaching low-pressure system with deteriorating weather
Rapidly falling barometric pressure indicates an approaching low-pressure system, which typically brings deteriorating weather including clouds, precipitation, and turbulence.
Question 2: What type of fog forms when warm, moist air moves over a cooler surface?
- Radiation fog
- Upslope fog
- Advection fog (Correct answer)
- Frontal fog
Correct answer: Advection fog
Advection fog forms when warm, moist air moves horizontally over a cooler surface, cooling the air below its dew point.
Question 3: During a PIREP, a pilot reports 'OCNL MOD CHOP.' What does this indicate?
- Occasional moderate turbulence causing rapid bumps without aircraft attitude change (Correct answer)
- Continuous moderate turbulence with significant altitude excursions
- Occasional mild turbulence with minimal passenger discomfort
- Moderate chop causing momentary loss of aircraft control
Correct answer: Occasional moderate turbulence causing rapid bumps without aircraft attitude change
Occasional moderate chop (OCNL MOD CHOP) indicates intermittent rapid bumpiness without abrupt changes in aircraft attitude, affecting less than 1/2 of the time.
Question 4: A wind shear encounter on final approach causes the airspeed to suddenly decrease and the aircraft to sink below the glideslope. What is the MOST likely meteorological cause?
- Tail wind shear transitioning to a headwind
- Headwind shear transitioning to a tailwind (Correct answer)
- Crosswind component increasing rapidly
- Updraft followed by a downdraft
Correct answer: Headwind shear transitioning to a tailwind
When a headwind transitions to a tailwind, the aircraft loses airspeed and lift, causing it to sink below the intended glidepath.
Question 5: Which layer of the atmosphere contains the tropopause, and what is its approximate altitude at mid-latitudes?
- Stratosphere, at 50,000 feet MSL
- Troposphere boundary, at approximately 36,000 feet MSL (Correct answer)
- Mesosphere, at approximately 80,000 feet MSL
- Thermosphere, at approximately 100,000 feet MSL
Correct answer: Troposphere boundary, at approximately 36,000 feet MSL
The tropopause marks the boundary of the troposphere, occurring at approximately 36,000 feet MSL at mid-latitudes, lower at the poles and higher at the equator.
Question 6: What condition is indicated by a surface temperature-dewpoint spread of 2°C or less with rapidly increasing relative humidity?
- Ideal VFR flying conditions
- Potential for fog or low cloud formation (Correct answer)
- Severe clear air turbulence likely
- Thunderstorm development imminent
Correct answer: Potential for fog or low cloud formation
A temperature-dewpoint spread of 2°C or less indicates the air is near saturation, making fog or low cloud formation very likely.
Question 7: A Cumulonimbus cloud that has a distinctive anvil-shaped top (incus) indicates what stage of thunderstorm development?
- Cumulus (developing) stage
- Mature stage (Correct answer)
- Dissipating stage
- Pre-convective stage
Correct answer: Mature stage
The anvil top forms during the mature stage when updrafts reach the tropopause and spread horizontally, indicating the most intense phase of thunderstorm activity.
CPL Aviation Meteorology 2
A pilot observing a rapidly falling barometric pressure reading during flight should anticipate which condition?