PPL PPL Aviation Weather Services and Meteorology 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does a METAR report provide?
- A 24-hour forecast of weather at an airport
- A surface weather observation of current conditions at a specific airport (Correct answer)
- A long-range weather outlook for a region
- A wind forecast for all altitudes along a route
Correct answer: A surface weather observation of current conditions at a specific airport
A METAR is a routine aviation weather observation providing current surface conditions including wind, visibility, sky condition, temperature, dew point, and altimeter setting.
Question 2: What does the METAR cloud entry 'OVC010' indicate?
- Overcast clouds at 10,000 feet AGL
- Overcast clouds at 1,000 feet AGL (Correct answer)
- Occasional clouds at 1,000 feet
- Overcast ceiling at 10 feet above the surface
Correct answer: Overcast clouds at 1,000 feet AGL
OVC means overcast (8/8 sky coverage) and 010 represents the cloud height in hundreds of feet AGL, so OVC010 = overcast at 1,000 feet AGL.
Question 3: What is a TAF?
- Terminal Area Forecast for a 30-mile radius
- Terminal Aerodrome Forecast — a weather forecast valid 24 to 30 hours for a 5-mile radius around an airport (Correct answer)
- Turbulence Aloft Forecast for cruise altitudes
- Traffic Advisory Forecast issued by ATC
Correct answer: Terminal Aerodrome Forecast — a weather forecast valid 24 to 30 hours for a 5-mile radius around an airport
A TAF provides weather forecast information within a 5-mile radius of a specific airport, valid for 24 to 30 hours, issued four times daily using METAR-like coding.
Question 4: What type of weather is typically associated with a fast-moving cold front passage?
- Gradual deterioration with widespread low stratus and drizzle
- A narrow band of intense convective weather followed by rapid clearing and improved conditions (Correct answer)
- Widespread fog and low clouds persisting for several days
- Clear, calm conditions throughout the passage with no precipitation
Correct answer: A narrow band of intense convective weather followed by rapid clearing and improved conditions
Cold fronts move quickly and force warm moist air aloft rapidly, producing a narrow but intense band of cumulonimbus clouds, thunderstorms, and gusty gusty winds, followed by cooler, clearer air.
Question 5: 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 moves horizontally over a cooler surface that chills the air below its dew point, causing condensation.
Question 6: What is the dew point temperature?
- The temperature at which rain begins to fall from a cloud
- The temperature to which air must be cooled for water vapor to begin condensing into liquid water (Correct answer)
- The outside air temperature at the tropopause
- The temperature difference between the surface and the cloud base
Correct answer: The temperature to which air must be cooled for water vapor to begin condensing into liquid water
The dew point is the temperature at which air becomes saturated and water vapor condenses, forming dew, frost, fog, or clouds.
PPL PPL Aviation Weather Services and Meteorology 1
What does a METAR report provide?