Pilot Meteorology
Test your knowledge and prepare for your BHPA Pilot exam!
What type of cloud is this and would you fly close to this?
Developing cumulus cloud with moderate lift, safe to fly close to
Cumulus stratus cloud with very little lift, safe to fly close to
Large cumulonimbus cloud with dangerous lift and gust fronts, stay away
Nimbus stratus cloud that may bring rain, time to land
Some typical clouds associated with a warm front are:
Cumulus, cumulonimbus, nimbostratus, altostratus
Stratocumulus, cirrostratus, lenticular
Cirrus, cirrus stratus, altostratus, nimbostratus
The sea breeze circulation goes as follows:
Reduced pressure over the land, increased pressure over the sea
Increased pressure over the land, deceased pressure over the sea
Reduced pressure over the land, reduced pressure over the sea
What is the wind speed and direction in Wales?
Light Southerly
Very strong northerly
Very strong south westerly
Moderate south westerly
What is most likely to happen in Scotland?
Changeable SSW winds
Sunshine, strong winds from the north
Incessant rain, strong east winds
Describe what has happened to the UK's weather now the cold front has passed...
Clearer skies, temperature drops and wind veers
Overcast, nimbo stratus with rain and drizzle, wind backs
Bright sunshine, increase in temperature, pressure increases, wind veers
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standard barometric pressure is:
1003.2 mb
1103.2 mb
1013.2 mb
Air pressure is measured in millibars. At sea level a change of pressure of 2 mb will alter the reading of an altimeter by:
30 feet
40 feet
60 feet
What happens to the density of the atmosphere with height?
Increases as you go up
Decreases as you go up
There is no change
What causes a change in weather?
Occluded fronts
Water condensing and forming cloud
Air masses move and meet each other
In the northern hemisphere the winds get deflected to the right due to:
Polar curve
Coriolis Effect
Trade winds
Wind gradient
Which way does the wind blow?
South west to North East
Low to high pressure
High to low pressure
East to West
Dew points indicate the amount moisture in the air. When the air meets its dew point
Clouds evaporate
Humidity decreases
Relative humidity is 100%
What is the cause of different air pressures around the Earth?
Sun heats the equator so warm air rises, cold air sinks in the polar regions
Sun heats the poles so warm air rises, cold air sinks over the equator
The Coriolis effect forces air from the equator to the poles
The characteristics of an air mass is determined by its source region. What can you expect from the polar maritime airmass?
Warm, humid airmass from the tropics
Wet, cold airmass from the NW bring showery weather
Moist, mild and unstable air brings cloud and rain from the west
The rate of change of the temperature with height is referred to as:
Convection
The wind gradient
The lapse rate
What is the dry adiabatic lapse rate per 1000 feet?
3 degrees C
1.5 degrees C
2 degrees C
At what height would you expect cloudbase to be at if the surface temperature is 25 degrees C and the dew point is 10 degrees C
8200 feet (2500m)
6000 ft (1830m)
600 ft (182m)
When the temperature of the air remains steady with height within a layer of air this is know as:
The dew point
An Isothermal layer
An inversion
When the temperature of the air increases with height up to a certain altitude this is know as:
The dew point
An Isothermal layer
An inversion
When flying in the mountains on days with light winds and hot sun, you can expect:
Uphill katabatic airflow
Downhill anabatic airflow
Downhill anabatic airflow
Uphill anabatic airflow
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