Flying Ops Quiz

1. Dew point is the temperature at which:

1. dew will form
2. fog will form
3. condensation and evaporation are equal

2. What measurement can be used to determine the stability of the atmosphere?

1. actual lapse rate
2. atmospheric pressure
3. surface temperature

3. When passing through a cold front, a pilot is likely to experience:

1. squalls, turbulence and possible thunderstorms with heavy showers, followed by a rapid drop in temperature and a lower cloud base of cumulus
2. a rise in temperature and steady rain
3. lenticular clouds and increased visibility

4. Which type of fog is associated with moist air moving over a cool surface?

1. radiation
2. upslope 
3. advection 

5. What does a thunderstorm need to form?

1. low-pressure system, strong updrafts, low dew point
2. high humidity, unstable atmosphere, a lifting force
3. low humidity, high dew point, high-pressure system

6. What type of cloud is this, and what weather is associated with it?

1. nimbostratus: grey cloud layer, rain or sleet, thunder and lightning
2. nimbostratus: grey cloud layer, rain or snow,
   no thunder or lightning
3. cirrus: wispy clouds and ice crystals

7. What weather report can you use to find forecast altitudes for cloud tops?

1. Airmet
2. Graphical Area Forecast (GAF)
3. Terminal Area Forecast (TAF)

8. What type of cloud is this?

1. cirrus
2. virga
3. altostratus

9. The suffix ‘nimbus’ is used to describe what kind of cloud?

1. middle-level cloud containing ice pellets
2. a rain cloud
3. a cloud that forms over a mountain

10. A moist unstable air mass will result in:

1. foggy conditions
2. persistent rain
3. cumuliform clouds and showers

11. Which weather condition is worst for airframe icing?

1. cirrostratus cloud
2. freezing rain
3. altostratus cloud

12. When air temperature and dew point are only one degree apart:

1. the visibility is excellent
2. the air is very humid
3. the air is very dry

13. Lenticular clouds are often associated with:

1. turbulence
2. thunderstorms
3. rain showers

14. Where can wind shear occur?

1. at all altitudes and in all directions
2. close to the ground (below 300 ft)
3. at low altitude (below 3,000 ft)

Answers

1. (c) Dew point is the temperature to which air must be cooled to become saturated by the water vapor already present in the air.
2. (a) The difference between the existing lapse rate of a given mass of air and the adiabatic rates of cooling in upward moving air determines if the air is stable.
3. (a) A front usually has rough weather and cumulus on the leading edge.
4. (c) Advection fog is associated with moist air moving over a cooler surface.
5. (b) High humidity, unstable atmosphere and a lifting force are the ingredients needed to make a thunderstorm.
6. (b) Nimbostratus is a type of cloud associated with a thick grey cloud layer, and rain or snow without lightning or thunder.
7. (b)
8. (a)
9. (b)
10. (c)
11. (b)
12. (b)
13. (a)
14. (a)