Meteorology

#1. Which correctly describes changes involving relative humidity and dewpoint during a cloudless sunny day:

relative humidity is maximum at mid afternoon and dewpoint is minimum

relative humidity is minimum at mid afternoon and dewpoint is maximum

relative humidity is maximum at the mid afternoon and dewpoint remains constant

relative humidity is minimum at mid afternoon and dewpoint remains constant

#2. In the southern hemisphere, when an aircraft climbs up out of a dense friction layer, the wind velocity will:

Veer and increase in strength

Back and increase in strength

Veer and decrease in strength

Back and decrease in strength

#3. An aircraft is flown along a given track allowing for port drift. If no correction is made to the altimeter subscale setting, the altimeter will progressively start to:

Over-read because the aircraft is flying to an area of lower pressure

Under-read because the aircraft is flying to an area of higher pressure

Over-read because the aircraft is flying to an area of higher pressure

Under-read because the aircraft is flying to an area of lower pressure

#4. The lower atmosphere is heated by:

hot sunrays warming the air through conduction

solar radiation absorbed by the earth, producing conduction and convection

solar radiation absorbed by the earth, re-radiated as short wave terrestial radiation producing conduction and convection

solar radiation before it reached the earths surface

#5. The two main factors that determine the stability of air are

The environment lapse rate and the rate at which are rises

The moisture content of air and the adiabatic lapse rate

The adiabatic lapse rate and the rate at which air rises

The environment lapse rate and adiabatic lapse rate

#6. Identify this cloud type

Stratus

Nimbostratus

Cumulus

Cumulonimbus

#7. On a clear hot summer afternoon near to the sea, you would expect:

the air over the sea to rise due to reflective heating and cause a breeze to blow from the land toward the sea

the land to heat up more than the water and cause air to flow from the land to the sea

the air over the sea to heat up and move in underthe cold air over the land

the air over the land to heat up more quickly than the air over the sea; to rise and allow cold air to flow in from over the sea

#8. What conditions and likely to result in the continued persistence of radiation fog after daybreak?

continued very light winds and a clear sky

thickening through mechanical turbulence caused by an increase in wind strength

thickening through thermal turbulence caused by solar radiation

arrival of a sheet of middle or high cloud above the fog

#9. With strong up and down draughts identify this stage of a thunderstorm

The formative

The growing stage

The mature stage

The decaying stage

#10. A condition where the air temperature at a given height is warmer than that at a lower level is referred to as:

an inversion and is an indication of unstable weather

an inversion and you would expect smooth flying conditions immediately above the inversion

a reverse temperature condition and you would expect very good flight visibility below the temperature reversal

an inversion, and you would expect very good flight visibility below the inversion

#11. Diurnal variation of surface wind involves:

increase in strength and veering after sunrise

decrease in strength and veering after sunset

less variation over land than over oceans

more variation on a cloud day compared to a fine day

#12. In practice the approximate value used in ISA for temperature lapse rate is:

1.5°C

2.0°C

3.0°C

3.5°C

#13. The passage of a cold front over a station is characterised by:

Decrease in pressure and decreasing temperature before the front, a lower dew point and poor visibility after the front.

Backing of the wind and a drop in temperature at the front, a higher dew point after the front

Steady pressure and decreasing temperature before the front and fair visibility, outside showers and rain, after the front

Decrease in pressure and steady temperature before the front, backing of the wind at the front and good visibility, outside showers, after the front

#14. The airfield you are approaching is affected by a sea breeze whereas the prevailing wind is off-shore. As you descend through the horizontal boundary between the prevailing wind and the sea breeze you will experience

A gust front and moderate to severe turbulence

Wind convergence and light to moderate turbulence

Wind shear and turbulence

A rapid decrease in wind strength and light turbulence

#15. Orographic effect could be defined as a:

katabatic wind

geostrophic wind

coriolis effect on the pressure system

airmass uplift due to terrain

#16. If the wind direction goes from NW to SW and then to N through the shortest arcs then it has:

veered then backed

backed then veered

veered and veered again

backed and backed again

#17. The term NOSIG appears in a landing (TREND) forecast. What is the meaning of this term in New Zealand?

No significant weather is expected during the two hours following the issue time of the TAF or METAR

No significant change from the reported weather is expected during the next one hour following the issue time of the METAR or TAF

No significant change from the reported weather is expected during the next two hours following the issue time of the METAR or SPECI

No significant weather is expected during the three hours following the issue time of the METAR or SPECI

#18. Regarding pressure systems

a ridge of low pressure is an extension off a low

a trough of high pressure is an extension off an anti-cyclone

a col has a very weak pressure gradient

there is no pressure gradient in an anti-cyclone

#19. The most severe airframe icing encountered in a mature thunderstorm usually occurs in the

precipitation beneath the cloud

feathered anvil top

area just below the freezing level

area just above the freezing level

#20. The maximum amount of water vapour that can be held by an air mass is determined by the:

dew point

density

humidity

temperature

#21. In the southern hemisphere, when the Coriolis force acting on a balanced flow is greater than the pressure gradient, air will flow

Clockwise around an area of high pressure

Anticlockwise around an area of high pressure

Clockwise around an area of low pressure

Anticlockwise around an area of low pressure

#22. Your track during a cross-country flight takes you past a mountain range on the lee side and below the height of some ridges. When you are advised that rotor streaming has been reported in the area, you consider this to be:

not serious because the phenomenon is short-lived and can easily be outclimbed if necessary

very serious at levels higher than the mountain ridges, but below ridge height there will be light turbulence and little wind

not serious because the effect will be felt only on the windward side where strong gusts and turbulence will be experienced

super duper serious because downdraughts will be very strong and turbulence can be severe

#23. Which choice correctly lists the characteristics of pressure systems in the southern hemisphere?

A high has anticlockwise circulation, pressure decreases as you move away from the centre and high level convergence takes place

A low has clockwise circulation, pressure decreases as you move away from the centre and surface divergence takes place

A high has anticlockwise circulation, pressure increases as you move away from the centre and surface convergence takes place.

A low has clockwise circulation, pressure increases as you move away from the centre and high level convergence takes place

#24. From the following cloud types, the one from which heavy rain would most likely be falling and reaching the ground is:

stratocumulus

nimbostratus

cirrostratus

cirrocumulus

#25. The pressure lapse rate on a given day is 1 hPa per 40 feet of altitude. The next day the same sea level pressure exists but the air is warmer. The pressure lapse rate on day 2 is

Not affected by the temperature change.

More than 1 hPa per 40 feet of altitude.

Less than 1 hPa per 40 feet of altitude.

More or less than 1 hPa per 40 feet of altitude depending on how much warmer the temperature in on day 2.

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