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NIFE Weather Actual Exam Questions and Answers 2025.
What are the percentages of gases in pure, dry air? Ans✔✔- 78% nitrogen 21% oxygen 1% other gases What percent is water vapor in the atmosphere? Ans✔✔- 0-5% by volume What is the troposphere? Ans✔✔- Layer adjacent to the Earth's surface Where does all weather occur? Ans✔✔- Troposphere In the troposhpere, what happens to the temperature with an increase in altitude? Ans✔✔- Temperature decreases What are the winds like in the troposphere? Ans✔✔- Winds are light near the Earths surface and increase with altitude Where is the troposphere? (height) Ans✔✔- Average height of 36000 MSL What is the moisture content in the troposphere? Ans✔✔- Large amounts of moisture and condensation Is the troposphere higher in the summer or in the winter? Ans✔✔- Higher in the summer. Think that the air is heating up and rising the troposphere What is the tropopause? Ans✔✔- Transition zone between the troposphere and stratosphere What happens to temperature with an increase in altitude in the tropopause? Decrease? Ans✔✔- Constant
Constant Where do the strongest winds occur? Ans✔✔- In the tropopause What is atmospheric pressure? What is atmospheric pressure also known as? Ans✔✔- Pressure exerted on a surface by the atmosphere due to the weight of the column of air directly above that surface As altitude increases, what happens to pressure? Ans✔✔- Decreases always What are the two standard units of pressure? Ans✔✔- Inches of mercury (in-Hg) Millibars (mb) What is station pressure? Ans✔✔- Atmospheric pressure measured directly at an airfield Which is greater, station pressure or sea level pressure? Ans✔✔- Station pressure.....stations wont be in the sea What is Sea Level Pressure? Ans✔✔- Pressure that would be measured if the station was at MSL How do stations report pressure regardless of location? Ans✔✔- In Sea Level Pressure What is Atmospheric circulation? Ans✔✔- Earth is constantly heated and cooled as it rotates. This causes ascending and descending air What are the two ways atmospheric circulation moves air? Ans✔✔- Ascending and descending currents What causes Atmospheric circulation? Ans✔✔- Wind trying to go from high pressure to low pressure. Due to the Coriolis Force
What is dew point depression? Ans✔✔- Difference between the air temperature and the dew point temperature What is saturation? Ans✔✔- When the air contains the maximum amount of moisture that it can hold for a certain temperature What is Relative Humidity (RH)? Ans✔✔- The percent of saturation in the air Explain the effect a change in pressure has on the altimeter Ans✔✔- "High to Low, Look out below" -Aircraft is going to be lower than indicated on the altimeter when going from a high pressure to a lower pressure "Low to High, plenty of sky" -Aircraft is going to be higher than indicated on the altimeter when going from a low pressure to a higher one What is indicated altitude? Ans✔✔- Altitude read directly from the altimeter What is the part of the altimeter where you change the pressure setting called? Ans✔✔- Kollsman window Explain the effect that a deviation from the standard temperature lapse rate has on the altimeter Ans✔✔- High to low, look out below -Flying into colder air, the altimeter will read higher than the MSL Low to high, plenty of sky -Flying into warmer air, the altimeter will read lower than the actual MSL What is MSL and how is it found? Ans✔✔- Actual height above mean sea level Correcting the calibrated altitude for temperature deviations from the standard atmosphere
What is AGL and how is it found? Ans✔✔- Aircraft height directly above the terrain directly beneath. Subtracting terrain elevation from true altitude What is Pressure altitude? Ans✔✔- Height above the standard datum plane. Above 18000 ft (Class A) What is Density Altitude? Ans✔✔- Pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature deviations. NOT AN ACTUAL ALTITUDE. INDEX FOR AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE What is the relationship between density and density altitude? Ans✔✔- Inverse What is a temperature inversion? Ans✔✔- Lapse rate where temperature increases with increasing altitude. Which way does the Pressure Gradient force cause air to flow? Ans✔✔- From high pressure to low pressure What is the Coriolis Force? Ans✔✔- The earths rotation causes the winds to spin when low pressure and high pressure meet Which way does the pressure gradient force act in a low pressure system? Ans✔✔- Into the low pressure system What direction does the pressure gradient force act in a high pressure system? Ans✔✔- Out of the high pressure system Where are gradient winds? Ans✔✔- Above 2000' AGL
What is the average height of a jet stream? Ans✔✔- 30,000 feet MSL What is a Sea Breeze? Ans✔✔- Resulting onshore wind blowing from the sea Explain a sea breeze Ans✔✔- The cooler air over the water moves toward the warmer land. The air is then heated and rises. Air is then cooled and descends When does sea breeze occur? Ans✔✔- During the day What is a land breeze? Ans✔✔- Cooler air over land moving toward the water Explain land breeze. Ans✔✔- Cooler air from land moves over the water, the cool air is heated and moves upward, it is then cooled and descends What are the different types of clouds? Ans✔✔- Low Clouds Middle Clouds High Clouds Special Clouds What altitudes are considers low clouds? Ans✔✔- Below 6500 feet AGL (clouds base) What altitudes are considered middle clouds? Ans✔✔- 6500 feet to 20000 feet AGL (clouds base) What altitudes are considered High clouds? Ans✔✔- Above 20000 feet AGL (clouds base) What are Cumuliform clouds? Ans✔✔- Lumpy, billowy cloud with a base showing a definite pattern or structure What is a Stratiform clouds? Ans✔✔- Cloud with a uniform base, formed in horizontal, sheet like layers
What is the word nimbo or nimbus associated with? Ans✔✔- Clouds that produce violent or heavy precipitation What is the most serious hazard to flying in low clouds? Ans✔✔- The proximity of the clouds base to the surface of the Earth. Hides terrain causing a collision hazard What prefix is associated with middle clouds? Ans✔✔- Alto What is the composition of middle clouds in regards to the air? Ans✔✔- Ice crystals, water droplets, or a mixture What is Virga? Ans✔✔- rain or snow that evaporates before it reaches the ground What are the characteristics of middle clouds in regards to the wind and visibility? Ans✔✔- Dark and turbulent Which type of clouds have little effect on flying? Ans✔✔- High clouds What are high clouds mostly composed of? Ans✔✔- ice crystals, so they do not pose an icing hazard What prefix is associated with high clouds? Ans✔✔- Cirro or cirrus What are special clouds? Ans✔✔- Towering Cumulonimbus and Nimbostratus clouds Where are the bases of cumulus or cumulonimbus clouds? Ans✔✔- Low to middle cloud heights and their tops extend through high cloud heights What type of cloud is a nimbostratus cloud and what does it produce? Ans✔✔- Special cloud Produces continuous rain, snow, or ice pellets
What clouds are associated with continuous? Ans✔✔- Stratiform clouds What clouds are associated with intermittent? Ans✔✔- Cumuliform or stratiform What are the four methods of lifting? Ans✔✔- FOCT Frontal Orographic Convergence Thermal What is the converging method of lifting? Ans✔✔- Two air masses converge and the only place for the air to go is upward What is the Orographic method of lifting? Ans✔✔- Force of the winds against the mountain side pushes the air up What is the Frontal method of lifting? Ans✔✔- A front pushes the air upwards What is the thermal method of lifting? Ans✔✔- Cool air over a warm surface and pushed up from intense solar heating What is stable air? Ans✔✔- Air is pushed up then returns to its original position (colder) What is unstable air? Ans✔✔- Air is pushed up and continues to rise (hotter) What is Neutral air? Ans✔✔- Air is lifted up and stays at that level (same temperature) What is a front? Ans✔✔- An area of discontinuity that forms between two contrasting air masses when they are adjacent to each other
How are fronts named? Ans✔✔- According to the temperature change in which they bring What are the frontal discontinuities? Ans✔✔- Touchdowns win playoffs Temperature Dew point Wind Pressure What does temperature indicate in a front? Ans✔✔- High changes in temp mean stronger front What does Dew point indicate in a front? Ans✔✔- Higher dew point, greater amount of moisture available to produces clouds, fog, precepitation Why is pressure important in a front? Ans✔✔- Need to obtain a new altimeter setting when flying near a front Why are winds important in a front? Ans✔✔- Tell you that you may need to change heading when flying near a front Where are all fronts located? Ans✔✔- Troughs of low pressure What is a squall line and what do they look like on a chart?? Ans✔✔- Line of violent thunderstorms. Red dotted and dashed lines (2 dots, 2 dashes) Where do squall lines develop? Ans✔✔- 50 to 300 miles in front of a cold front What is a stationary front? Ans✔✔- Frontal border between air masses that show little movement
What is Mechanical Turbulence? Ans✔✔- Winds moving over an object. winds get disturbed and become irregular What does the strength of mechanical turbulence depend on? Ans✔✔- Speed of wind, roughness of the terrain, and stability of the air What is Frontal Turbulence? Ans✔✔- A front is moving in and pushes the warm air upwards causing instability What is Wind Shear Turbulence? Ans✔✔- Steep gradients in wind velocity or direction producing eddy currents. How is a temperature inversion a wind shear turbulence? Ans✔✔- At the boundary layer between the Lapse rate and the temperature inversion, wind shear can be present. The change causes winds to switch directions and intensities Why is wind shear turbulence dangerous at low levels? Ans✔✔- During takeoff and landing you are looking for roll out numbers. If these numbers are hit too early due to wind shear, they could be taken away for the same reason, causing a crash Why is a jet stream a wind shear turbulence? Ans✔✔- There is a rapid change in wind speed in the jet stream What are the techniques to flying through turbulence? Ans✔✔- Maintain thrust settings Trim the aircraft for level flight Dont make abrupt control inputs Dont chase the altitmeter What are the two requirements for icing to occur? Ans✔✔- Atmosphere must have super-cooled water droplets Free air temp and wing surface temp must be below freezing.
What temperature does water in the free air freeze? Ans✔✔- -10 to -40 C What is structural icing? Ans✔✔- Icing that forms on the external structure of an aircraft What is the most hazardous form of icing and why? Ans✔✔- Clear icing. It builds up fast, disrupts airflow, and can freeze up flight controls What is Rime icing and what is its temperature range? Ans✔✔- Milky ice -10 to - What is clear icings temperature range? Ans✔✔- 0 to -10C What is mixed icing and what is its temperature range? Ans✔✔- Both large and small water droplets are present. Combination of clear and rime icing. -8C to -15 C What is the biggest factor to structural icing? Ans✔✔- The changes to the forces of a plane. Weight increases Drag and fuel consumption increase Thrust and range decrease Lift decreases Stall speeds increase What is induction icing? Ans✔✔- Pressure decrease in the duct allows water to form into ice at higher temps and a build up can occur What is Compressor Icing? Ans✔✔- Ice forming on the compressor inlet. This will disturb the airflow and could cause the engine to flameout What options does a pilot have when encountering a icing hazard? Ans✔✔- Climb to colder temperatures where the precipitation is frozen
Where could you be hit by hail? Ans✔✔- In clear air What is the most severe hazard of thunderstorms? Ans✔✔- Extreme turbulence What rate do microburst downwardly flow and how long does a microburst last? Ans✔✔- 2000' to 6000' per minute 5 to 10 minutes What are the visual indications of a Microburst? Ans✔✔- Thunderstorm conditions, any cumuliform cloud, lightning, Virga What are the ways to avoid thunderstorms in order? Ans✔✔- Fly around it or circumnavigate it Fly over the storm: 1000' above for every 10 knots of wind Fly under it: 1/3 distance from surface to base Fly through it: 1/3 distance of the storm What is Prevailing visibility? Ans✔✔- Measured in SM Greatest horizontal visibility for at least half of the horizon circle. Does prevailing visibility need to be continuous? Ans✔✔- No What is a ceiling? Ans✔✔- Lowest BKN, OVC, or VV What is a surface analysis chart? Ans✔✔- Past information on weather What is a Prognostic chart? Ans✔✔- Forecasting information What does QNH mean on a METAR? Ans✔✔- Lowest altimeter setting expected at this time
What does P6SM mean? Ans✔✔- Visibility greater than 6 SM What does a METAR allow you to do? Ans✔✔- Watch for trends in weather How long is a METAR good for? Ans✔✔- 1 hour How long is a TAF used for? Ans✔✔- 24 hours When will a severe thunderstorm watch be included? Ans✔✔- Frequent lightning + hail greater than 1 inch + winds greater than 50 knots What is a Convective SIGMET used to indicate? Ans✔✔- Thunderstorm activity What is a Non-Convective SIGMET used to indicate? Ans✔✔- severe or extreme turbulence, icing, dust/sand, vis less than VFR, volcanic eruptions or ash clouds How long is an AIRMET valid for? Ans✔✔- 6 hours What are AIRMETS issued for and what are their designators? Ans✔✔- Sierra: Mountain obscuration Tango: Moderate turbulence Zulu: Moderate icing What will a RADAR pick up? Ans✔✔- Hail, microburst, tornadoes, and low level wind shear What is a Gust Front? Ans✔✔- Cold air hitting you. Cold air is 5 to 20 miles from the leading edge of a thunderstorm When is a PIREP required? Ans✔✔- I Want RUM
In a jet stream, where are the strongest winds and what speed are they in excess of? Ans✔✔- On the inside of the jetstream 250 knots Where can Clear Air Turbulence occur? Ans✔✔- In a jet stream. No indications For saturation to be present, what two things need to equal eachother? Ans✔✔- Temperature and dew point What does Alto mean? Ans✔✔- Light In an Air mass, what two things are relatively the same? Ans✔✔- Temperature and moisture What speed and direction do warm fronts move? Ans✔✔- NE at 15 knots What speed and direction do cold fronts move? Ans✔✔- SE at 20 knots In a stationary front, what speed and direction do they move and what is their wind shift? Ans✔✔- They dont move Wind shift of 180 degrees from either side What words are used to classify icing? Ans✔✔- Trace Light Moderate Severe What is sub-cooled liquid water? Ans✔✔- Water that is below the freezing point, but still in water form
How does clear icing occur? Ans✔✔- Large water droplets break apart and freeze to the form of the airfoil as they spread out How does rime icing occur? Ans✔✔- Small droplets of water hit the airfoil and instantly freeze When can frost occur? Ans✔✔- Clear, calm winter night What does frost do to the airplane and can you fly in it? Ans✔✔- Disrupts airflow Not allowed to fly with frosting When can engine icing occur? Ans✔✔- Up to 10C and need to have high Relative Humidity When given winds at different positions, where should you fly? Ans✔✔- Where the tailwind is the greatest or the headwind is the least.
