Virtual Skies

Weather Certification Quiz

1. The amount of solar energy received by the Earth depends on which variations?
A. latitudinal
B. altitude
C. diurnal
D. A and C only
E. All of the above

2. The greatest temperature variation occurs over what type of topography?
A. marshes and swamps
B. arid, barren surfaces (rocky or sandy deserts)
C. areas of thick vegetation
D. lakes and shorelines

3. Abrupt temperature changes occur over what type of topography?
A. islands
B. deserts
C. forests
D. lakes and shorelines

4. The average lapse rate in the troposphere is:
A. 5 degrees C per 2,000 feet
B. 10 degrees C per 5,000 feet
C. 2 degrees C per 5,000 feet
D. 2 degrees C per 1,000 feet

5. The altimeter measures:
A. the atmospheric pressure at flight level
B. air density
C. air temperature
D. Both B and C

6. Why is it important to have established a standard atmosphere?
A. provides a comparison for pilots of their altitude with other factors
B. provides a reference for aircraft performance and weather
C. both A and B
D. neither A or B

7. Which altitude reading is most critical to takeoff and climb performance of an aircraft?
A. true altitude
B. absolute altitude
C. indicated altitude
D. pressure altitude
E. density altitude

8. Indicated altitude is:
A. the setting given by local control which the pilot sets the altimeter at prior to takeoff from that airport
B. the actual height of the aircraft above sea level
C. the height of an aircraft above the terrain over which it is flying
D. the altimeter reading after adjusting the setting to 29.92

9. When air is warmer than average,
A. the airplane will be higher than the altimeter indicates
B. the airplane will be lower than the altimeter indicates
C. the airplane will be at the same altitude as the standard atmosphere
D. none of the above

10. Flying from a high pressure area to a low pressure area without adjusting the altimeter while maintaining a constant indicated altitude would result in:
A. a gain of absolute altitude
B. a loss of true altitude
C. a loss density altitude
D. a gain of density altitude

11. Air density is determined by:
A. humidity only
B. temperature and humidity only
C. pressure, temperature, humidity
D. altitude only

12. Variation in temperature on Earth is caused by:
A. a change in density
B. uneven heating of the Earth's surface from solar radiation
C. the jet stream
D. the oceans

13. Wind is defined as:
A. the horizontal movement of air
B. the jet stream
C. vertical upthrust of cold air
D. vertical downthrust of warm air

14. General circulation patterns and seasonal pressure systems are not as important to pilots as:
A. surface friction
B. local wind patterns
C. wind shear
D. All of the above
E. A and B only

15. Land and sea breezes develop because of:
A. differences in land and sea temperature changes
B. changes in humidity
C. diurnal variations in temperature
D. diurnal changes in density
E. A and C only

16. Dew point is defined as:
A. complete saturation of the air by water vapor
B. the total amount of water in the atmosphere
C. cold, moist air
D. the temperature to which air must be cooled for complete saturation

17. Fog is most likely to form under these conditions:
A. when the temperature-dew point spread is 5 degrees F or less and decreasing
B. when the temperature-dew point spread is 5O F or less and increasing
C. when the temperature-dew point spread is 5 degrees F or less and decreasing and the dew point is less than 32 degrees F
D. just before it snows

18. In order to generate significant precipitation, clouds commonly are how thick?
A. 1,000 feet or less
B. 2,000 feet or greater
C. between 1,000 - 3,000 feet
D. 4,000 feet or greater

19. Which cloud type should a pilot always try to avoid?
A. low clouds
B. middle clouds
C. high clouds
D. vertically advanced clouds

20. Which observation below is not observing unstable air?
A. ascending in altitude with temperature remaining the same
B. clouds quickly towering upward
C. dust devils rising from the surface
D. ascending in altitude with uniformly and rapidly decreasing temperature

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