3/1 Bell Ringer

What are the characteristics of stable air?

• Poor visibility and intermittent precipitation

• Poor visibility and steady precipitation

• Good visibility and steady precipitation

Answer explanation

Stable air tends trap any fog, haze or smoke close to the surface giving you poor visibility. Also, stable air likes to remain unchanged. So if it's raining, it's going to keep raining constantly as opposed to intermittently. Think of weather in Seattle.

What are the characteristics of a moist unstable air mass?

• Poor visibility and smooth air

• Stratiform clouds and showery precipitation

• Cumuliform clouds and showery precipitation

Answer explanation

"Showery" is a weird term the FAA likes to use. It means intermittent or on and off as opposed to "steady" which describes stable air's precipitation.

What type of clouds are associated with stable air?

• Stratus

• Cumulous

• Cumulonimbus

What is not a "stage" of the thunderstorm that we learned?

• Cumulous

• Mature

• Growth

• Dissipating

Which thunderstorm stage is characterized by downdrafts overpowering updrafts?

• Cumulous Stage

• Mature Stage

• Dissipating Stage

When the temperature of the air rises with altitude, a temperature inversion exists. What effect will this have on the weather and pollutants below the inversion layer? (find the best answer)

• The air at the top of the inversion layer acts as a lid and traps weather below.

• If high humidity exists then clouds, haze or fog could form, resulting in diminished visibility.

• Both answers are correct.

Why are strong winds a concern when flying in mountainous regions?

• Airflow on the windward side acts as a ramp and can lift an aircraft well over 400 feet AGL.

• Airflow on the leeward side of a mountain follows the contour of the terrain and can push the aircraft into the side of a mountain.

• There is no concern since the mountains block the wind which allows for ideal flying conditions.

Which thunderstorm stage is characterized by precipitation and heavy downdrafts that may exceed 2,500' feet per minute?

• Cumulous

• Mature

• Dissipating

Answer explanation

This is the most powerful stage of the thunderstorm and can lead to very intense updrafts and downdrafts (updrafts reach a maximum with speeds possibly exceeding 6,000 feet per minute).

Which factor would tend to increase the density altitude at a given airport?

• increase in ambient air temperature

• decrease in relative humidity

• increase in barometric pressure

Answer explanation

High density altitude means thin air. Hot temps, high humidity, and high altitudes all lead to thin air (Hot, High & Humid is bad for aircraft performance).

What effect does high density altitude have on aircraft performance?

• increases performance

• decreases performance

• no effect

Answer explanation

High density altitude is bad for aircraft performance.