Weather
The Stars Flight Crew
What is Weather?
• Weather can be defined as the state of the atmosphere
at a certain time and location which is affected by
temperature, moisture, wind velocity, visibility,
barometric pressure.
• The atmosphere has four parts
• ○ Troposphere 20000 ft
• ○ Stratosphere 160000 ft
• ○ Mesosphere 280000 ft
• ○ Thermosphere 280000 ft<
• 0-5% of atmosphere has water vapor with most
weather being in the troposphere. Tropopause is what
traps weather in the troposphere
Air Pressure
• The Earth's rotation results in
uneven heating of its surface, • Since the equator
nature attempts to equalize has hot air while the
the temperature and pressure poles has cold air
with weather. this leads to the cold
• The equator's air is hot and at air flowing to the
the poles, air is cold. equator and vice
• Cold air has higher pressure versa
compared to hot air.
Winds
• Tradewinds can be predicted due to the formation of
belts at 30-degree tall latitude since earth deflect
winds to the east at equator.
• Cyclonic circulation- clockwise circulation at high
pressure located at the northern hemisphere
• Anti cyclonic- counter-clockwise circulation at low
Sea breeze is where cold air from pressure located at northern hemisphere
water moves to land during the
day
Land breeze is when cold air from
the land moves to sea during night
‒ This is because land warms faster
than water in the day and water
cools slower than land at night
Temperature Changes
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE CHANGES WITH ALTITUDE, WEATHER OCCURS WHEN TEMPERATURE AND
TEMPERATURE, DENSITY, GO HIGHER TEMPERATURE, PRESSURE GRADIENTS CHANGE DRASTICALLY.
PRESSURE, AND DENSITY DECREASE
Clouds
Low Clouds: Can change rapidly, hamper visibility, and
include fog.
Middle Clouds: Can produce turbulence and icing.
High Clouds: Normally just ice crystals and are usually
no threat to aviation.
Fog
Radiation Fog- forms in low-lying areas. When the ground cools rapidly and the air
temperature reaches dew point. Eventually burns off.
Advection Fog- Wind is required. Common in coastal areas with sea breezes
Upslope Fog- moist, stable air is forced up a slope. Requires wind
Smoke Fog- when cold, dry air moves over warm water. Common over
bodies of water during the coldest
times of the year
Ice Fog- in cold weather when temps are much below
freezing
The
End