JOINT AVIATION AUTHORITIES ~ AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT’S LICENCE Theoretical Knowledge Manual 050 METEOROLOGY First Edition, Second Impression. APPROVEDL@ This learning material has ol poproved JAA compliant by the United Kingd Civil ‘Aviation ‘Authority. (CRF ORD —:—- 3S jJEPPESEN. WIATION TRAININGChapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 ‘Chapter 11 ‘Chapter 12 ‘Chapter 13 ‘Chapter 14 ‘Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 ‘Chapter 18 Chapter 19 ‘Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 ‘Chapter 23 ‘Chapter 24 ‘Chapter 25 ‘Chapter 26 ‘Chapter 27 METEOROLOGY TABLE OF CONTENTS: The Atmosphere Pressure Density Synoptic Charts Pressure Systems Altimetry ‘Temperature Humidity Adiabatics & Stability Turbulence Winds Upper Winds Clouds Cloud Formation and Precipitation Thunderstorms Visibility Icing Documentation Weather Charts ‘Air Masses Occlusions Other Depressions Global Climatology Local Winds and Weather ‘Area Climatology Route Climatology Satellite ObservationsAMENDMENT SERVICE An amendment service to this series is provided free of charge on the Oxford Aviation Training website at http./www.oxfordaviation.nev/products/studyaids/amend.htm First Edition : May 2001 Second Impression : October 2001 - incorporating Amendment List 1 10 Edition 112 13 14 1s 16 17 18 19 110 LiL 112 CHAPTER ONE - THE ATMOSPHERE. Contents Page A DEFINITION OF METEOROLOGY... 20 .00000epeeeeeeseeeeee ded REASONS FOR STUDYING METEOROLOGY. ....... seceded A DEFINITION OF THE ATMOSPHERE. ‘THE CONSTITUENTS OF THE ATMOSPHERE (BY VOLUME). .........1+2 PROPERTIES OF THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE. ...2.0000000200e0004. 122 ‘THE STRUCTURE OF THE ATMOSPHERE... ‘THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TROPOPAUSE HEIGHT. wee wld TEMPERATURES. 6... ....0ce0cecceecesceeebeceeeteeresrsrsessses bed ATMOSPHERIC HAZARDS. . . THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ATMOSPHERE (ISA). ........2....1+5 ISA DEVIATION. ... 21-6 ‘THE ICAO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ATMOSPHERE. ............1-8 ATMOSPHERE QUESTIONS ..METEOROLOGY THE ATMOSPHERE 1 42 A DEFINITION OF METEOROLOGY "The branch of science dealing with the earth's atmosphere and the physical processes ccccurring init." REASONS FOR STUDYING METEOROLOGY a) ») ° d) °) To gain a better understanding of meteorologists’ deductions. To gain a better understanding of meteorologists! documentation. ‘To gain a better understanding of in-flight hazards. To gain a better understanding of data and its collection. To gain a better understanding of self-forecasting. ‘Weather is the one factor in modem aviation over which man has no control, a knowledge of ‘meteorology will at least enable the aviator to anticipate some of the difficulties which ‘weather may cause. ‘Weather - influenced accidents to UK transport aircraft Thiet Tapes ate 1978-94 (tacos ‘Acres Rane abana Yer Tost Wi Pram Tesl WT Pree Tom Perea ws on am 84a wos: a7 ST wesso 65 Sa soos 216" 2511s mame rors tons tsa + eh np aad a ae AE TROT POS TG 1 setons cain eee end ter cares pepe Roath arena Yer Tua WI Perce Tost WL Pert Tol WIt Peromt msm oo 8 8a a wasse Dm iooogt ink 28 2AM Bask oso 20 ake ata aaad ‘ble 2 Weather -inuence accidents to anspor azerat by cleat of weather, 1078 94 4-4 {© Oxford Aviation Services LimitedMETEOROLOGY ‘THE ATMOSPHERE 13 14 15 ‘Alasoowe Feats iene Ne Feconage foal Ne Peerage oft) Vistity nom 66s Iioginow om 5 200 Wind weinee a3 2 Bs aio weray nous os ng 238 o 4 aie oe 100 Sse Table 1.2, For this course a knowledge of advanced physics is not required, but 4 knowledge of the elementary laws of motion, heating, cooling, condensation and evaporation will be useful. A DEFINITION OF THE ATMOSPHERE "The spheroidal gaseous envelope surrounding a heavenly body." THE CONSTITUENTS OF THE ATMOSPHERE (BY VOLUME) Nitrogen 78.09% Argon 0.93% Oxygen 20.98% Carbon Dioxide 0.03% Plus traces of: ‘Neon Nitrous Oxide Hetium Nitrogen Dioxide Krypton Carbon Monoxide Xenon ‘Sulphur Dioxide Hydrogen Ammonia Methane Todine and Ozone Plus water vapour and solid particles. ‘The proportions of the constituents remain constant up to a height of at least 60 kms (except for Ozone), but by 70 kms the force of gravity, being less, causes the proportions to change. ‘Although the trace of ozone in the atmosphere is important as a shield against ultra violet radiation, if the whole of the layer of ozone were brought down to sea level it would only be 3 mm thick. PROPERTIES OF THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE ‘The earth's atmosphere varies vertically and horizontally in: a) Pressure. b) Temperature, 1-2 @ Oxford Aviation Services LinedMETEOROLOGY 16 ° @ Density, ‘THE ATMOSPHERE Humidity. ‘The earth's atmosphere is a poor conductor. The earth's atmosphere is fluid ‘The earth's atmosphere supports life only at lower levels. ‘THE STRUCTURE OF THE ATMOSPHERE a) ») ° ‘The Troposphere:- i) that layor of the earths atmosphere where temperature decreases with an increase in height. ii) consists of % ofthe total atmosphere in weight. iii) contains almost all the weather. ‘The Stratosphere may be defined as that layer above the troposphere where the temperature remains constant with an increase in height. (In fact temperature shows a ‘gradual increase with height, ¢ cially at the top, where the temperature is zero at $0 ‘kms. This is due to the absorptidii of the sun's ultra violet radiation by the concentration, of ozone at higher levels) ‘The Tropopause:- i) ii) ii) ‘marks the boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere and is where temperature ceases (o fall with an increase in height. (Practically taken as the height where the temperature fall is less than 2°C per 1,000 ft.) is nota continuous line -there is usually a gap at 40 degrees of latitude between the so-called polar and. tropical tropopauses. is not uniform in height - it varies with; 1 Latinude 2) Season of the year. 3) Temperature prevailing on the day’ 4) Time of day. 1-3 /© Oxford Aviation Services LimitedMETEOROLOGY THE ATMOSPHERE. JANUARY 70° LT Figure 1.2. The Mean Height of the Tropopause at the Greenwich Meridian, ‘THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TROPOPAUSE HEIGHT ‘The significance of the tropopause height is that it usually mar 8) the maximum height ofthe cloud b) the presence of Jetstreams. ©) the presence of Clear Air Turbulence (CAT). 4) the maximum wind speed. ‘TEMPERATURES ‘Temperature in the troposphere increases from the poles to the equator. ‘Temperature in the lower stratosphere increases from the equator to the poles in summer but reaches max temperature in mid latitudes in winter, ‘The lapse rate (the rate of change of temperature with height) in the troposphere is produced by rising air, whilst that in the stratosphere is produced by solar radiation, and is in fact reversed. 1-4 (© Oxford Aviation Services LimiteMETEOROLOGY ‘THE ATMOSPHERE 19) 1.10 ATMOSPHERIC HAZARDS ‘As aircraft operating altitudes inetease, so concentrations of OZONE and COSMIC RADIATION become of greater importance to the aviator. Above 50,0008, normal concentrations of ozone exceed tolerable limits and air needs to be filtered before entering the cabin. The heat of the compressor system will assist in the breaking down of the ozone to an acceptable level Cosmic radiation is not normally hazardous, but at times of solar are activity a lower flight level may be necessary. Advances in meteorological forecasting and communications should result in pilots receiving prompt and accurate information regarding high altitude hazards, but it is important that they should be aware of these hazards and prepared to take the necessary re-planning action ‘THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ATMOSPHERE (ISA) For a variety of reasons it is necessary to establish a standard average atmosphere, describing variations in temperature, pressure and density throughout altitude. ‘There have been several different Standard Atmospheres, but the one in general use now is the ‘ICAO ISA\, dated 1964 whieh covers an atmosphere from -16,400f(-Skm) to 262.464 The ISA is needed for;- a) the calibration of aireraft instruments b) the design and testing of aireraft ‘The ICAO ISA is defined as follows; a) a MSL temperature of +15° Celsius, b) a MSL pressure of 1013.25 millibars, ©) aMSL density of 1225 grammes / cubie metre, 4d) from_-Skm, a lapse rate of 1.98° Celsius /1000 ft (6.5 degs’km) up to 36,090 fL(11 kms), ©) constant temperature of -56.5° Celsius up to 65,617 ft (20 kms), 1) anincrease of temperature of 0.3° Celsius /1000 ft(1 deg/km),up to 104,987 ft 32 kms), 1-5 {© Otord Avation Services Limited