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Weather - Coggle Diagram
Weather
Weather Phenomena
Winds: Wind direction and speed have a significant impact on aircraft performance and navigation. Pilots must take into account wind patterns during takeoff, landing, and en-route flying.
Clouds: Clouds are categorized into two main types: stratiform and cumuliform. Stratiform clouds appear in layers and often bring steady precipitation, such as rain or snow. Cumuliform clouds are puffy and can develop vertically, leading to localized showers or thunderstorms.
Precipitation: Precipitation occurs when water droplets or ice crystals fall from clouds. It can take various forms, including rain, drizzle, snow, sleet, and hail. Pilots need to be aware of precipitation types and intensities to make informed decisions during flight.
Cumulonimbus and Thunderstorms: Cumulonimbus clouds are towering clouds associated with thunderstorms. These storms can produce strong turbulence, lightning, heavy rain, and hail, posing significant hazards to aviation.
Mist and Fog: Mist and fog are caused by the condensation of water vapor near the ground. Fog reduces visibility and can lead to flight delays or cancellations. Pilots must exercise caution when operating in foggy conditions and may require special instrument approaches for landing.
METARs
Wind: METAR reports provide information about wind direction and speed. Wind direction is given in degrees from which the wind is blowing (e.g., 270 degrees for west), and wind speed is given in knots (kt).
Clouds: Cloud cover is reported using specific codes indicating the amount, height, and type of clouds present. For example, "FEW" means few clouds, "SCT" means scattered clouds, and "BKN" means broken clouds. Cloud height is reported in feet above ground level.
Temperature: The air temperature is reported in degrees Celsius (°C) or Fahrenheit (°F), depending on the country's standard. This provides pilots with information about the temperature at the reporting station.
Visibility: Visibility refers to the distance at which objects can be clearly seen. It is reported in statute miles (SM) or meters (m). Visibility values are provided based on prevailing conditions, such as mist, fog, rain, or snow.
Pressure: Atmospheric pressure, also known as barometric pressure, is reported in inches of mercury (inHg) or hectopascals (hPa). This information helps pilots understand the current weather patterns and make decisions accordingly.
Turbolence
Mechanical turbulence occurs when the wind encounters obstacles such as mountains, buildings, or rough terrain. As the wind flows over these obstacles, it becomes turbulent, causing sudden changes in air movement and sometimes creating bumpy conditions for aircraft flying nearby.
Clear Air Turbulence (CAT) occurs at high altitudes in clear skies, often without any visible clouds. It is caused by differences in air temperature and wind speed within the jet stream or other atmospheric phenomena. CAT can be sudden and unexpected, making it challenging for pilots to anticipate and avoid.
Wake vortex turbulence is generated by the wingtip vortices of larger aircraft during takeoff and landing. These swirling air currents trail behind the aircraft and can persist for several minutes, posing a risk to smaller aircraft following behind. Pilots must maintain safe separation distances to avoid encountering wake vortex turbulence.
Wind shear occurs when there is a sudden change in wind speed or direction over a short distance. This can happen near the ground due to friction with the Earth's surface or at higher altitudes due to differences in air masses. Wind shear can affect aircraft performance and stability, especially during takeoff and landing.
Microbursts are small, localized downdrafts of air that descend rapidly from a thunderstorm cloud to the ground. They can produce strong and sudden changes in wind speed and direction near the surface, posing a hazard to aircraft during takeoff and landing. Microbursts are associated with intense convective activity and are often accompanied by heavy rain and lightning.
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