Exam quiz Meteorology - SPL - Sailplane Pilot License

Question 1

The "spread" is defined as...

Accepted Answer

Difference between actual temperature and dew point.

Answer

Difference between dew point and condensation point.

Answer

Relation of actual to maximum possible humidity of air

Answer

Maximum amount of water vapour that can be contained in air.

Question 2

What is the gas composition of "air"?

Accepted Answer

Oxygen 21 % Nitrogen 78 % Noble gases / carbon dioxide 1 %

Answer

Oxygen 78 % Water vapour 21 % Nitrogen 1 %

Answer

Oxygen 21 % Water vapour 78 % Noble gases / carbon dioxide 1 %

Answer

Nitrogen 21 % Oxygen 78 % Noble gases / carbon dioxide 1 %

Question 3

The pressure at MSL in ISA conditions is...

Accepted Answer

1013.25 hPa.

Answer

113.25 hPa.

Answer

15 hPa.

Answer

1123 hPa.

Question 4

What is the ISA standard pressure at FL 180 (5500 m)?

Accepted Answer

500 hPa

Answer

300 hPa

Answer

250 hPa

Answer

1013.25 hPa

Question 5

Which type of cloud is associated with prolonged rain?

Accepted Answer

Nimbostratus

Answer

Altocumulus

Answer

Cumulonimbus

Answer

Cirrostratus

Question 6

The dry adiabatic lapse rate has a value of...

Accepted Answer

1,0° C / 100 m.

Answer

0,65° C / 100 m.

Answer

2° / 1000 ft.

Answer

0,6° C / 100 m.

Question 7

An inversion is a layer ...

Accepted Answer

With increasing temperature with increasing height

Answer

With constant temperature with increasing height

Answer

With increasing pressure with increasing height

Answer

With decreasing temperature with increasing height

Question 8

What change of wind direction can be expected during the passage of a polar front low in Central Europe?

Accepted Answer

Veering wind during passage of the warm front, veering wind during passage of the cold front

Answer

Backing wind during passage of the warm front, veering wind during passage of the cold front

Answer

Veering wind during passage of the warm front, backing wind during passage of the cold front

Answer

Backing wind during passage of the warm front, backing wind during passage of the cold front

Question 9

The altimeter can be checked on the ground by setting...

Accepted Answer

QNH and comparing the indication with the airfield elevation.

Answer

QFF and comparing the indication with the airfield elevation.

Answer

QFE and comparing the indication with the airfield elevation.

Answer

QNE and checking that the indication shows zero on the ground.

Question 10

The term "beginning of thermals" refers to the moment when thermal intensity...

Accepted Answer

Becomes usable for gliding and reaches up to 600 m AGL.

Answer

Becomes usable for cross-country gliding by formation of Cu clouds.

Answer

Becomes usable for gliding and reaches up to 1200 m MSL.

Answer

Reaches up to 600 m AGL and forms Cumulus clouds.

Question 11

What are the air masses that Central Europe is mainly influenced by?

Accepted Answer

Polar cold air and tropical warm air

Answer

Arctic and polar cold air

Answer

Tropical and arctic cold air

Answer

Equatorial and tropical warm air

Question 12

What weather conditions in Central Europe are typically found in high pressure areas during summer?

Accepted Answer

Large isobar spacing with calm winds, formation of local wind systems

Answer

Small isobar spacing with calm winds, formation of local wind systems

Answer

Large isobar spacing with strong prevailing westerly winds

Answer

Small isobar spacing with strong prevailing northerly winds

Question 13

What visual flight conditions can be expected after the passage of a cold front?

Accepted Answer

Good visibility, formation of cumulus clouds with showers of rain or snow

Answer

Poor visibility, formation of overcast or ground-covering stratus clouds, snow

Answer

Scattered cloud layers, visibility more than 5 km, formation of shallow cumulus clouds

Answer

Medium visibility with lowering cloud bases, onset of prolonged precipitation

Question 14

What is meant by "inversion layer"?

Accepted Answer

An atmospheric layer where temperature increases with increasing height

Answer

An atmospheric layer where temperature decreases with increasing height

Answer

An atmospheric layer with constant temperature with increasing height

Answer

A boundary area between two other layers within the atmosphere

Question 15

Which of the following conditions are most favourable for ice accretion?

Accepted Answer

Temperatures between 0° C and -12° C, presence of supercooled water droplets (clouds)

Answer

Temperatures below 0° C, strong wind, sky clear of clouds

Answer

Temperatures between -20° C and -40° C, presence of ice crystals (Ci clouds)

Answer

Temperatures between +10° C and -30° C, presence of hail (clouds)

Question 16

The symbol labeled (1) as shown in the picture is a / an... See figure (MET-005)

Accepted Answer

Cold front

Answer

Front aloft

Answer

Occlusion

Answer

Warm front

Question 17

What chart shows areas of precipitation?

Accepted Answer

Radar picture

Answer

Satellite picture

Answer

Wind chart

Answer

GAFOR

Question 18

What conditions are favourable for the formation of thunderstorms?

Accepted Answer

Warm humid air, conditionally unstable environmental lapse rate

Answer

Calm winds and cold air, overcast cloud cover with St or As.

Answer

Warm and dry air, strong inversion layer

Answer

Clear night over land, cold air and patches of fog

Question 19

What is the mean height of the tropopause according to ISA (ICAO Standard Atmosphere)?

Accepted Answer

11000 m

Answer

11000 ft

Answer

18000 ft

Answer

36000 m

Question 20

Light turbulence always has to be expected...

Accepted Answer

Below cumulus clouds due to thermal convection.

Answer

Above cumulus clouds due to thermal convection.

Answer

Below stratiform clouds in medium layers.

Answer

When entering inversions.

Question 21

What weather conditions may be expected during conditionally unstable conditions?

Accepted Answer

Towering cumulus, isolated showers of rain or thunderstorms

Answer

Layered clouds up to high levels, prolonged rain or snow

Answer

Sky clear of clouds, sunshine, low winds

Answer

Shallow cumulus clouds with base at medium levels

Question 22

What type of cloud indicates thermal updrafts?

Accepted Answer

Cumulus

Answer

Stratus

Answer

Cirrus

Answer

Lenticularis

Question 23

What danger is most imminent during an approach to an airfield situated in a valley, with strong wind aloft blowing perpendicular to the mountain ridge?

Accepted Answer

Wind shear during descent, wind direction may change by 180°

Answer

Reduced visibility, maybe loss of sight to the airfield during final approach

Answer

Formation of medium to heavy clear ice on all aircraft surfaces

Answer

Heavy downdrafts within rainfall areas below thunderstorm clouds

Question 24

The movement of air flowing apart is called...

Accepted Answer

Divergence.

Answer

Convergence.

Answer

Concordence.

Answer

Subsidence.

Question 25

What process causes latent heat being released into the upper troposphere?

Accepted Answer

Cloud forming due to condensation

Answer

Descending air across widespread areas

Answer

Evaporation over widespread water areas

Answer

Stabilisation of inflowing air masses

Question 26

What change in thermal activity may be expected with cirrus clouds coming up from one direction and becoming more dense, blocking the sun?

Accepted Answer

Cirrus clouds prevent insolation and impair thermal activity.

Answer

Cirrus clouds may intensify insolation and improve thermal activity

Answer

Cirrus clouds indicate an high-level inversion with thermal activity ongoing up to that level

Answer

Cirrus clouds indicate instability and beginning of over-development

Question 27

What situation may result in the occurrence of severe wind shear?

Accepted Answer

When a shower is visible close to the airfield

Answer

Flying ahead of a warm front with visible Ci clouds

Answer

Cross-country flying below Cu clouds with about 4 octas coverage

Answer

During final approach, 30 min after a heavy shower has passed the airfield

Question 28

Moderate to severe turbulence has to be expected...

Accepted Answer

On the lee side of a mountain range when rotor clouds are present.

Answer

Below thick cloud layers on the windward side of a mountain range.

Answer

Overhead unbroken cloud layers.

Answer

With the appearance of extended low stratus clouds (high fog).

Question 29

What factors may indicate a tendency to fog formation?

Accepted Answer

Low spread, decreasing temperature

Answer

Strong winds, decreasing temperature

Answer

Low pressure, increasing temperature

Answer

Low spread, increasing temperature

Question 30

Which process may result in an inversion layer at about 5000 ft (1500 m) height?

Accepted Answer

Widespread descending air within a high pressure area

Answer

Ground cooling by radiation during the night

Answer

Intensive sunlight insolation during a warm summer day

Answer

Advection of cool air in the upper troposphere

Question 31

Mountain side updrafts can be intensified by ...

Accepted Answer

Solar irradiation on the windward side

Answer

Solar irradiation on the lee side

Answer

Thermal radiation of the windward side during the night

Answer

Warming of upper atmospheric layers

Question 32

The gliding weather report states environmental instability. In the morning, dew covers grass and no thermals are presently active. What development can be expected for thermal activity?

Accepted Answer

With ongoing insolation and ground warming, thermal lifting is likely to begin

Answer

Formation of dew prevents all thermal activity during the following day

Answer

Environmental instability prevents air from being lifted and no thermals will be generated

Answer

After sunset and formation of a ground-level inversion thermal activity is likely to begin

Question 33

With regard to global circulation within the atmosphere, where does polar cold air meet subtropical warm air?

Accepted Answer

At the polar front

Answer

At the equator

Answer

At the subtropical high pressure belt

Answer

At the geographic poles

Question 34

The symbol labeled (2) as shown in the picture is a / an... See figure (MET-005)

Accepted Answer

Warm front

Answer

Front aloft

Answer

Cold front

Answer

Occlusion

Question 35

Under which conditions "back side weather" ("Rückseitenwetter") can be expected?

Accepted Answer

After passing of a cold front

Answer

Before passing of an occlusion

Answer

During Foehn at the lee side

Answer

After passing of a warm front

Question 36

When air masses meet each other head on, how is this referred to and what air movements will follow?

Accepted Answer

Convergence resulting in air being lifted

Answer

Divergence resulting in air being lifted

Answer

Convergence resulting in sinking air

Answer

Divergence resulting in sinking air

Question 37

How is an air mass described when moving to Central Europe via the Russian continent during winter?

Accepted Answer

Continental polar air

Answer

Maritime tropical air

Answer

Maritime polar air

Answer

Continental tropical air

Question 38

While planning a 500 km triangle flight, there is a squall line 100 km west of the departure airfield, extending from north to south, moving east. Concerning the weather situation, what decision would be recommendable?

Accepted Answer

To postpone the flight to another day

Answer

To change plans and start the triangle heading east

Answer

To plan the flight below cloud base of the thunderstorms

Answer

During flight, to look for spacing between thunderstorms

Question 39

Which conditions are likely for the formation of advection fog?

Accepted Answer

Warm, humid air moves over a cold surface

Answer

Warm, humid air cools during a cloudy night

Answer

Cold, humid air moves over a warm ocean

Answer

Humidity evaporates from warm, humid ground into cold air

Question 40

What wind is reported as 225/15?

Accepted Answer

South-west wind with 15 kt

Answer

North-east wind with 15 kt

Answer

South-west wind with 15 km/h

Answer

North-east wind with 15 km/h

Question 41

A boundary between a cold polar air mass and a warm subtropical air mass showing no horizontal displacement is called...

Accepted Answer

Stationary front

Answer

Cold front

Answer

Warm front

Answer

Occluded front

Question 42

What pressure pattern can be observed during the passage of a polar front low?

Accepted Answer

Falling pressure in front of the warm front, constant pressure within the warm sector, rising pressure behind the cold front

Answer

Rising pressure in front of the warm front, constant pressure within the warm sector, rising pressure behind the cold front

Answer

Rising pressure in front of the warm front, rising pressure within the warm sector, falling pressure behind the cold front

Answer

Falling pressure in front of the warm front, constant pressure within the warm sector, falling pressure behind the cold front

Question 43

The saturated adiabatic lapse rate should be assumed with a mean value of:

Accepted Answer

0,6° C / 100 m.

Answer

1,0° C / 100 m.

Answer

2° C / 1000 ft.

Answer

0° C / 100 m.

Question 44

What temperatures are most dangerous with respect to airframe icing?

Accepted Answer

0° to -12° C

Answer

+20° to -5° C

Answer

-20° to -40° C

Answer

.+5° to -10° C

Question 45

Measured pressure distribution in MSL and corresponding frontal systems are displayed by the...

Accepted Answer

Surface weather chart

Answer

Hypsometric chart

Answer

Prognostic chart

Answer

Significant Weather Chart (SWC)

Question 46

Temperatures will be given by meteorological aviation services in Europe in which unit?

Accepted Answer

Degrees Centigrade (° C)

Answer

Gpdam

Answer

Kelvin

Answer

Degrees Fahrenheit

Question 47

In a METAR, "(moderate) showers of rain" are designated by the identifier...

Accepted Answer

SHRA

Answer

+TSRA

Answer

TS

Answer

+RA

Question 48

An inversion layer close to the ground can be caused by...

Accepted Answer

Ground cooling during the night.

Answer

Thickening of clouds in medium layers.

Answer

Large-scale lifting of air

Answer

Intensifying and gusting winds.

Question 49

How can wind speed and wind direction be derived from surface weather charts?

Accepted Answer

By alignment and distance of isobaric lines

Answer

By annotations from the text part of the chart

Answer

By alignment and distance of hypsometric lines

Answer

By alignment of lines of warm- and cold fronts.

Question 50

What weather phenomenon designated by "2" has to be expected on the lee side during "Foehn" conditions? See figure (MET-001).

Accepted Answer

Altocumulus lenticularis

Answer

Cumulonimbus

Answer

Altocumulus Castellanus

Answer

Nimbostratus

Question 51

What cloud type does the picture show? See figure (MET-004).

Accepted Answer

Cirrus

Answer

Altocumulus

Answer

Cumulus

Answer

Stratus

Question 52

What can be expected for the prevailing wind with isobars on a surface weather chart showing large distances?

Accepted Answer

Low pressure gradients resulting in low prevailing wind

Answer

Strong pressure gradients resulting in low prevailing wind

Answer

Strong pressure gradients resulting in strong prevailing wind

Answer

Low pressure gradients resulting in strong prevailing wind

Question 53

What information can be obtained from satellite images?

Accepted Answer

Overview of cloud covers and front lines

Answer

Turbulence and icing

Answer

Temperature and dew point of environmental air

Answer

Flight visibility, ground visibility, and ground contact

Question 54

Which type of ice forms by very small water droplets and ice crystals hitting the front surfaces of an aircraft?

Accepted Answer

Rime ice

Answer

Clear ice

Answer

Mixed ice

Answer

Hoar frost

Question 55

Which of the stated surfaces will reduce the wind speed most due to ground friction?

Accepted Answer

Mountainous areas, vegetation cover

Answer

Flat land, lots of vegetation cover

Answer

Flat land, deserted land, no vegetation

Answer

Oceanic areas

Question 56

"Foehn" conditions usually develop with...

Accepted Answer

Stability, widespread air blown against a mountain ridge.

Answer

Instability, high pressure area with calm wind.

Answer

Stability, high pressure area with calm wind.

Answer

Instability, widespread air blown against a mountain ridge.

Question 57

With regard to thunderstorms, strong up- and downdrafts appear during the...

Accepted Answer

Mature stage

Answer

Dissipating stage

Answer

Initial stage

Answer

Thunderstorm stage

Question 58

How do dew point and relative humidity change with decreasing temperature?

Accepted Answer

Dew point remains constant, relative humidity increases

Answer

Dew point decreases, relative humidity increases

Answer

Dew point increases, relative humidity decreases

Answer

Dew point remains constant, relative humidity decreases

Question 59

The barometric altimeter with QNH setting indicates...

Accepted Answer

Height above MSL

Answer

True altitude above MSL.

Answer

Height above the pressure level at airfield elevation.

Answer

Height above standard pressure 1013.25 hPa.

Question 60

Heavy downdrafts and strong wind shear close to the ground can be expected...

Accepted Answer

Near the rainfall areas of heavy showers or thunderstorms

Answer

During approach to an airfield at the coast with a strong sea breeze

Answer

During cold, clear nights with the formation of radiation fog

Answer

During warm summer days with high, flatted Cu clouds

Question 61

In a METAR, "heavy rain" is designated by the identifier...

Accepted Answer

+RA

Answer

RA

Answer

SHRA

Answer

+SHRA

Question 62

What is meant by "isothermal layer"?

Accepted Answer

An atmospheric layer with constant temperature with increasing height

Answer

An atmospheric layer where temperature decreases with increasing height

Answer

A boundary area between two other layers within the atmosphere

Answer

An atmospheric layer where temperature increases with increasing height

Question 63

What phenomenon is referred to as "blue thermals"?

Accepted Answer

Thermals without formation of Cu clouds

Answer

Thermals with less than 4/8 Cu coverage

Answer

Descending air between Cumulus clouds

Answer

Turbulence in the vicinity of Cumulonimbus clouds

Question 64

What cloud type can typically be observed across widespread high pressure areas during summer?

Accepted Answer

Scattered Cu clouds

Answer

Overcast low stratus

Answer

Overcast Ns clouds

Answer

Squall lines and thunderstorms

Exam simulation Meteorology - SPL - Sailplane Pilot License

Exam simulation SPL Meteorology 120 questions on 120 minutes

Exam simulation Meteorology - SPL - Sailplane Pilot License

Exam simulation SPL Meteorology 120 questions on 120 minutes

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