Exam quiz Meteorology - SPL - Sailplane Pilot License

Question 1

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 2

What information is NOT found on Low-Level Significant Weather Charts (LLSWC)?

Accepted Answer

Radar echos of precipitation

Answer

Information about icing conditions

Answer

Front lines and frontal displacements

Answer

Information about turbulence areas

Question 3

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 4

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 5

What is referred to as mountain wind?

Accepted Answer

Wind blowing down the mountain side during the night

Answer

Wind blowing uphill from the valley during the night

Answer

Wind blowing uphill from the valley during daytime

Answer

Wind blowing down the mountain side during daytime

Question 6

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 7

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 8

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 9

The height of the tropopause of the International Standard Atmosphere (ISA) is at...

Accepted Answer

36000 ft

Answer

5500 ft

Answer

48000 ft

Answer

11000 ft

Question 10

The term "trigger temperature" is defined as the temperature which...

Accepted Answer

Must be obtained at ground level so Cumulus clouds can be formed by thermal lifts

Answer

Is reached by a thermal lift during ascend when formation of Cumulus clouds begins

Answer

Is the maximum temperature at ground level that can be reached without formation of a thunderstorm from a Cumulus cloud

Answer

Is the minimum temperature at ground level that has to be reached so formation of a thunderstorm from a Cumulus cloud can occur

Question 11

The barometric altimeter indicates height above...

Accepted Answer

A selected reference pressure level

Answer

Mean sea level

Answer

Ground

Answer

Standard pressure 1013.25 hPa

Question 12

Which force causes "wind"?

Accepted Answer

Pressure gradient force

Answer

Centrifugal force

Answer

Coriolis force

Answer

Thermal force

Question 13

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 14

Extensive high pressure areas can be found throughout the year ...

Accepted Answer

Over oceanic areas at latitudes around 30°N/S

Answer

In tropical areas, close to the equator

Answer

In areas showing extensive lifting processes

Answer

In mid latitudes along the polar front

Question 15

What conditions are mandatory for the formation of thermal thunderstorms?

Accepted Answer

Conditionally unstable atmosphere, high temperature and high humidity

Answer

Absolutely stable atmosphere, high temperature and high humidity

Answer

Absolutely stable atmosphere, high temperature and low humidity

Answer

Conditionally unstable atmosphere, low temperature and low humidity

Question 16

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 17

What pressure pattern may result from cold-air inflow in high tropospheric layers?

Accepted Answer

Formation of a low in the upper troposphere

Answer

Alternating pressure

Answer

Formation of a large ground low

Answer

Formation of a high in the upper troposphere

Question 18

What type of cloud indicates thermal updrafts?

Accepted Answer

Cumulus

Answer

Stratus

Answer

Cirrus

Answer

Lenticularis

Question 19

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 20

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 21

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 22

What type of turbulence is typically found close to the ground on the lee side during Foehn conditions?

Accepted Answer

Turbulence in rotors

Answer

Clear-air turbulence (CAT)

Answer

Inversion turbulence

Answer

Thermal turbulence

Question 23

The term "tropopause" is defined as...

Accepted Answer

The boundary area between the troposphere and the stratosphere

Answer

The layer above the troposphere showing an increasing temperature

Answer

The height above which the temperature starts to decrease

Answer

The boundary area between the mesosphere and the stratosphere

Question 24

What is the mass of a "cube of air" with the edges 1 m long, at MSL according to ISA?

Accepted Answer

1,225 kg

Answer

0,01225 kg

Answer

0,1225 kg

Answer

12,25 kg

Question 25

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 26

What clouds and weather may result from a humid and unstable air mass, that is pushed against a chain of mountains by the predominant wind and forced to rise?

Accepted Answer

Embedded CB with thunderstorms and showers of hail and/or rain

Answer

Smooth, unstructured NS cloud with light drizzle or snow (during winter)

Answer

Thin Altostratus and Cirrostratus clouds with light and steady precipitation

Answer

Overcast low stratus (high fog) with no precipitation

Question 27

The movement of air flowing together is called...

Accepted Answer

Convergence

Answer

Subsidence

Answer

Confluence

Answer

Divergence

Question 28

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 29

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 30

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 31

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 32

What weather conditions can be expected during "Foehn" on the windward side of a mountain range?

Accepted Answer

Layered clouds, mountains obscured, poor visibility, moderate or heavy rain

Answer

Dissipating clouds with unusual warming, accompanied by strong, gusty winds

Answer

Calm wind and forming of high stratus clouds (high fog)

Answer

Scattered cumulus clouds with showers and thunderstorms

Question 33

How do spread and relative humidity change with increasing temperature?

Accepted Answer

Spread increases, relative humidity decreases

Answer

Spread remains constant, relative humidity increases

Answer

Spread remains constant, relative humidity decreases

Answer

Spread increases, relative humidity increases

Question 34

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 35

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 36

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 37

What pressure pattern can be observed when a cold front is passing?

Accepted Answer

Shortly decreasing, thereafter increasing pressure

Answer

Continually increasing pressure

Answer

Continually decreasing pressure

Answer

Constant pressure pattern

Question 38

The pressure at MSL in ISA conditions is...

Accepted Answer

1013.25 hPa

Answer

113.25 hPa

Answer

15 hPa

Answer

1123 hPa

Question 39

Which type of cloud is associated with prolonged rain?

Accepted Answer

Nimbostratus

Answer

Altocumulus

Answer

Cumulonimbus

Answer

Cirrostratus

Question 40

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 41

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 42

What factor may affect the top of cumulus clouds?

Accepted Answer

The presence of an inversion layer

Answer

The spread

Answer

Relative humidity

Answer

The absolute humidity

Question 43

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 44

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

Question 45

What weather phenomena have to be expected around an upper-level trough?

Accepted Answer

Development of showers and thunderstorms (Cb)

Answer

Calm weather, formation of lifted fog layers

Answer

Calm wind, forming of shallow cumulus clouds

Answer

Formation of high stratus clouds, ground-covering cloud bases

Question 46

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 47

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 48

What cloud sequence can typically be observed during the passage of a warm front?

Accepted Answer

Cirrus, thickening altostratus and altocumulus clouds, lowering cloud base with rain, nimbostratus

Answer

Wind becoming calm, dissipation of clouds and warming during summer; formation of extended high fog layers during winter

Answer

Squall line with showers of rain and thunderstorms (Cb), gusting wind followed by cumulus clouds with isolated showers of rain

Answer

In coastal areas during daytime wind from the coast and forming of cumulus clouds, dissipation of clouds during evening and night

Question 49

How does air temperature change in ISA from MSL to approx. 10.000 m height?

Accepted Answer

From +15° to -50°C

Answer

From +30° to -40°C

Answer

From +20° to -40°C

Answer

From -15° to 50°C

Question 50

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

Accepted Answer

Cirrus

Answer

Altocumulus

Answer

Cumulus

Answer

Stratus

Question 51

What weather development will result from convergence at ground level?

Accepted Answer

Ascending air and cloud formation

Answer

Descending air and cloud dissipation

Answer

Ascending air and cloud dissipation

Answer

Descending air and cloud formation

Question 52

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 53

At what rate does the temperature change with increasing height according to ISA (ICAO Standard Atmosphere) within the troposphere?

Accepted Answer

Decreases by 2° C / 1000 ft

Answer

Increases by 2° C / 100 m

Answer

Decreases by 2° C / 100 m

Answer

Increases by 2° C / 1000 ft

Question 54

What situation is called "over-development" in a weather report?

Accepted Answer

Vertical development of Cumulus clouds to rain showers

Answer

Change from blue thermals to cloudy thermals during the afternoon

Answer

Development of a thermal low to a storm depression

Answer

Widespread spreading of Cumulus clouds below an inversion layer

Question 55

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 56

How does inflowing cold air affect the shape and vertical distance between pressure layers?

Accepted Answer

Decrease in vertical distance, lowering in height (low pressure)

Answer

Increasing vertical distance, raise in height (high pressure)

Answer

Decreasing vertical distance, raise in height (high pressure)

Answer

Increase in vertical distance, lowering in height (low pressure)

Question 57

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 58

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 59

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 60

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

Accepted Answer

+RA

Answer

RA

Answer

SHRA

Answer

+SHRA

Question 61

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 62

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 63

Which answer contains every state of water found in the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

Liquid, solid, and gaseous

Answer

Liquid

Answer

Gaseous and liquid

Answer

Liquid and solid

Question 64

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

Exam simulation Meteorology SPL - Sailplane Pilot License

Exam simulation SPL Meteorology 120 questions on 120 minutes