SAMRA 16-3

Meteorology Key Concepts

• UHF/VHF airway width at low levels is 8 NM, indicating the spacing for air navigation purposes.
• A maritime front occurs between maritime polar (MP) and maritime tropical (MT) air masses, characterized by the interaction of moisture-laden air.
• Temperature is the primary determinant of how much water vapor air can hold, with warmer air being able to retain more moisture.
• Stratus clouds typically produce light precipitation, including drizzle and freezing drizzle (FRDZ).
• Squall lines associated with cold fronts are characterized as long and narrow structures that often feature thunderstorms (TS).
• VOLMET broadcasts include METAR, TAF, and SIGMET reports, with High Frequency (HF) frequencies available in the Communications Flight Services (CFS) information.
• Contour lines represent equal values on a surface, typically used in meteorological maps to indicate pressure or temperature levels.
• Cloud coverage quantified in oktas, where 0-2 oktas represent a few clouds (e.g., Few008).
• Low-level nocturnal jet streams typically occur during summer months and are associated with temperature inversions, impacting local weather patterns.