Methods Of Collecting Weather Information PDF

OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Methods of collecting weather information Weather radar Weather balloon OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Methods of collecting weather information Weather balloon Weather satellite Human observer OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Weather Satellites • Geos...

OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Methods of collecting weather information Weather radar Weather balloon OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Methods of collecting weather information Weather balloon Weather satellite Human observer OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Weather Satellites • Geostationary satellites • High altitude (~ 36,000 km) • Orbit the Earth over the Equator at the same speed as Earth’s rotation so that it can monitor the same area on Earth continuously • Polar-orbiting satellites • Low altitude (~ 800 km) • The same area on Earth will pass under it twice per day • Examples of weather satellites: • Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) launched by USA https://www.nasa.gov/content/goes • Elektro-L launched by Russia http://www.russianspaceweb.com/elektro.html • Multifunctional Transport Satellite (MTSAT) launched by Japan https://www.jma.go.jp/jma/jma-eng/satellite/introduction/MTSAT_series.html • Fengyun launched by China https://spacenews.com/china-launches-fengyun-4bmeteorological-satellite/ • Meteosat launched by Europe https://www.eumetsat.int/our-satellites/meteosat-series OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Weather Satellite Picture OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Significant Weather (SIGWX) Chart • SIGWX charts are issued by World Area Forecast Centres (WAFC) every 6 hours. They present the most important meteorological phenomena relevant to air traffic transport. The types of charts are: • Low-level charts (< 10,000 ft) • Medium/High-level charts (FL100 to FL 450) • Symbols found on chart and their meaning: • - Moderate icing • - Severe icing • - Moderate turbulence • - Severe turbulence OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Significant Weather (SIGWX) Chart • Common codes found on chart and their meanings are as follows: OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Low-level SIGWX chart OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE High-level SIGWX chart OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Interpreting High-level SIGWX chart Convergence zone: Isolated embedded cumulonimbus cloud (expect to have thunderstorm, icing, turbulence etc.). Top of cloud at 41,000 ft., base of cloud layer is below the lower boundary of chart. Moderate Clear Air Turbulence (CAT) from 30,000 ft. to 40,000 ft. Jetstream with maximum speed of 90 kts. at 34,000 ft. Active volcano named Dukono at the following coordinates: 1.7°N 127.9°E Low tropopause height of 28,000 ft. OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Surface Weather Map OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Surface Weather Map - Wind Barbs http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/html/stationplot.shtml OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Surface Weather Map - Sky Cover http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/html/stationplot.shtml OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Surface Weather Map - Types of Weather http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/html/stationplot.shtml OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Surface Weather Map - Pressure Trend http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/html/stationplot.shtml OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Station Model - Interpretation A station model is a symbolic illustration showing the weather occurring at a given reporting station. Temperature: 57°F Sea level pressure: 1010.6 mb Visibility: 1 statute mile Thunderstorms with rain Dew point: 56°F The pressure has decreased by 0.7mb in the last 3 hours. Pressure was initially falling before becoming steady at the current value of 1010.6mb Mostly cloudy (≈ 75% cloud cover) Wind direction: From ≈ 225° at 65 kts OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Significant Meteorological Information – SIGMET • The purpose of SIGMET is to advise pilots of the occurrence or expected occurrence of en-route weather phenomena that reduces visibility to less than 3 NM. • e.g. embedded thunderstorm, towering cumulonimbus clouds, severe icing, volcanic ash, squall • Period of validity should not be more than 4 hours. • If the SIGMET is for Volcanic Ash and/or Tropical Cyclone, the period of validity shall be extended up to 6 hours. • SIGMET shall be passed to all aircraft in flight which may affect the route ahead up to 1000 NM. • Information shall cover a portion of the route up to 2 hours flying time ahead of the aircraft. OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Significant Meteorological Information – SIGMET • WSSR20 WSSS 181750WSJC SIGMET 5 VALID 181800/182200 WSSS-WSJC SINGAPORE FIR EMBD TS OBS S OF LINE N0630 E103 - N0430 E11130INTSF= OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Another example of SIGMET • Volcanic ash SIGMET issued on 10 Jul 2015: https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/holidaymakersstranded-volcano-closes-bali-airport-045930294.html WAAF SIGMET 02 VALID 100140/100740 WAAAWAAF UJUNG PANDANG FIR VA ERUPTION MT RAUNG PSN S0807 E11402 VA CLD OBS AT 10/0140Z SFC/FL170 S0805 E11400 S0815 E11555 S0925 E11535 S0820 E11400 S0805 E11400 MOV SE 10KT FCST VA CLD : 10/0740Z SFC/FL170 S0805 E11400 S0815 E11555 S0925 E11535 S0820 E11400 S0805 E11400= OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Airmen’s Meteorological Information (AIRMET) AIRMET is an automatic report sent from aircraft’s computer to national weather service. AIRMET deals with weather of less severity than that covered by SIGMETs. The three categories are: • AIRMET Sierra • Mountain obscuration • Ceilings less than 1000 feet • Visibility less than 3 miles affecting over 50% of the area at one time. • AIRMET Tango • Turbulence • Sustained surface winds of 30 knots or more at the surface • AIRMET Zulu • Icing OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Airmen’s Meteorological Information (AIRMET) AIRMET Sierra OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Airmen’s Meteorological Information (AIRMET) AIRMET Tango OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Airmen’s Meteorological Information (AIRMET) AIRMET Zulu OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Textual AIRMET Example WAUS46 KKCI 081445 SFOS WA 081445 AIRMET SIERRA UPDT 4 FOR IFR AND MTN OBSCN VALID UNTIL 082100 CIG BLW 010/VIS BLW 3SM BR/FG. CONDS CONTG BYD 21Z ENDG 21-00Z. OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Graphical AIRMET (G-AIRMET) OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Pilot Report (PIREP) • PIREPs are weather reports are as observed by pilots. They can be filed verbally by pilots during flight e.g. “Oxford Radio, Cessna 57 Golf.” "57 Golf, Oxford Radio, go ahead.“ "We're level 230 on an IFR flight from Minneapolis to Boston. Climbing out of Minneapolis, tops of the overcast at one two thousand, clear above, negative icing, negative turbulence. At 230, winds are 240 degrees at 43 knots.” OFFICIAL (CLOSED) \ NON-SENSITIVE Interpreting the Synoptic Chart • A Synoptic chart shows the distribution of meteorological conditions over a wide region. Longitudes The line marks out a trough, which contains unstable, turbulent air. Area of high pressure: 1029 mb Pressure is constant along the lines known as isobars. The numbers are the magnitude of the pressure