WMU Environmental Lapse Rate Lab

Lab 3Name:
Directions:
This is the last lab and (because I’m a nice guy) it’s only a two-day
exercise. The goal is to get familiar with the winds and temperatures aloft chart and be
able to extract some information from it. There is a lot of information (other than just the
winds and temps from your selected altitude) that you can get from these products and
this assignment will point out some of those.
MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE ALL UNITS.
Day 1 of 2
Use the following winds/temps product to answer the questions.
1. Data valid time (2pt)
2. What are the winds and temps at 6,000ft over ATL? (3pts)
3. What are the winds and temps at 18,000ft over ATL? (3pts)
4. What are the winds and temps at 34,000ft over ATL? (3pts)
5. Given the temps at 34,00ft over ATL, would you expect to encounter icing
conditions at that altitude? (3pts)
6. What are the winds at 6,000ft over MIA? (2pts)
7. Using the temperatures where would you expect the freezing level to be over
ATL? (Use a standard lapse rate for your calculations and be exact. For example, if it is
5°C at 12,000ft and -5°C at 18,000ft give me your freezing level at 15,000ft.) (3pts)
8. What is the environmental lapse rate between 3,000ft and 12,000ft over ATL?
What information is this giving you (think about the slide that has the differing
lapse rates)? Be specific. “Stable” or “Unstable” will result in a complete
deduction of points? (4pts)
End of day 1. Save your work.
Day 2 of 2
Use the following winds/temps product to answer the questions.
1. Data valid time (2pt)
2. What are the winds and temps at 6,000ft over FWA? (3pts)
3. Given the temperature at 6,000ft over FWA, where would you expect the
freezing level to be if the temperature lapse rate were an actual 2 degrees
C/1,000ft. (3pts)
4. What are the winds and temps at 18,000ft over FWA? (3pts)
5. What are the winds and temps at 39,000ft over FWA? (3pts)
6. Look at the upper level winds for FWA. At what altitude is the core of the jet
stream? (3pts)
7. Upper level wind velocities indicate that the polar jet stream is near southern
Michigan down to central Indiana. Using this information, what time of year was
this forecast published? You don’t necessarily have to give me an exact month
but an answer like “it is most likely early/late (insert season) because the polar
jetstream is further south/north (select one)” will suffice. (3pts)
8. Given the gradual temperature lapse rate in the high altitudes, would you
expect to encounter turbulence in the core of the jetstream? (3pts)
9. Compare the temps at 39,000ft over FWA. Where would you expect the top of
the troposphere? (3pts)
10. Why is it important for pilots to understand the position of the troposphere?
Think about where weather occurs and fuel consumption/performance measures
that we talked about earlier this semester. (4pts)
End of day 2. Save your work.
10/26/2020
Weather Charts
Weather Depiction Chart
• The Weather Depiction Chart is being phased out by the NWS, in favor of
newer ceiling and visibility products, like the CVA product.
• CVA
 Computer generated + frontal analysis
 Transmitted every 3 hours
 Pictorial METAR
 Plotted data: abbreviated station model
• Total sky cover
• Cloud height
• Wx & obstructions to visibility
• Visibility

Analysis: IFR/MVFR/VFR
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LOW LEVEL SIGNIFICANT WEATHER (SIGWX)
• Issue
• 4 x daily
• 2 Charts
• 12-hour prog
• 24-hour prog
• Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) areas are outlined with a solid red line
• Marginal Visual Flight Rules (MVFR) areas are outlined with a
scalloped blue line
• Visual Flight Rules (VFR) areas are not depicted
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• Areas of moderate or greater turbulence are enclosed by bold,
dashed, yellow lines
• Intensities are identified by standard symbols
• Height is depicted by two numbers separated by a solidus /
• When the base height is omitted, the turbulence is forecast to reach
the surface
• The freezing level at the surface is depicted by a blue, saw-toothed
symbol
• Freezing levels above the surface are depicted by fine, green, dashed
lines labeled in hundreds of feet MSL beginning at 4,000 feet using
4,000 foot intervals
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SYMBOLS
SYMBOLS
SYMBOLS
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SYMBOLS
Volcanic Eruption
Release of Radioactive Materials
HIGH LEVEL SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
(SIGWX)
• High-Level significant weather (SIGWX) forecasts are
provided for the en-route portion of international flights.
• Used to determine an overview of selected flying weather
conditions between FL250 and FL630.
• The charts are available for different ICAO areas around the
world.
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Symbols
• Symbology the same as Mid-Level SIGWX Chart
plus
Severe Squall Lines
Wide Spread Sandstorms
And Dust storms
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PROG CHARTS
PROG ISSUANCE
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STATION PLOT MODEL
28
Moving NE at 75 kts
Tops 30,000ft
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WINDS AND TEMPS ALOFT
• Winds and temps
FT
3000 6000
FWA
2910 2913-17 2917-19 2824-22 2637-32 2468-42 239351 730747 730351
9000
12000
18000
24000
30000
34000
39000
• 3,000ft temp is considered to be surface temp
• Break everything into 2-digit increments:
• 29/13/-17
• Winds 290T at 13kts and temp is -17ᵒC
• 730747
• 73/07/47?????
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WINDS AND TEMPS ALOFT
• 73-50= 23
• 07+100= 107
• 47= -47ᵒC
***Temps NEG ABV 24000***
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