ATSC 113 ALL EXAM MATERIALS COMBINED
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2026 STUDY
GUIDE Q&A UPDATED
⩥ what are the two types of normal clouds. Answer: CU and ST
convective/cumiliform (CU) = clouds that look like a stack of cotton
balls and are associated with updrafts
Layer/stratiform (ST) = clouds that look like sheets or blankets and can
extend hundreds of km horizontally
⩥ how do convective/cumiliform (CU) clouds form (normal clouds type
1). Answer: CU clouds form when warm humid air rises through cooler
surrounding air in the atmosphere, and the buoyancy with the warm air
drives strong updrafts.
This happens often when the air near the ground is colder than the actual
surface of the earth/ocean and the warm air rises.
⩥ what are the characteristics of convective/cumiliform (CU) clouds.
Answer: - mostly flat bases and somewhat near the ground
- come in four sizes
,- associated with updrafts
- used by birds and sailplanes who use the updrafts for a free lift
- can have weak downdrafts that cause some turbulence
⩥ what are the four sizes of convective/cumiliform (CU) clouds?.
Answer: small = cumulus humilis
medium = cumulus mediocris
large = cumulus congestus
extra large = cumulonimbus aka thunderstorms
⩥ thunderstorms are what type of cloud. Answer: extra large
convective/cumuliform (CU) clouds called cumulonimbus. these clouds
are type 1 of the normal types of clouds, the type 2 being stratiform
clouds.
⩥ what are the effects of convective/cumiliform (CU) clouds?. Answer: -
updrafts that start at ground level and extend all the way to the top of the
cloud
- weaker downdrafts that would cause a bumpy ride
- cat's paws (downdrafts hitting the water and causing rougher and
darker patches of water)
- wavy fields of grain
,⩥ what are the hazards associated with cumiliform clouds. Answer: -
strong updrafts which in thunderstorms can be a hazard (lose control of
the aircraft or break the aircraft)
⩥ how do layer/stratiform (ST) clouds form?. Answer: when warm air
moves over a wedge of cool air at ground level, causing the warm air to
slide up along the top of the surface of cold air because the warm air is
more buoyant. when the warm air rises, it cools which causes water
vapor to condense which makes the cloud
⩥ what are layer/stratiform (ST) clouds associated with. Answer: warm
fronts (because the warm air moving over a wedge of cool air, causing
the warm air to slide along the cold air because of its buoyancy is typical
of warm fronts); stratiform clouds can be often found along warm frotns
⩥ what are the categories of stratiform clouds. Answer: high, middle,
and low
high = cirrus, cirrostratus, and cirrocumulus
middle = altostratus and altocumulus
low = stratus and nimbostratus
, ⩥ what type of cloud is the halo associated with. Answer: cirrostrratus,
which is in the category of high for stratiform clouds
⩥ what type of cloud is a corona associated with. Answer: altostratus
clouds, which is in the middle category of stratiform clouds
⩥ what is the difference between stratus and nimbostratus clouds.
Answer: both appear the same because they have low cloud bases and
are dark but nimbostratus are precipitating and stratus is not; stratus also
looks more textured whereas nimbostratus looks more diffused/soft
because of the precipitation
⩥ what are the hazards associated with layer/stratiform (ST) clouds.
Answer: - not usually turbulent so you can fly smoothly through them
- need to fly IFR inside it (like any other cloud)
- if it is cold enough, ice can form on the edges of the aircraft because of
supercooled droplets
⩥ what are the types of special clouds. Answer: castellanus, billow,
lenticular, rotor, banner, and fractus clouds, pyrocumulus, pileus, fractus,
fumulus, contrails
⩥ castellanus clouds. Answer: - a type of special cloud
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2026 STUDY
GUIDE Q&A UPDATED
⩥ what are the two types of normal clouds. Answer: CU and ST
convective/cumiliform (CU) = clouds that look like a stack of cotton
balls and are associated with updrafts
Layer/stratiform (ST) = clouds that look like sheets or blankets and can
extend hundreds of km horizontally
⩥ how do convective/cumiliform (CU) clouds form (normal clouds type
1). Answer: CU clouds form when warm humid air rises through cooler
surrounding air in the atmosphere, and the buoyancy with the warm air
drives strong updrafts.
This happens often when the air near the ground is colder than the actual
surface of the earth/ocean and the warm air rises.
⩥ what are the characteristics of convective/cumiliform (CU) clouds.
Answer: - mostly flat bases and somewhat near the ground
- come in four sizes
,- associated with updrafts
- used by birds and sailplanes who use the updrafts for a free lift
- can have weak downdrafts that cause some turbulence
⩥ what are the four sizes of convective/cumiliform (CU) clouds?.
Answer: small = cumulus humilis
medium = cumulus mediocris
large = cumulus congestus
extra large = cumulonimbus aka thunderstorms
⩥ thunderstorms are what type of cloud. Answer: extra large
convective/cumuliform (CU) clouds called cumulonimbus. these clouds
are type 1 of the normal types of clouds, the type 2 being stratiform
clouds.
⩥ what are the effects of convective/cumiliform (CU) clouds?. Answer: -
updrafts that start at ground level and extend all the way to the top of the
cloud
- weaker downdrafts that would cause a bumpy ride
- cat's paws (downdrafts hitting the water and causing rougher and
darker patches of water)
- wavy fields of grain
,⩥ what are the hazards associated with cumiliform clouds. Answer: -
strong updrafts which in thunderstorms can be a hazard (lose control of
the aircraft or break the aircraft)
⩥ how do layer/stratiform (ST) clouds form?. Answer: when warm air
moves over a wedge of cool air at ground level, causing the warm air to
slide up along the top of the surface of cold air because the warm air is
more buoyant. when the warm air rises, it cools which causes water
vapor to condense which makes the cloud
⩥ what are layer/stratiform (ST) clouds associated with. Answer: warm
fronts (because the warm air moving over a wedge of cool air, causing
the warm air to slide along the cold air because of its buoyancy is typical
of warm fronts); stratiform clouds can be often found along warm frotns
⩥ what are the categories of stratiform clouds. Answer: high, middle,
and low
high = cirrus, cirrostratus, and cirrocumulus
middle = altostratus and altocumulus
low = stratus and nimbostratus
, ⩥ what type of cloud is the halo associated with. Answer: cirrostrratus,
which is in the category of high for stratiform clouds
⩥ what type of cloud is a corona associated with. Answer: altostratus
clouds, which is in the middle category of stratiform clouds
⩥ what is the difference between stratus and nimbostratus clouds.
Answer: both appear the same because they have low cloud bases and
are dark but nimbostratus are precipitating and stratus is not; stratus also
looks more textured whereas nimbostratus looks more diffused/soft
because of the precipitation
⩥ what are the hazards associated with layer/stratiform (ST) clouds.
Answer: - not usually turbulent so you can fly smoothly through them
- need to fly IFR inside it (like any other cloud)
- if it is cold enough, ice can form on the edges of the aircraft because of
supercooled droplets
⩥ what are the types of special clouds. Answer: castellanus, billow,
lenticular, rotor, banner, and fractus clouds, pyrocumulus, pileus, fractus,
fumulus, contrails
⩥ castellanus clouds. Answer: - a type of special cloud
