NIFE WEATHER Exam Questions and Answers With Verified Solutions 2025
describe the characteristics of the troposphere - ✔✔average 55000ft over the equator to 28000ft over
the poles, and average 36000ft MSL over the US. temperature decreases and winds increase with
increasing altitude, and nearly all weather occurs within it
define atmospheric pressure - ✔✔force per unit area exerted on a surface by the atmosphere due to the
weight of a column of air
state the standard units of pressure measurement - ✔✔inches of mercury and millibars
explain the term pressure gradient - ✔✔the rate of pressure change perpendicular to isobars
define a lapse rate - ✔✔the rate of temperature decrease with increasing altitude
state the average temperature lapse rate in degrees Celsius - ✔✔2C/1000ft
define the standard atmosphere - ✔✔pressure is 29.92"Hg (1013.2mb) and temp is 15C (59F) and
decreases 1"Hg (34mb) and 2C (3.5F) per 1000ft increase
differentiate between sea level pressure and station pressure - ✔✔station pressure is atmospheric
pressure measured at an airfield or weather station. all stations report sea level pressure
define indicated altitude - ✔✔altitude read directly from the altimeter
describe the effects of pressure changes on aircraft altimeters - ✔✔high pressure to low pressure results
in lower MSL than indicated. low to high pressure results in higher MSL than indicated. (hi-lo look out
below, lo-hi plenty of sky) (SETAI)
describe the effects of temperature deviations from the standard lapse rate on aircraft altimeters -
✔✔11C change results in 4% error. cold = lower than indicated, hot = higher than indicated
, define the term air mass - ✔✔a large body of air that has uniform temperature and moisture conditions
throughout a given altitude
define saturation in a classroom - ✔✔when air contains the max amount of water vapor at a given
temperature
define dew point temperature - ✔✔the temperature at which saturation occurs
explain why atmospheric circulation occurs - ✔✔descending air creates high pressure and ascending air
creates low pressure. air circulates as it flows from high to low pressure creating wind, and rises at the
equator
define a temperature inversion - ✔✔a lapse rate where temperature increases with increasing altitude
(such as in the stratosphere)
define relative humidity - ✔✔another way to measure atmospheric moisture. measured in percent. as
dew point spread decreases, relative humidity approaches 100%
define mean sea level (MSL) - ✔✔(true altitude) altitude above mean sea level
define above ground level (AGL) - ✔✔(absolute altitude) altitude above terrain
define pressure altitude - ✔✔height above the standard datum plane (when barometric pressure is
29.92"Hg)
define density altitude - ✔✔pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature (indication of
aircraft performance rather than actual height)
define depression - ✔✔the difference between temperature and dew point temperature
describe the characteristics of the troposphere - ✔✔average 55000ft over the equator to 28000ft over
the poles, and average 36000ft MSL over the US. temperature decreases and winds increase with
increasing altitude, and nearly all weather occurs within it
define atmospheric pressure - ✔✔force per unit area exerted on a surface by the atmosphere due to the
weight of a column of air
state the standard units of pressure measurement - ✔✔inches of mercury and millibars
explain the term pressure gradient - ✔✔the rate of pressure change perpendicular to isobars
define a lapse rate - ✔✔the rate of temperature decrease with increasing altitude
state the average temperature lapse rate in degrees Celsius - ✔✔2C/1000ft
define the standard atmosphere - ✔✔pressure is 29.92"Hg (1013.2mb) and temp is 15C (59F) and
decreases 1"Hg (34mb) and 2C (3.5F) per 1000ft increase
differentiate between sea level pressure and station pressure - ✔✔station pressure is atmospheric
pressure measured at an airfield or weather station. all stations report sea level pressure
define indicated altitude - ✔✔altitude read directly from the altimeter
describe the effects of pressure changes on aircraft altimeters - ✔✔high pressure to low pressure results
in lower MSL than indicated. low to high pressure results in higher MSL than indicated. (hi-lo look out
below, lo-hi plenty of sky) (SETAI)
describe the effects of temperature deviations from the standard lapse rate on aircraft altimeters -
✔✔11C change results in 4% error. cold = lower than indicated, hot = higher than indicated
, define the term air mass - ✔✔a large body of air that has uniform temperature and moisture conditions
throughout a given altitude
define saturation in a classroom - ✔✔when air contains the max amount of water vapor at a given
temperature
define dew point temperature - ✔✔the temperature at which saturation occurs
explain why atmospheric circulation occurs - ✔✔descending air creates high pressure and ascending air
creates low pressure. air circulates as it flows from high to low pressure creating wind, and rises at the
equator
define a temperature inversion - ✔✔a lapse rate where temperature increases with increasing altitude
(such as in the stratosphere)
define relative humidity - ✔✔another way to measure atmospheric moisture. measured in percent. as
dew point spread decreases, relative humidity approaches 100%
define mean sea level (MSL) - ✔✔(true altitude) altitude above mean sea level
define above ground level (AGL) - ✔✔(absolute altitude) altitude above terrain
define pressure altitude - ✔✔height above the standard datum plane (when barometric pressure is
29.92"Hg)
define density altitude - ✔✔pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature (indication of
aircraft performance rather than actual height)
define depression - ✔✔the difference between temperature and dew point temperature
