AFH 15-101 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2025/2026
What does a drop in visibility that goes unnoticed in a 7+ mile report (i.e., from 26 miles to 15
miles) indicate? - ANS a significant increase in low-level moisture
What does it mean if sector visibility is significantly different from prevailing? -
ANS something significant is occurring, i.e., a fog bank is forming or dust is rising due to an
approaching ts
Reports should include what is obstructing vision as well as what? - ANS an estimated layer
height top and/or base
Why are tops and bases of haze layers important? - ANS they indicate bases of inversions
How can haze bases/tops be detected? - ANS look toward the horizon and determine the
height by noting the orientation to terrain, trees, or buildings; pilot reports
What 2 ingredients are necessary for precipitation to occur? - ANS moisture and a
mechanism for lifting the air to promote condensation
What are 3 types of lifting mechanisms? - ANS convection, orographic lifting, and frontal
lifting
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, When does extrapolation work best? - ANS short-period forecasting
What are the thickness of the cloud layer aloft and the temperatures in the upper levels of
cloud layers related to? - ANS the type and intensity of precipitation observed at the surface
(particularly in the mid latitudes)
What do cooling cloud tops indicate? - ANS upward vertical motion; cold cloud tops
correspond to a greater chance of precipitation
What does an upper level dew point depression less than or equal to 2C predict? -
ANS overcast skies and precipitation
What do dew point spreads less than or equal to 2C on the 850 and 700 mb forecast products
indicate? - ANS potential precipitation, assuming there is upward vertical motion
Where does overrunning precipitation occur? - ANS in association with active warm fronts,
stationary fronts, and (to a lesser degree) with slow moving cold fronts
What is a byproduct of overrunning precipitation? - ANS stratus
How do you use 950 and 850 mb products to show if overrunning precipitation is likely? -
ANS they show whether the wind flow is favorable for moisture advection
How does the 700 mb product show if overrunning precipitation is likely? - ANS it shows
whether the thermal structure is adequate
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2025/2026
What does a drop in visibility that goes unnoticed in a 7+ mile report (i.e., from 26 miles to 15
miles) indicate? - ANS a significant increase in low-level moisture
What does it mean if sector visibility is significantly different from prevailing? -
ANS something significant is occurring, i.e., a fog bank is forming or dust is rising due to an
approaching ts
Reports should include what is obstructing vision as well as what? - ANS an estimated layer
height top and/or base
Why are tops and bases of haze layers important? - ANS they indicate bases of inversions
How can haze bases/tops be detected? - ANS look toward the horizon and determine the
height by noting the orientation to terrain, trees, or buildings; pilot reports
What 2 ingredients are necessary for precipitation to occur? - ANS moisture and a
mechanism for lifting the air to promote condensation
What are 3 types of lifting mechanisms? - ANS convection, orographic lifting, and frontal
lifting
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, When does extrapolation work best? - ANS short-period forecasting
What are the thickness of the cloud layer aloft and the temperatures in the upper levels of
cloud layers related to? - ANS the type and intensity of precipitation observed at the surface
(particularly in the mid latitudes)
What do cooling cloud tops indicate? - ANS upward vertical motion; cold cloud tops
correspond to a greater chance of precipitation
What does an upper level dew point depression less than or equal to 2C predict? -
ANS overcast skies and precipitation
What do dew point spreads less than or equal to 2C on the 850 and 700 mb forecast products
indicate? - ANS potential precipitation, assuming there is upward vertical motion
Where does overrunning precipitation occur? - ANS in association with active warm fronts,
stationary fronts, and (to a lesser degree) with slow moving cold fronts
What is a byproduct of overrunning precipitation? - ANS stratus
How do you use 950 and 850 mb products to show if overrunning precipitation is likely? -
ANS they show whether the wind flow is favorable for moisture advection
How does the 700 mb product show if overrunning precipitation is likely? - ANS it shows
whether the thermal structure is adequate
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
