Fundamentals of Aviation Meteorology
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Course Syllabus
Course Aim Print this page
To provide an understanding of the physical properties of the atmosphere and how they affect the weather, with
an emphasis on the factors affecting aviation.
Prerequisites
Nil.
Relationship to Standards
Forms part of the Basic Instructional Package for Meteorological Technicians (BIP-MT) as described in WMO
1083 – Manual on the Implementation of Education and Training Standards in Meteorology and Hydrology.
Conforms to the WMO Implementation Guidance of Aeronautical Meteorological Observer Competency
Standards.
Accredited by the Bureau of Meteorology.
Summary of Content
The Atmosphere
Heat Exchange Processes
Air Temperature, Density and Pressure
Atmospheric Stability
Moisture in the Atmosphere
Clouds
Wind
Thunderstorms and other Hazards
Major Weather Systems and Patterns
Meteorological Services for Aviation
Assessment Method
Online examination; open book.
Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria
The Atmosphere
Learning Outcome
Describe the basic characteristics of the atmosphere.
Assessment Criteria
1. Recall the composition of gases in the troposphere
2. Describe the normal air temperature and pressure profile in the troposphere, at the tropopause, and the
lower stratosphere
3. In the international standard atmosphere (ISA) recall:
Sea level temperature and pressure
Temperature lapse rate in the troposphere
Heat Exchange Processes
Learning Outcome
Describe the heat exchange processes within the atmosphere.
Assessment Criteria
1. Understand the process of heat exchange through incoming solar radiation and outgoing terrestrial
radiation
2. Describe the way the sun’s energy is redistributed within the atmosphere through the following
processes:
Conduction, advection, convection, radiation and latent heat
3. Describe the role of latent heat in the change of state of water between a solid, liquid and vapour
Air Temperature, Density and Pressure
Learning Outcome
Understand the relationship between air temperature, density and pressure, and their effect on aircraft
performance.
Assessment Criteria
1. Describe the method of measuring surface air temperature, and understand how temperatures
throughout a locality may vary.
2. Define the following terms:
isotherm, temperature inversion
isobar, pressure gradient
3. Recall the density of dry air at sea level in the international standard atmosphere
4. Recall the pressure lapse rate near sea level.
5. Understand the effect that temperature, pressure and humidity have on air density, and how this affects
aircraft performance.
6. List factors that influence the diurnal variation of surface air temperature.
7. Explain the temperature variation of the gradient between land and sea surfaces over a 24 hour period.
Atmospheric Stability
Learning Outcome
Understand the concept of atmospheric stability.
Assessment Criteria
1. Define the following terms:
adiabatic process
dry and saturated adiabatic lapse rates
2. Describe the behaviour of a rising parcel of air under various conditions of stability.
3. On an aerological diagram, identify:
stable, unstable, neutral and conditionally unstable areas
surface radiation inversions and subsidence inversions
Moisture in the Atmosphere
Learning Outcome
Describe the processes involved in the change of state of water.
Learning Outcome
Understand the various ways of describing the moisture content of the air.
Assessment Criteria
1. Recall the three states of water and the process involved in a change of state.
2. Define the following terms:
saturated air, relative humidity, dew-point temperature
evaporation, condensation, freezing, deposition, sublimation
Clouds
Learning Outcome
Categorise the main cloud types in the low, middle and high étages.
Learning Outcome
Describe basic cloud formation processes.
Assessment Criteria
1. Recall which of the main cloud types belong to the low, the middle and the high étage.
2. Describe the basic cloud formation processes.
Wind
Learning Outcome
Explain the physical processes involved in the development of both large-scale and local winds.
Assessment Criteria
1. State the standard height for measuring surface wind.
2. Describe the relationship between pressure and wind and apply Buys Ballot’s law to approximate the
location of high and low pressure systems for large-scale flow.
3. Define:
squalls and gusts
backing and veering
4. Describe the effect of surface friction on wind direction and speed when comparing winds above and
below the friction layer.
5. Describe the characteristics of the Coriolis force.
6. Describe the process for the formation of:
sea-breezes and land breezes
katabatic and anabatic winds
a Föhn wind
mountain waves
Thunderstorms and other Hazards
Learning Outcome
Describe the characteristics of thunderstorms and the conditions under which they form.
Learning Outcome
Understand why thunderstorm activity is a significant hazard to aircraft.
Learning Outcome
Determine the conditions favourable for the occurrence of other weather related hazards to aircraft operations.
Assessment Criteria
1. Recall the lifecycle of an ordinary thunderstorm cell.
2. State the conditions necessary for thunderstorm development.
3. Describe the hazards to aviation associated with thunderstorm activity and microbursts.
4. State the conditions favourable to the development of:
radiation fog
advection fog
5. Describe the conditions favourable for the formation of the following structural airframe icing types:
clear ice, rime ice, and mixed ice
hoar frost
Major Weather Systems and Patterns
Learning Outcome
Identify and interpret the features depicted on a mean sea level weather chart.
Learning Outcome
Describe the basic characteristics of tropical cyclones in the Australian region.
Assessment Criteria
1. Identify the following features depicted on a mean sea level weather chart:
high and low pressure systems
troughs, ridges, cols
warm, cold, occluded and stationary fronts
2. Indicate the change in wind direction, temperature and pressure following the passage of a front.
3. With respect to tropical cyclones, recall:
the cyclone season for the southern hemisphere
the requirements for cyclone development in terms of
latitude; and
water temperature
the associated wind speeds
the life cycle
Meteorological Services for Aviation
Learning Outcome
Decode meteorological observation and forecast products prepared for the aviation industry.
Assessment Criteria
1. Decode the following products:
METAR/SPECI
TTF
TAF
Last modified: Friday, 3 November 2017, 2:21 PM
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