Free ATPL meteorology 050 questions: 7 with answers
7 meteorology questions from the ATPL bank of ForAllPilots, with no account and no sign-up. Answer in your head, then open the answer: the right letter and its explanation are under each question. The full bank has 2,209 questions for this subject.
The 7 questions
Question 1 · 050 01 The atmosphere
At 23000 ft, the ISA standard temperature is -30.5°C. If the actual OAT is -20°C, the ISA deviation is:
- AISA-10.5
- BISA+10.5
- CISA+5.5
- DISA+15.5
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Answer: B. ISA+10.5
At 23,000 ft the ISA temperature is 15 - 1.98 x 23 = about -30.5 °C. The actual temperature of -20 °C is 10.5 °C warmer, so the deviation is ISA +10.5.
Question 2 · 050 02 Wind
The wind direction changes from 050° to 110°. This wind shift is described as having:
- Aveered by 60°
- Bbacked by 60°
- Cveered by 80°
- Dremained unchanged
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Answer: A. veered by 60°
A clockwise change (e.g. 050°→110°) is a 'veer'; counter-clockwise is a 'back'. Here the wind veered by 60°.
Question 3 · 050 02 Wind
The geostrophic wind is greater than the gradient wind around a low pressure system because the
- Acoriolis force opposes to the centrifugal force
- Bcentrifugal force is added to the pressure gradient
- Ccentrifugal force opposes the pressure gradient
- Dcoriolis force is added to the pressure gradient
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Answer: C. centrifugal force opposes the pressure gradient
Around a low, the centrifugal force acts outwards, against the pressure gradient force. Less Coriolis force is then needed for balance, so the gradient wind is slower than the geostrophic wind computed for the same isobar spacing.
Question 4 · 050 03 Thermodynamics
What is the dry adiabatic lapse rate per 1000 FT ?
- A1.5°C
- B3.0°C.
- C3.5°C
- D2.0°C
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Answer: B. 3.0°C.
The dry adiabatic lapse rate is approximately 3.0°C per 1,000 ft.
Question 5 · 050 03 Thermodynamics
How, if at all, is the relative humidity of an unsaturated airmass influenced by temperature changes?
- AIt is only influenced by the amount of water vapour.
- BIt increases with increasing temperature.
- CIt decreases with increasing temperature.
- DIt is not influenced by temperature changes.
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Answer: C. It decreases with increasing temperature.
In an unsaturated air mass, relative humidity decreases as temperature increases (saturation capacity rises faster than actual moisture content).
Question 6 · 050 03 Thermodynamics
Why is the saturated adiabatic lapse rate always smaller (in absolute value) than the dry adiabatic lapse rate?
- ABecause saturated air is denser
- BBecause pressure changes faster in saturated air
- CBecause water vapour cannot condense at altitude
- DBecause the release or absorption of latent heat reduces the cooling or warming
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Answer: D. Because the release or absorption of latent heat reduces the cooling or warming
When saturated air rises, condensation releases latent heat, which offsets part of the adiabatic cooling; when it descends, evaporation absorbs heat. The saturated lapse rate is therefore always smaller than the dry rate of about 3 °C per 1,000 ft.
Question 7 · 050 06 Air masses and fronts
A typical difference between a maritime and continental air mass is that maritime air tends to be:
- Aalways colder than continental air regardless of season
- Bidentical in every characteristic to continental air
- Cdrier with a larger diurnal temperature range
- Dmore humid and have a smaller diurnal temperature range
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Answer: D. more humid and have a smaller diurnal temperature range
Maritime air masses pick up moisture over water and are moderated thermally, unlike drier, more thermally variable continental air.
Each answer was checked again before publication; like every explanation on the site, these may contain errors. Some explanations were rewritten for this page, sometimes with the help of an AI. Spotted a mistake? Write to us at contact@forallpilots.com.
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