PPL meteorology 050: practice questions and syllabus

What the syllabus covers

The topics of the EASA syllabus for this subject, with what each one lists.

1. 1The atmosphere

   composition and vertical division, temperature, pressure and altimetry, density, ICAO standard atmosphere.

2. 2Wind

   measurement, pressure gradient, Coriolis force, friction layer, general circulation, local winds, mountain waves, turbulence.

3. 3Thermodynamics

   humidity, dew point, changes of state, adiabatic processes and atmospheric stability.

4. 4Clouds, fog and precipitation

   cloud formation and classification; radiation, advection, orographic and frontal fog; types of precipitation.

5. 5Air masses, fronts and pressure systems

   air masses, warm front, cold front, occlusions, warm sector, anticyclones and non-frontal depressions.

6. 6Climatology

   seasonal circulation, typical weather situations in the mid-latitudes, foehn.

7. 7Flight hazards

   icing, turbulence, wind shear, thunderstorms, inversions, hazards in mountainous areas, visibility-reducing phenomena.

8. 8Meteorological information

   observations, significant weather and surface charts, aviation weather messages, broadcasts, warnings and meteorological services.

Source: EASA, Easy Access Rules for Aircrew (AMC to Part-FCL)

The illustrated course

To understand before you answer: 12 chapters and 93 key points, 93 of them with a diagram or an illustration. The first chapter, « The atmosphere and the standard atmosphere », is free to read.

1. The atmosphere and the standard atmosphere
2. Pressure, pressure systems and altimeter settings
3. Temperature and humidity
4. Stability, convection and thermals
5. Clouds and precipitation
6. Visibility, mist and fog
7. Wind
8. Wind components on the runway
9. Breezes, terrain and local winds
10. Air masses, fronts and disturbances
11. Thunderstorms, icing, turbulence and wind shear
12. Weather messages and charts

PPL meteorology course: contents and chapter 1

5 questions to practise

Taken from the site's English bank and checked one by one. Read the question, choose your answer, then open the explanation. Like every explanation on the site, they may contain errors.

1. Question 1 · 1 The atmosphere

   In the ICAO Standard Atmosphere (ISA, 15°C at sea level, lapse rate -2°C/1000 ft), what is the expected temperature at 5000 ft?

   • A5°C
   • B1°C
   • C9°C
   • D15°C
   Show the answer+

   Answer: A. 5°C

   T(ISA) = 15 - 2 x (5000/1000) = 5°C.

2. Question 2 · 2 Wind

   The wind is from 070° at 15 kt. The runway in use is runway 27 (QFU 270°). What is the approximate crosswind component?

   • A7.7 kt
   • B2.6 kt
   • C15 kt
   • D5.1 kt
   Show the answer+

   Answer: D. 5.1 kt

   Crosswind component = wind speed × sin(angle between wind and runway). The wind (070°) and the runway (270°) are 200° apart, i.e. 160° the other way, and sin 160° = sin 20° ≈ 0.34: 15 × 0.34 ≈ 5.1 kt.

3. Question 3 · 3 Thermodynamics

   The dew point is the temperature at which:

   • Athe air reaches its maximum pressure.
   • Bthe air becomes saturated with water vapour and condensation begins.
   • Cthe wind stops.
   • Datmospheric pressure drops sharply.
   Show the answer+

   Answer: B. the air becomes saturated with water vapour and condensation begins.

   The dew point is the temperature at which air, cooled at constant pressure and water vapour content, becomes saturated, leading to condensation.

4. Question 4 · 5 Air masses, fronts and pressure systems

   A frontal surface is:

   • Aa zone of stable air.
   • Ba zone of unstable air.
   • Cthe outline of a rain area.
   • Da surface of contact between two different air masses.
   Show the answer+

   Answer: D. a surface of contact between two different air masses.

   When two air masses with different characteristics, particularly in temperature, meet, they do not mix. Air masses tend to retain their characteristics. The contact surface between these two air masses is called the frontal surface. This is where warm and cold fronts occur.

5. Question 5 · 8 Meteorological information

   You review the METAR for Toulouse Blagnac: LFBO 070700Z 29010KT 9999 SCT016 BKN050 19/16 Q1019 NOSIG= The clouds referred to by the code BKN050 cover:

   • Aless than half the sky and their base is at flight level 50.
   • Bmore than half the sky and their base is at flight level 50.
   • Cmore than half the sky and their base is at 5000 ft AAL.
   • Dless than half the sky and their base is at 5000 ft AAL.
   Show the answer+

   Answer: C. more than half the sky and their base is at 5000 ft AAL.

   In a METAR, cloud cover is coded in eighths: FEW 1 to 2/8, SCT 3 to 4/8, BKN 5 to 7/8 (more than half the sky), OVC 8/8. Heights are given above the aerodrome: BKN050 means a base at 5,000 ft AAL.

10 more free questions, no sign-up: Free PPL meteorology questions

How to approach this subject

Two skills: understanding (fronts, stability, how fog forms) and calculating (standard temperature: 15 °C minus 2 °C per 1,000 ft; crosswind component: wind speed × sine of the angle between wind and runway). Also learn to decode a METAR and a TAF group by group.

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