8.10 Atmospheric Pressure and Density

Sub Topic	Syllabus Item
8.10	Atmospheric Pressure and Density
8.10.2	Define ‘atmospheric pressure’.
8.10.4	State the pressure units used in New Zealand aviation.
8.10.6	State the significance of air pressure to aviation.
8.10.8	Define ‘pressure lapse rate’.
8.10.10	State the approximate pressure lapse rate in the atmosphere below 10,000ft.
8.10.12	Explain how surface pressure rises when air is added to the vertical column above the ground, and vice versa.
8.10.14	Define the International Standard Atmosphere (ISA).
8.10.16	Describe how New Zealand conditions differ from ISA.
8.10.18	Explain how deviation from ISA values influences performance of aircraft and aircraft engines.
8.10.20	Define: (a) QNH and altitude; (b) QFE and height.
8.10.22	Explain the effects of changes in MSL pressure on aircraft in flight, and why a pressure altimeter requires a subscale adjustment.
8.10.24	Explain the importance of correct subscale setting.

8.8 Temperature and Heat Exchange Processes

Sub Topic	Syllabus Item
8.8	Temperature and Heat Exchange Processes
8.8.2	Outline the measurement of surface air temperature in New Zealand (as reported in aviation observations), and relate that to actual temperatures experienced above a sealed or grass runway.
8.8.4	Define solar and terrestrial radiation.
8.8.6	Outline the balance of incoming solar radiation versus outgoing terrestrial radiation.
8.8.8	Explain the effect of solar and terrestrial radiation on the daily temperature range.
8.8.10	Describe the effect of the following on daily air temperature: (a) latitude; (b) season; (c) strong winds; (d) wind direction; (e) cloud cover; (f) coastal or inland location; (g) surface type.
8.8.12	Describe the transfer of heat in the atmosphere with reference to the processes of: (a) conduction; (b) convection; (c) advection.

8.6 The Atmosphere

Sub Topic	Syllabus Item
8.6	The Atmosphere
8.6.2	Describe the structure of the troposphere and lower stratosphere.
8.6.4	Outline the characteristics of the troposphere in terms of: (a) horizontal and vertical motions; (b) vertical variation of density; (c) vertical variation of temperature; (d) depth.
8.6.6	List the percentages of the following gases in the troposphere: (a) nitrogen; (b) oxygen; (c) all other trace gases combined.
8.6.8	Describe the presence and importance of the following in the atmosphere: (a) water vapour; (b) aerosols.

8.4 Weather Maps

Sub Topic	Syllabus Item
8.4	Weather Maps
8.4.2	Identify the following features found on surface weather maps: (a) isobars; (b) anticyclone (“high”); (c) depression (“low” or “cyclone”); (d) ridge of high pressure; (e) trough of low pressure; (f) col; (g) fronts (cold, warm (warm sectors), occluded and stationary); (h) tropical cyclones.
8.4.4	Explain the most common weather characteristics of each feature.
8.4.6	Define pressure gradient.
8.4.8	Identify areas of light, moderate and strong winds on a weather map.

8.2 Decode Domestic Meteorological Reports and Forecasts

Sub Topic	Syllabus Item
8.2	Decode Domestic Meteorological Reports and Forecasts
8.2.2	Demonstrate how to access aviation meteorological information for New Zealand through the gopreflight internet website.
8.2.4	In plain language, decode the information contained in the following forecasts and reports: (a) GRAFOR; (b) TAF; (c) METAR; (d) SPECI; (e) METAR AUTO; (f) SIGMET; (g) ATIS; (h) AWIB; (i) BWR; (j) Pilot Reports; (k) AAW; (l) GSM; (m) GNZSIGWX.

8.28 Aircraft Icing

Sub Topic	Syllabus Item
8.28	Aircraft Icing
8.28.2	List the hazards of airframe icing to aircraft in flight.
8.28.4	Explain the processes involved in the formation of hoar frost on an aircraft on the ground and in flight.
8.28.6	State the dangers of hoar frost and the actions required to alleviate these dangers on the ground and in flight.
8.28.8	Explain why flight in cloud above the freezing-level can be very hazardous.
8.28.10	Explain how to avoid or alleviate all forms of airframe icing other than hoar frost.
8.28.12	State the hazards for light aircraft from: (a) snow; (b) sleet; (c) hail.
8.28.14	Explain the environmental factors involved in carburettor icing, including; (a) moisture content; (b) temperature; (c) temperature gradient (inversions).
8.28.16	State the temperature range that carburettor ice typically forms in.
8.28.18	Explain how the accretion rate of carburettor ice is influenced by the throttle setting.
8.28.20	Explain the conditions that can cause carburettor icing while on the ground.

8.26 Visibility and Fog

Sub Topic	Syllabus Item
8.26	Visibility and Fog
8.26.2	Define prevailing visibility.
8.26.4	Explain why illumination from the sun or moon has no effect on prevailing visibility.
8.26.6	Describe the operational characteristics of the visibility sensor used in Automatic Weather Stations (AWS), and reported in METAR AUTO reports.
8.26.8	Describe the effect on visibility, of the following: (a) precipitation; (b) fog and mist; (c) haze and smoke; (d) sea spray; (e) blowing snow; (f) sun glare.
8.26.10	Explain the factors involved in slant range.
8.26.12	List the types of fog, classified by their method of formation.
8.26.14	Describe the meteorological conditions required for the formation and dispersal of: (a) radiation fog; (b) advection fog.
8.26.16	Explain how katabatic winds may enhance or inhibit radiation fog depending on their strength.
8.26.18	Describe the operational problems associated with fog.

8.24 Precipitation 8.24.2 Define:

Sub Topic	Syllabus Item
8.24	Precipitation 8.24.2 Define: (a) precipitation; (b) virga.
8.24.4	Describe the following types of precipitation: (a) rain; (b) drizzle; (c) snow; (d) sleet; (e) hail.
8.24.6	State the difference between large drizzle and small rain droplets.
8.24.8	Describe the following terms in relation to precipitation: (a) continuous rain; (b) intermittent rain; (c) showers.
8.24.10	Define the following precipitation rates: (a) light; (b) moderate; (c) heavy.

8.18 Atmospheric Stability 8.18.2 Define:

Sub Topic	Syllabus Item
8.18	Atmospheric Stability 8.18.2 Define: (a) stable air; (b) unstable air; (c) conditionally unstable air.
8.18.4	Describe how the stability of a rising (or sinking) parcel of air is determined by its temperature compared with the temperature of the surrounding environment.
8.18.6	Describe what is meant by ‘environment lapse rate’ (ELR).
8.18.8	Explain how the environmental temperature and dew point lapse rates are found.
8.18.10	Outline the term ‘adiabatic process’.
8.18.12	State the value of the dry adiabatic lapse rate (DALR) at low-levels in mid latitudes.
8.18.14	State the approximate value of the saturated adiabatic lapse rate (SALR) at low levels in mid-latitudes.
8.18.16	State the conditions needed for conditionally unstable air to be forced to become unstable.
8.18.18	Define: (a) inversion; (b) isothermal layer.
8.18.20	Explain why inversions and isothermal layers are atmospherically stable.
8.18.22	Determine atmospheric stability by applying basic lifting scenarios with given ELRs. 8.20 Inversions
8.20.2	Explain the factors involved in the development of a: (a) radiation inversion; (b) turbulence inversion; (c) subsidence inversion; (d) frontal inversion.
8.20.4	Explain the effect of inversions on: (a) formation of cloud; (b) visibility; (c) turbulence; (d) dew point; (e) the increased risk of carburettor icing; (f) the presence of wind shear; (g) aircraft performance.

8.16 Water Vapour

Sub Topic	Syllabus Item
8.16	Water Vapour
8.16.2	Explain how the temperature of air influences its capacity to hold water vapour.
8.16.4	Define the term ‘relative humidity’.
8.16.6	Define the term ‘dew point’.
8.16.8	Explain the effect of moisture content of air on the dew point.
8.16.10	Explain why ‘dew point’ is a better measure than ‘relative humidity’ for aviation purposes.
8.16.12	Describe each of the following processes with regard to the changes of state of water: (a) condensation; (b) evaporation; (c) deposition; (d) sublimation; (e) melting; (f) freezing.
8.16.14	Explain how water vapour enters the atmosphere by the process of: (a) evaporation; (b) transpiration.
8.16.16	State the effect of the following on the rate of evaporation: (a) air and water temperature; (b) moisture content of air; (c) wind speed.
8.16.18	Define ‘latent heat’.
8.16.20	State the significance of the release of latent heat into the atmosphere during the cloud formation process.