Review Questions

Chapter 5 - Wind

1. Which of the following parameters are included in a METAR wind observation (more than one answer):

	_____ 	wind direction
	_____ 	wind speed
	_____ 	wind squalls
	_____ 	wind shifts

	Answer

2. Peak wind speed is observed:

	a.	only during daylight hours
	b.	using wind estimation techniques
	c.	at designated stations only
	d.	at all stations

	Answer

3. Wind direction and wind speed are determined by averaging over a _____ period.

	a.	1-minute
	b.	2-minute
	c.	5-minute
	d.	10-minute

	Answer

4. Wind direction may be considered variable whenever (more than one answer):

	_____ 	during a 2-minute period, the wind speed is 6 kt or less
	_____ 	the wind direction changes by 45 degrees
	_____ 	during a 2-minute period, the direction varies by 60 degrees
		or more and the speed is greater than 6 kt

	Answer

5. Gusts are rapid fluctuations in wind speed during the last _____ minutes with a variation of _____ knots or more between peaks and lulls.

	Answer

6. Peak wind data are determined:

	a.	by estimation
	b.	by visual averaging on an anemometer dial
	c.	from a wind speed recorder
	d.	from 5-second wind speed averages

	Answer

7. Which three criteria must be satisfied for a wind shift to occur?

	_____ 	a change in wind direction of 45 degrees or more
	_____ 	a change in wind direction of 60 degrees or more
	_____ 	the change occurs in less than 10 minutes
	_____ 	the change occurs in less than 15 minutes
	_____ 	wind speeds during the change are at least 6 knots
	_____ 	wind speeds during the change are at least 10 knots

	Answer

8. What is the appropriate unit of measure and resolution for wind reports in METAR?

	a.	nearest degree and meters/second
	b.	nearest degree and miles per hour
	c.	tens of degrees and knots
	d.	tens of degrees and miles per hour

	Answer

9. Variable wind direction is reported:

	a.	in the body of METAR
	b.	in the remarks section of METAR
	c.	only in METAR but not in SPECI
	d.	in metric units

	Answer

10. Peak wind is reported whenever its value is greater than:

	a.	10 knots
	b.	25 miles an hour
	c.	25 knots
	d.	50 knots

	Answer

11. Wind shifts are reported:

	a.	in the body of METAR
	b.	in the remarks section of METAR
	c.	only in METAR but not in SPECI
	d.	in metric units

	Answer

REVIEW QUESTION ANSWERS

Chapter 5 - Wind

1.   Yes       wind direction
     Yes       wind speed
     No        wind squalls  (squall is a present weather element)
     Yes       wind shifts    [5.3]

2.   c    [5.4]

3.   b    [5.4.1, 5.4.3, Table 5-2]

4.   Yes       during a 2 minute period, the wind speed ...
     No        the wind direction ...
     Yes       during a 2 minute period, the wind direction ...  [5.4.2]

5.   10,  10   [5.4.4]

6.   c    [5.4.5]

7.   Yes       a change in wind direction of 45 deg or more
     No        a change in wind direction of 60 deg or more
     No        the change occurs in less than 10 minutes
     Yes       the change occurs in less than 15 minutes
     No        wind speeds during the change are at least 6 kt
     Yes       wind speeds during the change are at least 10 kt       [5.4.6]

8.   c    [5.5.1]

9.   a    [5.5.3]

10.  c    [5.5.5]

11.  b    [5.5.6]