1. Sky condition is:
a. a description of the appearance of the sky b. evaluated automatically by instruments c. evaluated manually with or without instruments d. all of the above Answer
2. Match the following terms with their definition:
_____ sky cover a. the height of the bases of each reported cloud layer and/or obscuration _____ summation layer b. the amount of the celestial dome hidden by clouds amount and/or obscuration _____ layer height c. the variety of clouds present _____ ceiling d. the height above the earth's surface of the lowest layer that is reported as broken or overcast _____ type of cloud e. a categorization of the amount of sky cover at and below each reported layer Answer
3. Sky condition at manual stations is reported for clouds:
a. at 12,000 feet and below, only b. at 12,000 feet and below, with remarks on higher clouds c. at all levels d. as also seen on satellite imagery Answer
4. All cloud layers and obscurations shall be considered:
a. either opaque or transparent b. opaque c. translucent d. measurable Answer
5. At stations with no assigned field elevation, the surface will be the ground elevation of:
a. the observer b. the tower c. the landing zone d. the station barometer Answer
6. The amount of sky cover for each layer shall be observed in:
a. sectors b. quadrants c. tenths d. eights Answer
7. The sky cover summation amount for any given layer is the sum of the sky cover for the layer being evaluated plus the sky cover of:
a. all upper layers b. all lower layers excluding obscurations c. all lower layers including obscurations d. obscurations only Answer
8. The sky cover shall be considered variable if it:
a. varies one or more reportable values b. varies one reportable value only c. contains more than one layer d. is fragmented by strong gusty winds Answer
9. "The portion of the sky cover hidden by weather phenomena either surface-based or aloft" describes:
a. vertical visibility b. obscuration c. layer summation d. ceiling Answer
10. Describe one way vertical visibility is observed.
Answer
11. Which of the following may be used to determine the height of the sky cover (more than one answer)
_____ a ceilometer _____ a ceiling balloon _____ pilot reports _____ observer experience _____ a ceiling light Answer
12. The height into an indefinite ceiling shall be the vertical visibility measured in:
a. feet b. meters c. hundreds of feet d. hundreds of meters Answer
13. Cloud layers with a base within 50 feet of the surface are observed:
a. with a height of 0 feet b. with a height of 50 feet c. with a height of 100 feet d. as an obscuration Answer
14. A 1500 ft ceiling varies in height by 300 feet during the period of evaluation. Would this be considered a variable ceiling? [yes/no]
Answer
15. Match the reportable contraction with the summation amount for a layer.
_____ SKC or CLR a. 1/8 to 2/8 _____ FEW b. 0 _____ SCT c. 5/8 to 7/8 _____ BKN d. 8/8 _____ OVC e. 3/8 to 4/8 Answer
16. If a layer has less than 1/8 of a summation amount, but not zero, the reportable contraction is:
a. SKC or CLR b. FEW c. SCT d. VV Answer
17. Automated stations report no more than _____ layers while manual observations report no more than _____ layers.
Answer
18. At mountain stations, a cloud layer located 200 feet below the station elevation would be reported with a height of:
a. -200 b. M200 c. /// d. it is not reported Answer
19. Match the following reportable increments (in feet) to the range of height values of the sky cover height:
_____ 100 ft a. >5,000 but <=10,000 ft _____ 500 ft b. <=5,000 ft _____ 1000 ft c. >10,000 ft Answer
20. When the height of a layer falls halfway between two reportable values, the _____ value is reported.
a. lower b. upper Answer
21. Which of the following may be reported by automated stations (more than one answer):
_____ general sky cover _____ cloud layer height _____ variable sky condition _____ variable ceiling height _____ ceiling at a second location _____ cloud type Answer
1. d [9.1]
2. Sky cover - b
summation layer amount - e
layer height - a
ceiling - d
type of clouds - c [9.3]
3. c [9.4.1]
4. b [9.4.1a]
5. a [9.4.1b]
6. d [9.4.2b]
7. c [9.4.2c]
8. a [9.4.2d]
9. b [9.4.3]
10. possible answers: [9.4.4]
a. the distance that an observer can see vertically into an indefinite ceiling
b. the height corresponding to the top of a ceiling light projector beam
c. the height at which a ceiling balloon completely disappears during the presence of
an indefinite ceiling
d. the height determined by the sensor algorithm at automated stations
11. all answers are YES [9.4.7]
12. c [9.4.7a]
13. a [9.4.7b]
14. NO [9.4.7b, Table 9-2]
15. SKC or CLR - b
FEW - a
SCT - e
BKN - c
OVC - d [Table 9-3]
16. b [Table 9-3]
17. 3, 6 [9.5.2]
18. c [9.5.2]
19. 100 ft - b
500 ft - a
1000 ft - c [Table 9-5]
20. a [9.5.5]
21. Yes general sky cover
Yes cloud layer height
No variable sky cover
Yes variable ceiling height
Yes ceiling height at a second location
No cloud type [Table 9-6]