AVIATION METEOROLOGY IC Joshi Group Captain (Reta Himalayan BooksAA Himalayan Books Presentation . Published in 2006 by Pawan Chowdhr and Bhupinder Chovedbe {for Himalayan Books, New Delhi 110013 Distibured by ‘The English Bool Store 17, Connasghe Circus, New Delhi 71000 “Tek 2341 7126,2341 503], 2341 7936 Fax: O9T-1125417931 Email info@engishbookstorein IC Joshi (Group Caprain Rex) First Published 2007 Second Ediion 2008 First Reprinc2009 Third Econ 2010 ‘ltighs reserved. No patrof his publication may be reprodaced ot form or by any means, electronic of mecha information storage and etievl ste, ‘Typeser by Mindways Design Princedand Bound ae ‘Thakur Enterpcises, Defi ISBN 81.7002.099.9 onaiitted in any nies, eluding phorocopy, ecording or any without the written permission ofthe publisher Dedicated to My parents, family members and specially to Mehak, Uday, Nitya and GauriCONTENTS Acknowledgements Preface 1. Atmosphere 2, Atmospheric Pressure 3. Temperarure 4 Air Density 5. Kumidicy 6 Winds 7. Visibility and Fog 8. Vertical Motion and Clouds H° Sability and Instability of Atmosphere 10., Cptical Phenomena W Precpication Te Ice Acceetion Pz Tndersorn 1 tir Masses Fronts and Western Disturbances Ife Jee Streams Ge Gear Aic Turbulence 17% Mountain Waves 18, Aiopical Systems 1%” Climatology of India 20,_General Cirewlation 2." Moterotogical Services for Aviation 22. Weather Radar and Met Satellites 23, Mec Insteumenss 24 Station Model xi sx 2 36 40 6 B 93 100 105 10 136 143 145 150 164 181 188 198 206,Continrs Aviation Weather Reports and Codes of Metar Speci and Trend Aviation Weather Forecasts (Codes of Aerodrome Forecast, Area Forecast and Route Forecast) 27. Radar Report, Sigmet Message ancl Satellite Bulletin 28. Plight Forecast (Tabular Fors) and Cross Section Forecast of Route Conditions (Samples) Re Appendix A Meteorological Charts Appendix B Satellite imageries Appendix C Synoptic Chart (Computer Plotted) Appendix D Clouds Appendix E Abbreviations in Weather Bulletins Rainfall Distribution and Intensicy Appendix F ICAO Abberviations Appendix G Plotted starion models for practice Appendix H-1 Mean Sea Level Pressure Analysis Appendix H-2 850 hPa Winds Appendix H-3 850 hPa Streamline Analysis Appendix H-4 500 hPa Contour Chart Appendix H-5 300 hPa Winds Appendix H-6 Prognostic Significant Weather Chace Appendix ‘Weather Associated With Fronts 17 BI 250 253 255, 237 258 260 266 268 270 mm mm 273 Contests Appendix J Synoptic Systems Appendix K Fajita Scale of Tornado, Saffir-Simpson Scale and T Chsification of CS Appendix 1 International Station Code Names “Appendix M Miscellaneous Terms Appendix N Meteorological Scales and Meteorological Divisions of India Index References 74 26 m7 278 279 281 286ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ‘My sincere thanks are due tothe trainees of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi, Racbarali (UP) for inspiring me co compile this book. The add questions chey and other stidents used to ask from time to time, made me 10 refer to the available literature in Meteorotogy in vations libraries, websites and Publications of IMD, WMO and ICAO, ‘Thanks are due to my daughterin-laws Vibha and Abha for helping me in ccomputerizing the text, rables and diagrams, “Tomy wife Kamla and sons Jten and Pankaj for encouraging me to write this book. ‘Lasc but nor the lease to thanks to Mr B Chowdhry of English Book Stores for ‘motivation and valuable suggestions. AIC Joshi)PREFACE Meteorology is che science of atmosphere. All weather activities occur in the lowest portion cf the atmosphere, called che Troposphete, Inernational snd local flying activities are confined to chis vegion only. An aviator has, thezefore, 10 understand the weather phenomenon which occur in the region and influence Air Operations. This book dealsin brief with che various aspect of weather which are essential for anaviator, The Definitions, Terminology, Codes used in he book are based on the standacd publications of World Met Organisation, International Civil Aviation Orgnisation (Annex 3) and India Meteorological Deparment. ‘The chapters cover syllabus prescribed by the Director General of Civil Aviation (lndia) for Pilots and by she Chatrapati Sahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur for BSc (Aviation), Breqaently asked questions by the trainees and their answers have also been included. Important chapters like Met Services for Aviation and Aviation Codes are considered useful for che trainees to interpret Met information provided to them by the Met Oftces. ‘The compiler of this| book has experience in Aviation Meteorology, of about 34 years jn the Indian Aic Foree asa Forecaster and asa Met Instructor, He has served for seven years as Ground Instructor (Aviation Mer) and for one year as Chief Ground Jnstractorat India Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (GRUA),Fursergang, Racbareli ‘UB which isa premier and reputed Flying Akademi in India for imparting teaining to the Pilots and to the BSc (Aviation) students, The author has closely observed the weather fom the ground and equally from the at. Some of che material inthe book is his own experience and some from the interaction with the air crew and their debriefings,Presace {cis hoped chat the book will be of ave and guidance forthe aspiring plos, BSc Aviation) seudens, for those appearing in various examinations fo licenees, and for the Mer personnel. The contents of this book are intended to be of general guidance and are nar to be quoted as authority Readers are advised to cefer tothe original documents and standard books on metcorology and IMD web sites wwsimd.gov.in or \wwizmausam.gotin for detailed information, Suggestions for improvement ate welcome Encouraged by the response for the book from CPL/ATEL aspicens, Met pesonnel and aviators, the Third Edition, «revised and improved version, of the book is presented. ‘his Thitd Edition and one Reprint in three years period is elear indication of its Popularity and usefulness. tn facta personal copy of the book would be useful throughout the career of an Avincox (IC Joshi Group Caprain (Red) March, 2010 E-mail: icjoshi@yahoo,com 1 ——— ATMOSPHERE COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE ‘moves with the earth at th limits, However, a very la kilometers of the surface. Characteristies The atmosphere has weight and hence exerts \ Pressure. It is compressible and Expandable, It occupies space and has no defini shape. Ics mobi which \tansfer cf heat and moiscure occurs, Composition A Ait isa misceof ges. Forall practical purposes dey aria uniform mixture ofthe followings gases: Nicrogen 78.0896, Oxygen 20.95%, Argon 0.93% and Carbon dioxide 0.03536, Tiaces of. Neon, Helium, Methane, Krypton, Nirows Oxide, Hydrogen, Ozone (000000768) and Xenon,AVIATION MirtoRoloc? Narogen ancl Oxygen constinte almost 94 of test. Theis atiobypropotion Nitrogen: Oxygen Nitrogen: Oxyge 1 by Volume 3:1 by Weight Due co rapid reduction of gases with height, supplementary Oxygen is needed above 10,000 ft, ‘The atmosphere is generally well mixed. Iehasa neatly similar composition up to 3 height of about 80 km, dve to earth gravitation. The atmosphere up to 80 km 's called the Homosphere and above it the Hetcosphere. At about 20-25 kin, however, cere is high concentration of Ozone. Important Variable Gases. In addition to the above gases the armosphere also contains: Water Vapour, Carbon Mono Oride, Suiphor di Oxide, and Nitrogen di Oxide, These gases vary in amoune from place to place, being conceatrated more in industial areas, cites having heavy vehicular traffic, wacer bodies, et, than in open areas. Though very small in quantity, Water vapour, CO, and Ozone ace very significant for weather ard life, They cause green house effect which keeps the earth warm ‘These gases are also known as Green House gases. Ozone procect us from the ill effects (lke skin cancet) of Ulta Violet cadiation from the Sun Dry Air and Saturated Air Worer in the atmosphere can exist in shtee stares-solid (Snow, Ice, Hail), liquid (Drizzle, Rai, Shower) and gas Water Vapour). The concentration of water vapour Fapidly decrease with ligt The amoune of Water vapour that ait an coaiain largely depends on is temperature, Waemer aie can hold greater amouint of water vapour “The water vapout amount can be as much a 496 in the ttopics (region between 23 4 N co 23 9), and almost negligible in the Polar regions or higher altiudes above 30,000 fe, due co very low remperarutes ‘With 4% water vapour the air termed a5 Saturated Ais and has 100 9 Relative ‘Humidity (RH). When RH is < 1009 the aris Unsaturated and is called Dry Air. ATMOSPHERE Carbon Dioxide (CO,) GO, is produced by burning of fuel, wood etc. Its concentration i substantl in industa areas wheres in Polar regions andhighealttdesi ineligible. A large amount of CO, i dissolved inthe oceans. Plantsabsotb CO, use itscarbon as food and release 0, into the atmosphere, Ozone (0,) Ozone forms in the upper atmosphere, [c absorbs the Ulta Violet (UV) tadiation from the Sun, and raises temperacace. O, molecsles then become heavier and sink and accumulate in the lower levels. Appreciable ozone is found becween 10 and $0 4m, with maximum concenccation at 20 to 25 kn, Ozone Hole. In cecen times the O ayer has thinned and large holes have developed ‘nainly over tie Polar and other latimdes due to atmosphericpollation and exceesve itse of Chlorofluoro Catbons. Solid Particles Im addition othe above gases the atmosphere contains patieles such as sale from evaporating sea water, dust from arid regions, industrial and similar other Pattcles They obscure sola radiation an affect visibility and temperature. They alto actas nudei which promote condensation of water vapour, prematurely. In lager cts and industrial areas frequent fog and smog amisture of fog and smoke) is due to che high concentration of such particles. Green House Gases ‘ater vapour and CO, absorb certain wavelengehs of teresral (act) edition, and reradiare hem towards the cath. They cause gceen house effect, which Keeps the earth warmer chan it would have otherwise been, Water vapour, CO, Ozone and some other gases are called Green House gases. These are causing Global ‘Warming, which isa serious theeat to our life and needs to be mined. Vertical Distribution of Air Mass Dueto gravitaionlanraction, the approximate dstbusion of itmass with height: \ 2 of the ait mass is contained below 6 km, 3/4 below 10 km and 99 % below 35 km 3