A330

EROMET
A330
EROMET

INDEX
 TROPOPAUSE
 JET STREAM
 CAT
 THUNDERSTORM AVOIDANCE
 ICE-CRYSTALS
 TROPICAL CYCLONE
 ICAO/FAA CODES
References documents
METEOROLOGY
Meteorology Tropopause

IC AO T RO P O PAU SA E
Separati on laye r betw een
the troposphe re and the
stratosphere w here the
te m perature
rem ains constant w ith
the height

ICAO TROPOPAUSAE
Separation layer between
the troposphere and the
stratosphere where the
temperature
remains constant with
the height

1 . V E RT IC A L D EV ELO P M EN T FO R T H E CO N V EC TIV E P H EN O M E N A

2 . IT IS TH E ATM O SP H ER IC EN V IRO N M E N T W H ER E TH E W IN D R EA C H ES ITS M A X IM U M IN TEN SIT Y

3 . D ISCO N TIN U ITY SU R FA C E - JETSTR EA M - C AT

1. VERTICAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CONVECTIVE PHENOMENA

2. IT IS THE ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE WIND REACHES ITS MAXIMUM INTENSITY

3. DISCONTINUITY SURFACE - JETSTREAM - CAT

Meteorology Tropopause

FL

FL
F L 3 3 0 : 1 4 5 k t… … … … … … … .F L 3 7 0 : 1 0 9 k t

FL 330 : 145 kt………………….FL 370 : 109kt

109

370
109
370 6 % / 1 0 0 0 ft

T R O P O PA U S E

T H IS G R A P H M AY B E
U S E D TO D E C ID E IF
A F L IG H T L E V E L C A N
BE ACCEPTED OR
NOT
6% / 1000ft
TROPOPAUSE
145

M a x w in d

145
T R O P O PA U S E

330

Max wind TROPOPAUSE

THIS GRAPH MAY BE 330
USED TO DECIDE IF 130

A FLIGHT LEVEL CAN 130 4 % / 1 0 0 0 ft

4% / 1000 ft
300

BE ACCEPTED OR 300
NOT

40 60 90 130 145 I n t e n s it y in K Ts

40 60 90 130 145 Intensity in KTs

F L 3 0 0 : 1 3 0 k t. … … … … … … … ..F L 3 3 0 : 1 4 5 k t

FL 300 : 130 kt. …………………..FL 330 : 145 kt

Meteorology Jet Stream

 Sometime convective
phenomena are not limited
to the tropopause

 CAT can be mostly

found near the Jet Stream

 Both CAT and Jet

Stream can be found near
the discontinuity surface
Meteorology Jet Stream

Prevailing
westerlies

TRADE WINDS

ITCZ

 GENERAL CIRCULATION OF THE

ATMOSPHERE
 THE ASCENDING AIR NEAR THE
EQUATOR MOVES TOWARDS THE
POLES KEEPING ITS OWN ENERGY
THUS BEING FASTER THAN THE
SURROUNDING AIR AT HIGHER
LATITUDES
Meteorology Jet Stream
Meteorology Jet Stream

 THE CORIOLIS EFFECT STATES THAT

AN AIR MASS MOVING TOWARDS THE
NORTH POLE ROTATE TO THE RIGHT
Meteorology Jet Stream

POLAR
JET STREAM -
WESTERLY FL 540
FL 200
CORE
It can be found some
thousands of feet
under the hotter
tropopause

Logitudinal extension:

4000-5000 NM

Horizontal extension:

200 km

Vertical extension:

2 – 5 – …….8 km 10 NOV 2014

(6000)……(25000 ft )
Meteorology Jet Stream

POLAR
JET STREAM -
WESTERLY
SEASON: ALWAYS

Latitudes:
50° NORTH – SUMMER

ITCZ 16° - 18° North

Latitudes:
30° NORTH - WINTER

ITCZ 6° - 8° South

THE ’80% OF ITCZ

THE FLIGHT
PLANNING
IN THE NAT ITCZ
AREA
DEPENDS ON
ITS POSITION
Meteorology Jet Stream

SUBTROPICAL
JET STREAM -
WESTERLY
SEASON: ALWAYS

Latitudes:
30° NORTH – SUMMER

ITCZ 16° - 18° North

Latitudes:
20° NORTH - WINTER
ITCZ 6° - 8° South
ITCZ

ITCZ
Meteorology Jet Stream

EQUATORIAL
JET STREAM
EASTERLY
PERIODO:
SEASON : SUMMER

Latitudes:
16°-18° NORTH

ITCZ 16° - 18° North

Meteorology Jet Stream
Meteorology CAT

MEDIUM - HIGH
LEVEL SIG. WX
CHART

ADDITIONAL LEGEND
Meteorology CAT

MEDIUM - HIGH
LEVEL SIG. WX
CHART

2014

NO
ADDITIONAL LEGEND
Meteorology CAT

POLAR
JET STREAM -
WESTERLY

1
HEADWIND
JETSTREAM

2
TAILWIND
JETSTREAM

3
ABEAM
1.
3. WITH
2. WITH ALL
ALL HEADWIND
CROSSING TAILWIND REQUEST
REQUEST
A JETSTRAEM TOTHE
TO THEATC
ATCAAREQUEST
PERPENDICULARLY LEFT TURN
RIGHT AN (IN
TURN (IN THE
THE NORTHERN
HIGHER NORTHERN EMISPHERE)
EMISPHERE)
FL IF THE OAT INCREASES, LOWER IF THE OAT DECREASES
JETSTREAM
Meteorology CAT
Meteorology CAT

-- “jet stream” velocity higher than 100 knotes;

-- drift angle and/or “ground speed” changing (for winds changes);

NOTA :

CAT premonitory sings

-- OAT changing more than 2° C or more in 2 minutes or less;
may be:
-- OAT <-- 65° C with an height higher than FL 350;

-- vertical rate of the winds higher than 5 knotes / 1000 ft;

-- horizontal rate of the winds higher than 20 knotes / 60 NM;

-- “jet stream” over mountainous area;

-- orographic waves even without the lenticular clouds;

-- condensation trail of other aeroplanes chopped

Meteorology CAT

www.ogimet.com/gramet_aero.phtml.en
Meteorology Thunderstorms Avoidance

The following general rules apply in avoiding thunderstorm activity:

• takeoff or landing in the face of an approaching thunderstorm within 15 NM of the aerodrome should not
be attempted;

• strong weather radar echoes should be avoided laterally by at least 10 NM at or below FL 200, and by at
least 20 NM above FL 200. Distorted radar-echo shapes (e.g. U, finger, scalloped, or hook shapes) are a
good indication of severe turbulence, shear, and hail within the thunderstorm and in proximity of it.
Therefore, the safety buffer should be increased by 50%;

OM A: 8.3.8.2.1
Meteorology Thunderstorms Avoidance

• thunderstorms should be avoided on the upwind side. When Flight Crews have no choice but to fly on the
downwind side of a storm, it is recommended to use a separation of 1 NM for every knot of wind at the
altitude;

• storm tops should be cleared by a height of not less than 5.000 ft. When the top of the convective cell is
above 25.000 ft, overflying should be avoided. When possible, overfly between the storm cells of a
squall/front line rather than flying directly above them;

• flying under a thunderstorm should not be attempted even when it’s possible to see through.

OM A: 8.3.8.2.1
Meteorology Ice-crystals

Reflectivity
Meteorology Ice-crystals
Meteorology Ice-crystals

CB with the radar echo at different tilt settings

Meteorology Ice-crystals
Meteorology Ice-crystals

https://skyvector.com/
Meteorology Ice-crystals

USE OF THE AIRBORNE WEATHER RADAR

In HIWC regions, aggressive radar antenna down-tilting should be applied. In oceanic flights, an increased
antenna gain setting may be required in order to adequately detect weather threats.

OM A: 8.3.8.2.1.1
Meteorology Tropical Cyclone
TROPICAL CYCLONE

TY - Typhoon

STY - Super Typhoon

TC - Tropical Cyclone

STC - Severe Tropical

Cyclone

ITC - Intense Tropical

Cyclone

VITC - Very Intense

Tropical Cyclone

< 15 KT TROPICALE DISTURBANCE TD

< 33 KT TROPICAL DEPRESSION TD TEMPESTA
< 47 KT TROPICAL STORM TS
< 63 KT SEVERE TROPICAL STORM STS
> 64 KT TROPICAL CYCLONE TC
Meteorology Tropical Cyclone

Tropical Cyclone occurrence area

Meteorology Tropical Cyclone

THEY FORM NEAR THE ITCZ, OVER THE OCEAN, AS A TROPICAL DISTURBANCE (LOW PRESSURE
AREA)

THE ASCENDIG MOVEMENT RISES WATER VAPOUR WHICH COOLS AND CONDENSES THUS
BRINGING LATENT HEAT OF CONDENSATION.

THIS ENERGY IS NORMALLY USED TO INCREASE THE VORTICITY. THUS INCREASING AND AUTO
FEEDING THE SAME MOVEMENT
Meteorology Tropical Cyclone

Their movements can normally be forecasted well before the ETD of the flights so making possible a flight
planning far away the hazard area.
The Flight Dispatcher has to plan the Flight using all the relevant messages with the hazard area coordinates
and drawing the actual and the forecasted position of the cylone on the RFC thus comparing it with the Flight
Plan track. The planning method commonly used states to use a safety margin of 2° in latitudes from the
margin already drawn from the Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centre or 4° in latitudes from the cyclone track
forecasted from the same Centre.
The Flight Plan can be dispatched only if it is outside of the external safety boundary.

NOTE:
An area of thunderstorms should be considered frequent (FRQ) if within that area is little or
no separation between adjacent thunderstorms with a maximum spatial coverage grater
than 75 per cent of the area affected, or forecast to be affected, by phenomenon (at a fixed
time or during the period of validity).
Meteorology Tropical Cyclone
Meteorology Tropical Cyclone

ADVISORY

TC ADVISORY
DTG: 20141216/0600Z
TCAC: TOKYO
TC: TALAS
NR: 22
PSN: N1210 E13235
MOV: WNW 06KT
C: 996HPA
MAX WIND: 35KT
FCST PSN/12HR: 16/1800Z N1250 E13150
FCST MAX WIND/12HR: 35KT
FCST PSN/18HR: NIL
FCST MAX WIND/18 HR: NIL
FCST PSN/24HR: 17/0600Z N1325 E13105 TROPICAL DEPRESSION
NXT MSG: 20141216/1200Z
Meteorology Tropical Cyclone

www.wmo.int: Tropical cyclones and severe weather

www.noaa.gov
Meteorology Tropical Cyclone

HO CHI MINH FIR (VVTS)

Meteorology Tropical Cyclone

www.jma.go.jp/en/typh
Meteorology ICAO/FAA Codes

FAA

Gust
RVR

Sky cover
Atmospheric Pressure

RMKS

FMH-1
Meteorology Volcanic Ash Cloud

GUST – min 3 sec , max 2 min

ICAO

18 20,5

If
If during
during the
the 10 10 min.
min. period
period before
before the
the
10,5 observation the gust speed exceedes than
observation the gust speed exceedes than the the
Gust avarage
avarage speed
speed of
of at
at least
least 10
10 kt
kt

RVR 3
Sky cover

Atmospheric 18
Pressure FAA
RMKS

Rapid change in the wind speed with a difference

of 10 kt or more between: PEAK & LULL

3
Meteorology Volcanic Ash Cloud

RVR
ICAO

HORIZONTAL
HORIZONTAL VISIBILITY
VISIBILITY IS
IS LESS
LESS THAN
THAN 1500
1500 METERS
METERS

IF THE RVR HAS BEEN AN INSTRUMENTAL REPORT, IT IS THE MEAN VALUE

Gust DURIGN THE 10 MIN PERIOD BEFORE THE OBSERVATION TIME
RVR

Sky cover

Atmospheric
Pressure FAA
RMKS
THE PREVAILING VISIBILITY IS LESS THAN 1 SM
RVR IS REPORTED IN FEET

IF THE RVR HAS BEEN AN INSTRUMENTAL REPORT, IT IS THE MEAN VALUE

DURIGN THE 1 MIN PERIOD BEFORE THE OBSERVATION TIME

IN THE USA “U” UPWARD, “D” DOWNWARD AND “N” NILL RVR TENDENCY
CODES ARE NOT USED
Meteorology Volcanic Ash Cloud

SKY COVER

1/8 5000

4000

gUST
3000
RVR
2000
Sky cover

Atmospheric 1000
Pressure
RMKS

ICAO: FEW 010 SCT 030 SCT 050

FAA: FEW 010 BKN 030 OVC 050

Note: in the U.S.A. CAVOK is not used!

Meteorology Volcanic Ash Cloud

ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE 1 hPa = 0,03 in Hg

QNH IS ACCOUNTED IN INCHES OF MERCURY - InHg

IN A METAR THE QNH VALUE IS PRECEDED BY THE “A” LETTER WHICH MEANS
Gust “ALTIMETER ”

RVR
Pressure Rising or Falling Rapidly (PRESRR/PRESFR)
Sky cover

Atmospheric
Pressure AT DESIGNATED STATIONS, WHEN THE PRESSURE IS RISING OR FALLING
RMKS RAPIDLY AT THE TIME OF OBSERVATION, THE REMARK
PRESRR (PRESSURE RISING RAPIDLY) OR PRESFR (PRESSURE FALLING
RAPIDLY) SHALL BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT.
Meteorology Volcanic Ash Cloud

RMKS - REMARKS

RMK simply means REMARKS and marks the end of the standard metar
observation and the beginning of the remarks that are put in as necessay.
Gust
A02 means that the site is automated and has a precipitation sensor.
RVR
If it were A01, there would be no precip sensor.
Sky cover
This does not mean the site is un-manned. If there is an AUTO after the ID in
Atmospheric
Pressure the metar ob, then there is no observer.
RMKS

There are many remarks, and the FMH-1

(FEDERAL METEOROLOGICAL HANDBOOK – 1) will give you a full listing of
them.
Meteorology Volcanic Ash Cloud

KMIA 141353Z 00000KT 10SM BKN300 21/14 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP167 T02060139
(Miami, FLORIDA)
- AO2 shall be coded in all METAR/SPECI from automated stations with a precipitation
discriminator.
-SLPppp (Sea-Level Pressure) shall be coded to identify the sea-level pressure in hectopascals
In this case SLP167 is 1016.7 hPa.
- TsnT’T’T’snT’dT’dT’d (Hourly Temperature and Dew Point) shall be coded to identify hourly
temperature and dew point to the tenth of a degree Celsius (sn is the sign of the temperature
and dew point and shall be coded 1 if the value is below 0°C and 0 if the value is 0°C or higher).
In this case T02060139 means temperature is +20.6°C and dew point is +13.9°C; these
indications would be reported in the body of the report as “21/14”.

KJFK 141351Z 10005KT 8SM -RA FEW040 BKN085 BKN250 06/02 A2988 RMK AO2 RAB42 SLP118
ACC OHD-SW T00560022
(New York, NEW YORK)
w’w’B(hh)mmE(hh)mm (Beginning and Ending of Precipitation) shall be coded to identify the
type of precipitation, the Beginning as B, the Ending as E and the time of occurrence (only the
minutes are required if the hour can be inferred from the report time). In this case Rain is
reported as began at 1342Z.
ACC [DIR] (Significant Cloud Types) shall be coded to report Altocumulus Castellanus as
significant cloud and the direction from the station. In this case ACC is reported from overhead
(OHD) to southwest (SW).
Meteorology Volcanic Ash Cloud

KDFW 181423Z 35017KT 2SM R17C/40000VP6000FT TSRA BR BKN008 OVC018 16/14 A2965
RMK AO2 SFC VIS 2 ½ TSB23 TS OHD MOV NE P0014
(Dallas Forth Worth, TEXAS)
TSB(hh)mmE(hh)mm(Beginning and Ending of thunderstorm) shall be coded to identify the
presence of thunderstorm, the Beginning as B, the Ending as E and the time of occurrence
(only the minutes are required if the hour can be inferred from the report time). In this case
Rain is reported as began at 1423Z.
TS LOC (MOV DIR) (Thunderstorm location) shall be coded to identify thunderstorm activity
(TS), its own location (LOC) from the station and the movement with direction (MOV DIR), if
known. In this case a thunderstorm is located overhead the station and is moving toward the
northeast (NE).
Prrrr (Hourly Precipitation Amount) shall be coded to identify the water equivalent, in
hundred of an inch, of all precipitation that has occurred since the last METAR. The group
shall be omitted if no precipitation occurred since the last METAR. P0000 would indicate that
less than 1/100 of an inch of precipitation fell in the past hour. In this case P0014 would
indicate 14/100 of an inch of precipitation fell in the past hour.
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