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Friday 4th July 2008
Brainteasers
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Brainteasers Interactive Quiz #8:
METARs

Starting July 1st, 1996, those old familiar SAs and FTs were replaced by strange-looking mumbo-jumbo called METARs and TAFs. This quiz will give you a pretty good idea of whether or not you've mastered the transition to METAR-format reports.

by Mike Busch

The questions in this Brainteaser quiz are based on the FAA's Aviation Weather handbook.

Answer the questions as best you can, then click on the "score" button to see your score and read the explanations. If you don't like your score the first time around, you can change some of your answers and resubmit. To get the most out of this quiz, we suggest you keep trying until you get a perfect score.

1. Routine METAR hourly observations that meet special criteria, previously RS ("record special") are reported as:
a. METAR
b. SPECI
c. SMETAR
d. SM
2. Station identifiers for all METAR-reporting stations in the conterminous U.S. begin with "K", while identifiers for stations in Alaska begin with:
a. "A"
b. "PA"
c. "K"
d. "AL"
3. In METAR reports, an automated report from AWOS is identified by:
a. The report type modifier "AUTO".
b. The report type modifier "AWOS".
c. The report type modifiers "A01" or "A02".
d. The absence of the report type modifier "MAN".
4. In SA reports, the symbol "X" was used to denote "sky obscured". The equivalent notation in METAR reports is:
a. W
b. X
c. VV
d. SOB
5. In METAR reports, what is the difference between SKC and CLR?
a. SKC is reported at manual stations when the sky is clear, and CLR is reported at automated stations when the sky is clear.
b. CLR is reported at manual stations when the sky is clear, and SKC is reported at automated stations when the sky is clear below 12,000 feet.
c. SKC is reported at manual stations when the sky is clear, and CLR is reported at automated stations when the sky is clear below 12,000 feet.
d. SKC and CLR are interchangeable.
6. The notation "VCSH" in a METAR report denotes:
a. Volcanic ash.
b. Showers in the vicinity.
c. Showers very close to the observation point.
d. Virga and showers.
7. In a METAR report, the group "R17L/M600VP6000FT" means that runway 17L visual range is:
a. measured 600 feet, varying up to 6000 feet.
b. missing below 600 feet, very poor at 6000 feet.
c. variable from less than 600 feet to more than 6000 feet.
d. measured 600 feet, but a pilot reported it to be 6000 feet.
8. In a METAR report, "+TSRAGR" means:
a. Heavy thunderstorm, snow, rain, and snow grains.
b. Thunderstorm, heavy rain, and hail.
c. Severe thunderstorm, rain, and hail.
d. Severe thunderstorm, rain, ground fog.
9. In a METAR report, "FEW025" describes a scattered layer at 2500 feet that covers 1/8 to 2/8 of the sky, while "SCT025" indicates that the layer covers 3/8 to 4/8 of the sky. But what does "FEW000" mean?
a. Scattered layer covering 1/8 to 2/8 of the sky, height unknown.
b. Sky partially obscured, obscuration covering 1/8 to 2/8 of the sky.
c. Scattered layer covering 1/8 to 2/8 of the sky, height greater than 12,000 feet (reported only by AWOS stations).
d. It is not a valid METAR sky cover group.
10. In a METAR report, what would "1 1/2SM BRFU" mean?
a. Visibility one and one half miles in smoke, blowing rain, patchy fog.
b. Visibility one and one half statute miles in patchy ground fog.
c. Visibility one and one half miles in smoke and patchy ground fog.
d. Visibility one and one half statute miles in mist and smoke.