Aviation meteorology, is a branch of meteorology that focuses on weather phenomena and its impact on aviation operations. It provides essential information and forecasts to pilots, air traffic controllers, and aviation professionals to ensure safe and efficient flight operations.
In this category, we shall understand the various aspects of weather essential to a pilot. The scope of Aviation Meteorology for PPL, CPL and ATPL includes the following.
- Atmosphere
- Atmospheric Pressure
- Temperature
- Air Density
- Humidity
- Winds
- Visibility and Fog
- Vertical Motion and Clouds
- Stability and Instability of Atmosphere
- Optical Phenomena
- Precipitation
- Ice Accretion
- Thunderstorm
- Air Masses Fronts and Western Disturbance
- Jet Streams
- Clear Air Turbulence
- Mountain waves
- Tropical Systems
- Climatology of India
- General circulation
- Meteorological services for Aviation
- Weather Radar and Meteorological satellites
- Meteorological Instruments
- Station Model
- Aviation Weather Reports (Metar, Speci and Trend)
- Aviation Weather Forecasts (TAF, ARFOR and ROFOR)
- Radar Report, Sigmet message, and Satellite Bulletin
- Meteorological Documentation and Briefing
- Flight Forecast and Cross-section Forecast of Route Conditions
As we can see there are a lot of subjects which are of great importance to pilots. Let us start our discussion of Aviation Meteorology by understanding about the Composition of Atmosphere.