This tutorial is a summarised but reasonably comprehensive examination — directed towards Australian conditions — of the atmospheric structure, the physical laws and the forces which together produce the atmospheric phenomena referred to as weather — a good understanding of which is essential to safe aerial navigation. The tutorial provides much more detail than is necessary for novice pilots to understand; it is meant for persons who wish to expand their knowledge of meteorology without getting into the mathematics.

Contents:

1. The atmosphere and thermodynamics (part 1)

• 1.1 Atmospheric structure
        1.1.1 Temperature-related layers
        1.1.2 Composition-related layers
        1.1.3 Radiation-related layers
• 1.2 Gas laws and basic atmospheric forces
• 1.3 Atmospheric pressure gradient and buoyancy
• 1.4 Atmospheric tides
• 1.5 Atmospheric moisture
• 1.6 Evaporation and latent heat

1a. Atmospheric thermodynamics (part 2) and dynamics

• 1.7 Insolation and atmospheric temperature
        1.7.1 Insolation
        1.7.2 Terrestrial radiation
        1.7.3 Energy balance
        1.7.4 Tropospheric transport of surface heating and cooling
        1.7.5 Heat advection
• 1.8 The electromagnetic wave spectrum
• 1.9 Tropospheric global heat transfer
• 1.10 Temperature lapse rate in the troposphere
• 1.11 Adiabatic processes and lapse rates
• 1.12 Atmospheric stability
• 1.13 Convergence, divergence and subsidence
• 1.14 Momentum, Coriolis effect and vorticity
• 1.15 Thermal gradients and the thermal wind concept

2. Effects of altitude

(contained in the Flight Theory Guide modules 2 & 3)

• 2.1 The International Standard Atmosphere (Flight theory section 2.3)
• 2.2 The sensitive altimeter (Flight theory section 3.1)
• 2.3 Altitude and Q-code definitions (Flight theory section 3.2)
• 2.4 Physiological effects of altitude (Flight theory section 3.3)
• 2.4 High density altitude (Flight theory section 3.4)

3. Cloud, fog and precipitation

• 3.1 Cloud formation
• 3.2 Cloud classification
        3.2.1 Cloud genera
        3.2.2 Cloud species
        3.2.3 Cloud varieties
        3.2.4 Accessory clouds
        3.2.5 Cloud features
        3.2.6 Stratospheric clouds
        3.2.7 ICAO / WMO Cloud continuity scale
• 3.3 Lifting forces
        3.3.1 Convection
        3.3.2 Frictional turbulence
        3.3.3 Orographic ascent
        3.3.4 Convergence and widespread ascent
• 3.4 Fog
• 3.5 Precipitation
        3.5.1 Rain [RA] and drizzle [DZ]
        3.5.2 Snow [SN]
        3.5.3 Hail and other ice forms
        3.5.4 The seeder–feeder mechanism
• 3.6 Thunderstorm development
• 3.7 Flight in cloud or without external visual references

4. Planetary-scale tropospheric systems

• 4.1 General global circulation
• 4.2 Cross-section of tropospheric circulation
• 4.3 The intertropical convergence zone and the Hadley cell
• 4.4 The sub-tropical anticyclones
• 4.5 The Antarctic polar high and the sub-polar low belt
• 4.6 Rossby waves and the westerly wind belt
• 4.7 Southern polar fronts
• 4.8 Upper-level jet streams

5. Synoptic scale systems

• 5.1 Air masses
• 5.2 Extratropical cyclones
• 5.3 Mobile fronts
• 5.4 Other synoptic isobaric features
• 5.5 The north-west cloud band

6. Southern hemisphere winds

• 6.1 Geostrophic and cyclostrophic winds
• 6.2 Effect of surface friction
• 6.3 Calculating low-level geostrophic wind speed
• 6.4 Slope and valley winds
• 6.5 Squalls and gusts
• 6.6 Tropical cyclones
• 6.7 Determining wind velocity
• 6.8 The compass and wind rose

7. Mesoscale weather systems

• 7.1 Thermal systems
• 7.2 Wave systems
• 7.3 Orographic systems

9. Micrometeorology — atmospheric turbulence

• 9.1 Boundary layer turbulence
• 9.2 Low-level wind shear
• 9.3 Convection currents
• 9.4 Shear and turbulence near thunderstorms
• 9.5 Convective downbursts
• 9.6 Squall lines
• 9.7 Storm avoidance
• 9.8 Tornadoes, landspouts and waterspouts
• 9.9 Other pre-frontal turbulence
• 9.10 Low-level jets
• 9.11 Lee wind downflow, eddies, rotors and vortices
• 9.12 Mountain waves
• 9.13 Valley winds
• 9.14 Solitary waves
• 9.15 Aircraft wake vortices
• 9.16 Clear air turbulence
• 9.17 Effect of heavy rain

10. Airframe and engine icing

• 10.1 Airframe icing conditions
• 10.2 Effect of airframe ice
• 10.3 Ice jamming control surfaces and cables
• 10.4 Hoar frost obscuring vision on take-off
• 10.5 Carburettor icing

11. Atmospheric electricity

• 11.1 Global electric circuit
• 11.2 Static charge and discharge
• 11.3 Lightning
• 11.4 Red sprites and blue jets
• 11.5 Auroral displays

12. Atmospheric light phenomena

• 12.1 Light scatter
        12.1.1 Rayleigh and Mie scatter
        12.1.2 Twilight effects
• 12.2 Atmospheric optical displays
        12.2.1 Electromagnetic refraction, reflection and diffraction
        12.2.2 Ice crystal displays
        12.2.3 Cloud droplet effects
        12.2.4 Rainbows
        12.2.5 Atmospheric density effects
• 12.3 Moon phases

13. Aviation weather reports and forecasts

• 13.1 Bureau of Meteorology Aviation Weather Services
• 13.2 BoM's aerodrome weather information service (AWIS)
• 13.3 'Plain English' area forecasts, terminal aerodrome forecasts and meteorological observations
• 13.4 BoM general weather observations, forecasts and radar images
• 13.5 Airservices Australia's online meteorological and NOTAM briefing system
• 13.6 Acquiring weather information in flight
• 13.7 AIP Book and ERSA