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INTRODUCTION TO PRACTICALS IN AVIATION WEATHER

The series of practical in AVIATION WEATHER are aimed at equipping the students with

practical skills in current practices of weather analysis and computational skills.

PRACTICAL TIME TABLE (SMR 204 2014/15)

SERIAL NO. DESCRIPTION DATE DUE FOR

HANDING IN

Allocation of

percentage

Marks

Practical - 01 Decoding the weather

message

23rd

February, 2016 10

Practical - 02 Plotting SYNOP report on the

weather Chart

1st March, 2016 10

Practical - 03 Coding upper air data

8th

March 2016 10

Practical - 04 Plotting the sounding on a

T

15th

March 2016 15

Practical - 05 Writing and interpretation of

METAR

22nd

March 2016 15

Practical - 06 Writing and interpretation of

SIGMET

29th

March 2016 15

CAT

15th

March 2016

25

TOTAL MARKS

100

Useful websites

http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/WMOCodes/Manual/Volume-I-selection/Sel2.pdf

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/media/pdf/e/a/No._13_-_Upper_Air_Measurements.pdf

http://www.ofcm.gov/fmh3/pdf/13-app-e.pdf (For upper air wind and Temperature coding)

PRACTICAL 1: DECODING THE WEATHER MESSAGE

Objective:

The practical is aimed at enabling the student decode the weather messages

a) A table of coded weather messages

b) The lecture notes

Procedure:

Decode the weather message for the assigned data

TABLE 1 The data assigned to each student .

S/N STUDENT

REG NO.

DATA

1 I50/78854/2015 AAXX 15004 96091 11457 70000 10246 20243 30073 40097

51012 60024 71622 84878 333 20245 50380 55014 56000

57802 59006 82613 83817 86280=

AAXX 15124 96109 01456 70000 10256 20229 30033 40070

52016 69941 71396 84931 333 10334 56000 57901 58000

81915 83617 85360 80960=

AAXX 07064 63717 11980 32301 10162 20141 48558 60014

70244 83050 333 20120 59004 83358=

AAXX 07064 63793 12580 61610 10247 20213 40158 69904

8653/ 333 20210 58001 86620=

2 I50/81309/2015 AAXX 14064 96009 01440 80102 10256 20244 30060 40095

58006 60091 79596 8692/ 333 56009 57901 60097 82914

84615 85460 80965=

AAXX 15004 96015 01450 80704 10234 20231 30096 40101

52011 60514 72196 8552/ 333 20230 50970 55056 56009

58010 60017 85612 85457=

AAXX 02064 03008 11482 60210 10044 21030 40164 60002

71511 868// 333 20017 31101 79999 81818 85645=

AAXX 02184 03068 12782 51214 10073 21040 30108 40117

56014 60002 85500 333 10095 85650=

PRACTICAL 2: PLOTTING THE WEATHER INFORMATION ON A CHART

Objective:

The practical is aimed at enabling the student plot on a weather chart.

Tools

a) A table of coded weather messages

b) Lecture Notes

c) A chart (map) with station indicated on it

Procedure:

Plot the weather messages for the stations over Kenya at 15GMT on figure 1. For the dates

assigned

(N B. You will need to print out the figure1)

1. Code the data assigned to you.

S/N STUDENT

REG NO.

DATE

1 I50/78854/2015 15TH

NOVEMBER 2015

2 I50/81309/2015 10TH

JANUARY, 2016

Figure 1: The Synoptic stations over Kenya

PRACTICAL 3: CODING THE UPPER AIR OBSERVED WEATHER

Objective:

The practical is aimed at enabling the student code the observed weather

a) A table of observed weather

b) The lecture notes

Procedure:

Code the weather message give in table 2 and 3

Tools

a) WMO MANNUAL ON CODING

b) Upper air DATA

Instructions

2. Code the data assigned to you.

S/N STUDENT

REG NO.

DATA

1 I50/78854/2015 Table 2A and Table 3B

2 I50/81309/2015 Table 2b and Table 3A

TABLE 2A: STATION 63612 DATE 14-02-2016 TIME 09 GMT

LEVEL (mb) HEIGHT (m) SPEED (kts) DIR

(Surface) 955 515 3 18

925 635 6 12

850 1320 10 27

800 2050 12 42

750 2560 19 38

700 3201 23 32

650 3835 25 25

600 4468 15 23

550 5197 12 63

500 5926 18 136

450 6790 28 153

400 7654 22 192

350 8420 20 211

300 11023 17 198

250 12500 24 164

200 14311 26 93

170 14570 25 81

150 15199 21 39

120 16984 23 60

100 18443 25 20

90 19288 24 0

80 20232 23 350

70 21296 26 342

60 22526 23 330

50 23991 20 340

40 25774 21 320

30 28076 28 344

20 31317 26 325

10 36865 20 352

TABLE 2B: STATION 63820 DATE 22-01-2016 TIME 18 GMT

LEVEL (mb) HEIGHT (m) SPEED (kts) DIR

(Surface) 932 515 5 192

925 635 7 174

850 1320 7 156

800 2050 12 142

750 2560 16 146

700 3201 18 151

650 3835 21 187

600 4468 15 207

550 5197 11 241

500 5926 18 313

450 6790 22 330

400 7654 22 352

350 8420 20 338

300 11023 17 351

250 12500 26 344

200 14311 25 272

170 14570 27 263

150 15199 22 212

120 16984 24 241

100 18443 27 212

90 19288 27 180

80 20232 23 177

70 21296 25 144

60 22526 24 150

50 23991 20 146

40 25774 22 322

30 28076 22 301

20 31317 25 316

10 36865 20 298

TABLE 3A Sounding for station 67982 0n 24-04-2012 at 15hr local time and the station is located at 60OE . The radio sonde launched at 14hr 30min local time.

Pressure level(mb)

Geopotential Height (m)

Temperature

Co

Dew point

Temp Co

Wind speed

Kt

Direction

1012 45 23.2 18.6 4 108

1000 112 24.5 20.4 6 163

940 495 25.3 17.5 8 180

925 615 23.8 14.3 12 144

850 1520 22.6 12.4 34 122

800 2030 20.1 15.8 40 100

750 2640 16.0 11.9 60 84

700 3186 10.3 10.7 50 48

650 3819 6.3 5.6 76 53

600 4458 2.4 -2.2 84 70

500 5904 0.5 -8.2 90 95

400 7634 -3.2 -15.4 100 122

300 9743 -8.4 112 150

250 11002 -15.7 120 140

200 12480 -25.8 125 203

170 14290 -32.3 130 140

150 14550 -51.4 120 206

120 15600 -51.1 110 295

100 16680 -62.6 90 300

90 17280 -71.2 95 326

70 18703 -82.0 80 310

50 20722 -75.1 82 313

30 23400 -72.4 60 292

20 25800 -66.5 50 330

10 29710 -62.8 45 310

TABLE 3B Sounding for station 63980 0n 15-10-2015 at 14hr local time and the station is located at 75OE . The radio sonde launched at 14hr 15min local time.

Pressure level(mb)

Geopotential Height (m)

Temperature

Co

Dew point

Temp Co

Wind speed 1ms

Direction

1016 40 24.2 18.6 3 112

1000 112 25.5 19.4 5 160

940 495 24.3 17.5 8 180

925 615 23.8 14.3 12 144

850 1520 22.6 12.4 17 120

800 2030 18.1 15.8 20 103

750 2640 14.3 11.9 30 87

700 3186 10.3 10.7 25 51

650 3819 6.3 5.6 37 54

600 4458 2.4 -2.2 42 70

500 5904 0.5 -8.2 45 93

400 7634 -3.2 -15.4 50 120

300 9743 -8.4 -14.1 56 150

250 11002 -13.7 60 140

200 12480 -22.8 62 200

170 14290 -31.3 66 140

150 14550 -48.4 61 212

120 15600 -51.1 55 295

100 16680 -62.6 45 302

90 17280 -71.2 44 325

70 18703 -82.0 40 310

50 20722 -75.2 42 306

30 23400 -72.4 30 290

20 25800 -66.5 25 307

10 29710 -62.8 22 310

PRACTICAL NO. 4: PLOTTING THE SOUNDING ON A T

Objective:

The practical is aimed at enabling the student to plot the sounding on T

And compute the convective parameters.

Tools

a) Extract the TEMP data for the station and date allocated to you at 00 GMT.

For example to obtain data for 00GMT for 25th

Sep 2014 enter the information as shown.

COUNTRY OR TERRITORY (*) TYPE SORT ORDER NIL REPORTS FORMAT

Indonesia

ALL, (TEMP and PILOT)

Oldest the first

NIL reports included

TXT

TIME INTERVAL Year Month Day Hour

BEGIN: 2014

September

24

23

END: 2014

September

25

00

send

Clean

b) Using a T

(i) Plot the given temperature and dew point temperature a T gram and Indicate the layers

that experienced warming/ cooling and moistening / drying.

(ii) Determine the LCL, equivalent potential temperature, lifted Index, K-Index

(iii) Find the mixing ratio, specific humidity, ,relative humidity and vapour pressure at surface,

800mb, and 700mb

STUDENT

REG NO. Station and Date

I50/78854/2015 Darwin-Australia (21st and 22

nd Sep, 2015)

I50/81309/2015 Jarkata-Indonesia(1st and 2

nd Jan, 2016)

PRACTICAL 5: PREPARING (CODING) AND INTERPRETATING (DECODING)

A METAR Objective:

The practical is aimed at enabling the student to be able to prepare (code) and interpreate (decode) a METAR

Tools

a) A table of weather messages

b) The ICAO guide for writing METAR

TABLE FOR PRACTICAL 5 The data assigned to each student .

S/N STUDENT

REG NO.

DATA

1 I50/78854/2015 Complete Landing Forecast or Aviation routine weather report with

trend forecast

for Entebbe Int. airport

The time of origin (issuing) at 1200Z on the 12th

February, 2016

Observed weather

Wind direction is 90 degrees, Wind speed 06 knots

Visibility 7500 meters

Cloud layer 1 amount 3 - 4 oktas (or 3/8 - 4/8) at base 1500 ft

Cloud layer 2 amount 3 - 4 oktas of Cumulonimbus (or 3/8 - 4/8) at

base 1700 ft

Temperature 26ºC, Dew point temperature 24ºC

QNH 865 hPa (mb)

Forecast weatherchange Time from 1220Z on 20th until 1250Z on 12

th February, 2016

Horizontal Visibility is 3000m

Weather phenomena is moderate thunderstorm with rain

The end signal of the message

2 I50/81309/2015

Complete Landing Forecast/ Aviation routine weather report with trend

forecast

Jomo Kenyatta Int. airport

The time of origin (issuing) at 1200Z on the 15th

January 2016

Observed weather Wind direction is 70 degrees, Wind speed 08 knots

Visibility 8000 meters

Cloud layer 1 amount 5 - 6 oktas (or 5/8 - 6/8) at base 1400 ft

Cloud layer 2 amount 3 - 4 oktas of Cumulonimbus (or 3/8 - 4/8) at

base 1600 ft

Temperature 22ºC, Dew point temperature 19ºC

QNH 823hPa (mb)

Forecast Change in weather

Time from 1200Z on 20th until 1220Z on 20th

Horizontal Visibility is 4000m

Weather phenomena is moderate thunderstorm with rain

The end signal of the message

S/N STUDENT

REG NO.

DATA

1 I50/78854/2015 METAR HTMT 160400Z 27005KT 9999 FEW021 FEW022CB BKN080

26/25 Q1014=

METAR HTDA 160400Z 31004KT 9999 BKN020 26/24 Q1014

NOSIG=

METAR HKJK 160400Z 08005KT 050V110 9999 FEW018 15/12

Q1024=

METAR HKML 160400Z 00000KT 9999 FEW019 25/23 Q1014=

2 I50/81309/2015

METAR HKEL 160400Z 07003KT CAVOK 11/09 Q1026=

METAR HKKI 160400Z 07005KT CAVOK 17/13 Q1018=

METAR HTSO 160400Z 00000KT 9999 SCT018 FEW020CB BKN070

20/20 Q1019=

METAR HTTB 160400Z 00000KT 9999 FEW017 19/18 Q1020=

PRACTICAL 6: PREPARING A SIGMET Objective:

The practical is aimed at enabling the student to be able to write and interpreate a SIGMET

Tools

a) A table of weather messages

b) The ICAO guide for writing SIGMET

TABLE FOR PRACTICAL 6 The data assigned to each student .

S/N STUDENT

REG NO.

DATA

1 I50/78854/2015 WSSG31 GOOY 312005

GOOO SIGMET C4 VALID 312005/312400 GOOY-

GOOO DAKAR OCEANIC FIR/UIR ISOL EMBD TS OBS AT 1955Z

WI N0536 W02745 - N0707 W02448 - N0743 W02140 - N0502

W02045 - N0352 W02514 TOP FL450 MOV W 05KT NC=

WSMA31 FIMP 010830

FIMM SIGMET 03 VALID 010830/011230 FIMP-

FIMM MAURITIUS FIR EMBD TS OBS AT 0800Z WI S1000 E06000

- S1000 E06600 - S1300 E06700 - S1700 E05800 - S1300

E05500 - S1000 E06000 TOP ABV FL410 STNR NC=

2 I50/81309/2015 WSCG31 FCBB 011005

FCCC SIGMET A2 VALID 011005/011405 FCBB-

FCCC BRAZZAVILLE FIR/UIR EMBD TS OBS AT 0930Z

W OF LINE N0315 E00933 - S0149 E00919

S OF LINE S0325 E01006 - S0320 E00639

TOP FL430 MOV W 10KT NC=

WSZA31 FAOR 010600

FAOR SIGMET B01 VALID 010600/011000 FAOR-

FAJO JOHANNESBURG OCEANIC FIR EMBD TS FCST WI

S2730 E01424 - S2730 E01500 - S2854 E01500 TOP FL350=

TABLE 1 The data assigned to each student for preparing SIGMET

S/N STUDENT

REG NO.

DATA

1 I50/78854/2015 The SIGMET for forecasted embedded thunderstorm

extending above 3,5000ft was issued by Johannesburg on

1st of January 2016 at 06.55z which was expected to be

used between 6.00z to 11.00z. The thunder cell was

expected within the oceanic area.

),4214,0327( ES oo ),0015,0327( ES oo ),0015,4528( ES oo This

was the first SIGMET of the day.

2 I50/81309/2015

The SIGMET for observed embedded thunderstorm extending

above 4,5000ft was issued by Brazzaville in the Republic

of Congo on 1st of January 2016 at 05.30Z which was

expected to be used between 6.05z to 10.05z. The thunder

cell was observed west of the line from )149,022( EN oo

to )2111,504( EN oo The thunder cell was moving west

with a speed of 10knots and the intensity was not

changing. This was the first SEGMET of the day.

http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/cgi-bin/data/timeseries/timeseries.pl

‘Synop’ of a landstation The basic form of the SYNOP bulletin for a landstation is:

AAXX YYGGiw IIiii

iRiXhVV Nddff 1snTTT 2snTdTdTd 4PPPP 5appp

6RRRtR 7wwW1W2 8NhCLCMCH

The rain group (6RRRtR) is not plotted. All other groups will be plotted using the plot model in