Sample 1 · 050 01 · The Atmosphere
In the ISA, what are the height and temperature of the tropopause?
- A50 000 ft and −56.5°C
- B36 090 ft and −45°C
- C36 090 ft and −56.5°C
- D11 000 ft and −56.5°C
Show the answer
Answer: C. 36 090 ft and −56.5°C
SimplyATPL › 050 Meteorology
UK CAA ATPL(A) · Subject 050
ATPL Meteorology practice questions
Meteorology (050) covers the atmosphere, wind, thermodynamics, clouds and fog, precipitation, air masses and fronts, pressure systems, climatology, flight hazards such as icing, turbulence, wind shear and thunderstorms, and meteorological information including METAR, TAF and significant weather charts.
86original questions here
84questions in the practice paper
2 hourstime allowed
Free, no sign-up. The practice paper uses the question count and time limit from CAA guidance for this subject. Check the CAA for the current figures before your exam.
About the exam
What to expect in 050 Meteorology
It is one of the largest papers and mixes theory, climatology and report decoding. Understanding the physics behind stability and fronts makes many questions predictable.
In the practice desk you can sit a full 84-question paper under exam conditions, or drill one syllabus topic at a time. Questions you miss come back after 1, 3, 7, 16 and 35 days, so weak areas get repeated until they stick.
Syllabus
050 syllabus topics
Every topic below has practice questions, and you can drill any of them on its own.
- 050 01The Atmosphere · 13 questions
- 050 02Wind · 13 questions
- 050 03Thermodynamics · 6 questions
- 050 04Clouds and Fog · 7 questions
- 050 05Precipitation · 4 questions
- 050 06Air Masses and Fronts · 8 questions
- 050 07Pressure Systems · 6 questions
- 050 08Climatology · 6 questions
- 050 09Flight Hazards · 11 questions
- 050 10Meteorological Information · 12 questions
Try it
Sample ATPL Meteorology questions
Five questions from the bank. Each one in the practice desk has a worked explanation like these.
Sample 2 · 050 02 · Wind
Which forces balance to produce the geostrophic wind?
- APressure gradient force and Coriolis force
- BGravity and pressure gradient force
- CCoriolis force and centrifugal force
- DPressure gradient force and friction
Show the answer
Answer: A. Pressure gradient force and Coriolis force
Sample 3 · 050 03 · Thermodynamics
Why is the saturated adiabatic lapse rate lower than the dry adiabatic lapse rate?
- ASaturated air absorbs solar radiation
- BMoist air is denser
- CCondensation releases latent heat
- DSaturated air rises more slowly
Show the answer
Answer: C. Condensation releases latent heat
Sample 4 · 050 04 · Clouds and Fog
Which conditions favour radiation fog?
- AOvercast skies and strong wind
- BClear skies, light wind and moist air
- CCold air over warm water
- DWarm moist air over a cold sea
Show the answer
Answer: B. Clear skies, light wind and moist air
Sample 5 · 050 05 · Precipitation
Which vertical temperature structure produces freezing rain?
- ATemperatures above zero at all levels
- BWarm layer aloft, sub-zero layer below
- CA cold layer aloft above a warm surface layer
- DTemperatures below zero at all levels
Show the answer
Answer: B. Warm layer aloft, sub-zero layer below
Revision tips
How to revise Meteorology
- Get comfortable with lapse rates and stability first. Clouds, fog, turbulence and thunderstorms all follow from them.
- Decode METARs and TAFs regularly until you can read them without thinking.
- Learn climatology with a map: the seasonal winds, jet streams and typical weather of each region.
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