Meteorology
What the exam tests
Meteorology tests METAR and TAF decoding, pressure systems, fronts, icing, turbulence, thunderstorms, wind shear, and Kazakh continental weather hazards such as winter fog, low stratus, and dust storms.
Core rules
- METAR wind in Kazakhstan is often reported in metres per second (MPS); 1 m/s ≈ 1.94 kt. Visibility is in metres or kilometres.
- QNH is the pressure reduced to mean sea level; QFE is station pressure; QNE is standard 1013.25 hPa. Above the transition altitude, use standard pressure.
- Temperature–dewpoint spread indicates saturation risk: a small spread favours fog and low cloud.
- Airframe icing is most likely at 0°C to −20°C in visible moisture; freezing rain is especially dangerous.
- In winter, the Siberian anticyclone brings very cold, stable air, persistent low stratus, and fog in basins such as Almaty.
Worked example
Decode: UAAA 121230Z 24006MPS 6000 -SN BKN020 M08/M10 Q1025. Wind 240° at 6 m/s (about 12 kt); visibility 6 km; light snow; broken cloud at 2,000 ft; temperature −8°C, dewpoint −10°C; QNH 1025 hPa. The 2°C spread and snow indicate saturated air and a low-cloud/icing risk.
Traps
Do not read MPS as knots. Do not confuse QFE with QNH. Do not treat a TAF as an observation. Do not assume thunderstorms are only a summer hazard in mountainous terrain.