SoCAL January 2000

WATCHERS
Being a Weather Watcher for Life

Winter is here and the sky is full of winter weather flying clues. Probably the easiest and most enjoyable way to become an expert weather watcher is to simply observe the clouds. They are in effect, a weather station aloft, revealing what is going on at different levels of the atmosphere. They give indications of what may happen in the hours and days to come.

Low-level cumulus clouds, middle-altitude altostratus clouds, and high-flying cirrus clouds all convey information about their respective atmospheric realms. "It is by observing the changes and transitions of cloud forms that the weather may be predicted," said Luke Howard, founding father of British meteorology. As a bonus, clouds are often spectacularly beautiful in form and color, making them a delight to study.

Clouds form when moist air is cooled. Often, cooling is due to convection, whereby unequal heating of the ground surface creates rising air currents. As it ascends, the air expands and cools. Eventually it reaches the dew point, or temperature at which the invisible water vapor contained in the air condenses into a collection of tiny water droplets. From the ground, we see these droplets as a cloud. If the droplets continue to acquire moisture and grow large enough, they fall from the cloud as rain.

Another way that clouds are formed is through the "lifting" of air by a storm system or, more often by the slope of a hill or a mountain, known as orographic lifting. In rising up the slope, the air current cools. If it reaches its dew point or condensation level, then fog forms. If this fog is above the surface of the earth, it forms a cloud.

Whether the air is stable or unstable is all-important in cloud formation and in predicting flying weather. Air becomes unstable when it is heated from below by passing over land or water that has been warmed by solar radiation. The heated air rises as described above, clouds form, and they are carried downwind.

Cumulus cloud

Stable air develops when the atmosphere becomes stratified, with a layer of warm air overlying a layer of cold air. Along the meeting line, a thin cloud will form; it may thicken into a solid layer of stratus type clouds.

This arrangement creates an inversion, the opposite of the more typical situation, in which cold air lies above warm air. In an inversion, the warm air puts a "lid" on the lower atmosphere and convection cannot take place. If the layered air at the surface is cooled enough overnight, fog may occur.

Consider keeping a log of your observations Try your hand at predicting the weather. Pick up a field guide to weather in our area. As you keep track of your forecasts, you will become more observant and your research will make you a better informed and prepared pilot.

Kathleen O' Brien, SPM, LGB FSDO

You can find more complete information about any of our seminars
on our web site and then reserve your seat on-line.
Last minute changes and cancellations are also posted there.

Use our Web Magic.

ATC & AFSS SEMINARS
Note: San Diego area seminars can be found by calling the SAN AFSS at 1-800-WX BRIEF, extension #24, or check the web at www.awp.faa.gov/flightstandards Last minute changes will be updated through these sources.
Southern California TRACON Operation Raincheck Location: So Cal TRACON, 9175 Kearny Villa Rd. Contact: So Cal TRACON for dates, times, and reservations, (619)537-5859	Montgomery Field Air Traffic Control Tower - Operation Sunbreak Contact: Montgomery Field ATCT for dates and times - (619) 277-5601	Gillespie Field Air Traffic Control Tower - Operation Sunbreak Location: Gillespie Field ATC Tower Contact: Gillespie Field ATCT for dates, times, and reservations, (619) 448-1449
Montgomery Field AFSS - Operation Takeoff DATE: Last Saturday of each month - 9:00A.M. - 1:00P.M. Location: San Diego Automated Flight Service Station - 4302 Ponderosa Avenue Contact Any Operations Supervisor at the AFSS for information - (619)277-0503 RESERVATIONS REQUIRED!

ATC & AFSS SEMINARS

Note: San Diego area seminars can be found by calling the
SAN AFSS at 1-800-WX BRIEF, extension #24,
or check the web at
www.awp.faa.gov/flightstandards

Last minute changes will be updated through these sources.

Southern California TRACON
Operation Raincheck

Location: So Cal TRACON, 9175 Kearny Villa Rd.

Contact: So Cal TRACON for dates, times, and reservations, (619)537-5859

Montgomery Field Air Traffic Control Tower - Operation Sunbreak

Contact: Montgomery Field ATCT for dates and times - (619) 277-5601

Gillespie Field Air Traffic Control Tower - Operation Sunbreak

Location: Gillespie Field ATC Tower

Contact: Gillespie Field ATCT for dates, times, and reservations, (619) 448-1449

Montgomery Field AFSS - Operation Takeoff

DATE: Last Saturday of each month - 9:00A.M. - 1:00P.M.

Location: San Diego Automated Flight Service Station - 4302 Ponderosa Avenue

Contact Any Operations Supervisor at the AFSS for information - (619)277-0503

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED!

***Recent Wings Recipients***
PHASE I Lawrence Dixon David Herschel Jerry Pendzick Tim Petrachek James W. Sherwood James A. Stortz Matthew L. Villanueva PHASE II Glenn Daly Martin Jaruvi Wayne Laner Kimberly LuDerus PHASE III Keith Ballenger Norva Gina Gandolfi Michael R. Harris Fred Villanueva Ellyn F. Williams	PHASE IV Alex L. Atteverry Anthony T. Dunn David S. Francis Arthur M. Lawler George G. Wabner PHASE V Doreen A. Sousa PHASE VII Richard J. Bosch Kathryn Buckman

MIRAMAR COMMUNITY COLLEGE "The 17 Most Popular Ways To Fall Out Of The Sky And How To Avoid Them" DATE: Friday January 7^th 7:00P.M. - 9:45P.M. Location: Miramar Community College Auditorium, 10440 Black Mountain Road, San Diego, (619)557-5281 ex237. Speakers: Fred Christlieb, Mike Harris, and the San Diego FSDO Operations Unit. Sponsor: Miramar Community College	BROWN FIELD FLY-IN "Aviation Decision Making for Pilots and Maintenance Technicians" DATE: Tuesday, January 11^th 7:00P.M. - 9:00P.M. Location: Bearden Aviation (619)661-1121 Speakers: Mike Harris, Fred Christlieb, and the San Diego Aviation Safety Counselors. Sponsor: Bearden Aviation	PALOMAR AIRPORT FLY-IN "Aviation Decision Making for Pilots and Maintenance Technicians" DATE: Thursday, January 13^th 7:00P.M. - 9:00P.M. Location: Mission West Conference Room Speakers: Mike Harris, Fred Christlieb, and the San Diego Aviation Safety Counselors. Sponsor: Pinnacle Aviation
FALLBROOK COMMUNITY AIRPARK "Aviation Decision Making for Pilots and Maintenance Technicians" DATE: Wednesday January 18^th 7:00P.M. - 9:00P.M. Location: Fallbrook Community Airpark (760) 728-1231 Speakers: Mike Harris, Fred Christlieb, and the San Diego Aviation Safety Counselors. Sponsor: Fallbrook Community Airpark	GILLESPIE FIELD FLY-IN "Aviation Decision Making for Pilots and Maintenance Technicians" DATE: Wednesday, January 19^th 7:00P.M. - 9:00P.M. Location: Terminal Building Speakers: Mike Harris, Fred Christlieb, and the San Diego Aviation Safety Counselors. Sponsor: County of San Diego - Airports Division	MONTGOMERY FIELD FLY-IN "Aviation Decision Making for Pilots and Maintenance Technicians" DATE: Tuesday January 25^th 7:00P.M. - 9:00P.M. Location: Scandinavian Flight Academy (619)278-5770 Speakers: Mike Harris, Fred Christlieb, and the San Diego Aviation Safety Counselors. Sponsor: Scandinavian Flight Academy
IMPERIAL COUNTY "Aviation Decision Making for Pilots and Maintenance Technicians" DATE: Thursday, January 27^th 7:00P.M. - 9:00P.M. Location: Imperial County DE ANZA Hut, West side Imperial County Airport, next door to the Imperial County Fire Station Speakers: Mike Harris and Fred Christlieb. Sponsor: Imperial County DE ANZA Search and Rescue	In addition, San Diego area seminars can be found at www.awp.faa.gov/flightstandards/