Certified Flight Instructor - Flight Instructor Airplane Practice Exam

What is indicated by symbol 1 on a Weather Depiction Chart?

1. Visibility one-half mile, 200 feet overcast, smoke.

2. Visibility 2 miles, sky obscured, haze, ceiling 2,000 feet.

3. Visibility 2 miles, sky obscured, fog, cloud layer at 20,000 feet.

4. Visibility 3 miles, clear skies, no significant weather.

The correct answer is: Visibility 2 miles, sky obscured, fog, cloud layer at 20,000 feet.

Symbol 1 on a Weather Depiction Chart typically indicates that visibility is limited to 2 miles due to fog, with a cloud layer present at an altitude of 20,000 feet. This visualization helps pilots understand the weather conditions at a glance, particularly how visibility is impacted by fog, which is significant for flight planning and safety. Fog can severely reduce visibility, and the specific mention of a cloud layer sitting high at 20,000 feet indicates that while there may be clouds in the atmosphere, the critical factor here is the obscured visibility at lower levels due to the fog. This information is crucial for pilots as they navigate and prepare for takeoff, landing, or flying in low visibility conditions. Understanding this symbol helps in assessing potential challenges for flight operations, particularly for approaches and landings, which can be dangerous in foggy conditions.