View Full Version : Another WX related Q!
alexb757
28th Jul 2010, 18:24
Came across the following question in a met exam recently and had to guess.
Anyone know what a stylised V is a symbol for (similar to the V in Virgin)?
I have researched various books and websites and cannot find ANY ref to this nor have I seen it operationally on any wx chart!
Two of the possible answers were Virga (but that does not have a symbol per se, only code VIRGA). And the other possibility was given as volcanic ash (which does have a red symbol w/mtn spewing but that's for volcanic eruption). Also, the code for that is self-evident - VA.
I have looked at both FAA and ICAO met textbooks and none of them have a single V symbol.
Cannot recall the other answers to choose from but this one stumped me and I'm even more curious now that I can find no ref to it!
Thanks in advance to any climate/met gurus out there.....:)
METAR or TAF codes, V means 'Variation in wind direction'
FullWings
28th Jul 2010, 18:55
...the other possibility was given as volcanic ash..
Maybe from a volcano in the Southern Hemisphere?
I'll get my coat... :O
Lafyar Cokov
28th Jul 2010, 18:59
As JHO said - but can also (rarely) mean variable cloud cover or cloud base.
For example you may see: BKN025 V OVC meaning that the broken layer at 2,500 ft AGL is variable broken to overcast.
You could also see (again very rarely):BKN005V010 - meaning broken ceiling variable between five hundred and one thousand feet.
bookworm
28th Jul 2010, 19:32
Anyone know what a stylised V is a symbol for (similar to the V in Virgin)?
What's the context? E.g. On what type of chart do you see this?
As JHO said - but can also (rarely) mean variable cloud cover or cloud base.
For example you may see: BKN025 V OVC meaning that the broken layer at 2,500 ft AGL is variable broken to overcast.
You could also see (again very rarely):BKN005V010 - meaning broken ceiling variable between five hundred and one thousand feet.
Not unless the observer or forecaster is making it up as they go along! 'V' for varying is used only in wind direction and RVR.
Checkboard
28th Jul 2010, 19:53
If it was an "upside down" triangle - a V with a bar across the top - showers.
If it was a V with three bars through it - freezing precipitation. :confused:
alexb757
28th Jul 2010, 19:58
It was in an on-line test, so don't have the details any more. It was a single sentence Q with no accompanying chart, just the V.....
I know all about the wind eg. 260/15 250V33- (where the variation is >=60 degrees).
Now if that is the answer, it is very sneaky in the context of the question because it did not relate to decoding METARs and TAFs. Just what does the symbol V refer to?
I'll keep looking and let you know what, if anything, further I can find.
In the meantime, I'm all ears..........
alexb757
28th Jul 2010, 20:06
Nope, not upside down and NO lines through it!
Simply a stylised upper-case (capital letter) V all by itself. The nearest thing I can equate it to is the "V" in Virgin. Look at the V and its "tail".
Lafyar Cokov
28th Jul 2010, 20:06
Not unless the observer or forecaster is making it up as they go along! 'V' for varying is used only in wind direction and RVR.
Yeah thanks for that Bookworm - I've been teaching it wrong to my RAF student pilots for the 10 years up until recently - I'll correct my textbooks!
Checkboard
28th Jul 2010, 20:42
Was http://news.cnet.com/i/bto/20090224/virgin_logo.jpg one of the options? ;)
Maybe the Bearded one has hacked the site! :eek:
alexb757
28th Jul 2010, 21:58
Yep, you got it!
Now take away the "irgin" and you are left with that stylised V - except in the exam it was in black!!!:)
Lafyar Cokov
28th Jul 2010, 23:32
It could be the pressure symbol from the standard Station Circle
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q166/lafyarcokov/StnCirc.jpg
indicating a fall then a rise - or visaversa
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q166/lafyarcokov/Press.jpg
Other things it might also be close to:
Squall line: http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q166/lafyarcokov/squall.jpg
Medium level thin cloud: http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q166/lafyarcokov/thinmed.jpg
or even a corrupted showers symbol:http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q166/lafyarcokov/Shwrs.jpg
Could be anything - see if you can post a pic.
LC
bookworm
29th Jul 2010, 08:59
Yeah thanks for that Bookworm - I've been teaching it wrong to my RAF student pilots for the 10 years up until recently - I'll correct my textbooks!
No need to do that Lafyar, just refer your students to the WMO Manual on Codes (http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/WMOCodes/VolumeI1.html#VolumeI1). ;)
Little cloud
29th Jul 2010, 20:46
Number 5, or even number 6, here?
http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/dailywxmap/gifimages/clouds3_1.gif
That would make the stylized V to be lying on it's side though.