FAA Aircraft Dispatcher Practice Exam

Which type of clouds are primarily associated with warm fronts?

1. Cumulus and cumulonimbus

2. Stratus, nimbostratus, altostratus, and cirrus

3. Cirrus and cirrostratus only

4. None of the above

The correct answer is: Stratus, nimbostratus, altostratus, and cirrus

Warm fronts are typically characterized by the gradual rise of warm air over a mass of cooler air. As the warm, moist air ascends, it cools, leading to the formation of specific types of clouds. The clouds primarily associated with warm fronts include stratus, nimbostratus, altostratus, and cirrus. Stratus clouds form a thick, gray layer and often cover the sky, producing light drizzle. Nimbostratus clouds are thicker and associated with continuous precipitation, indicative of the steady ascent of warm air over the cooler air underneath. Altostratus clouds, while somewhat higher in the atmosphere, also indicate moisture and can produce precipitation. Cirrus clouds, which are thin and wispy, provide an indication of moisture at high altitudes and can precede weather changes associated with an approaching warm front. This combination of cloud types illustrates the typical weather patterns associated with warm fronts, including extended periods of cloudiness and precipitation, which can be anticipated with the ascent of warm air.