Private Pilot Private Exam

The presence of ice pellets at the surface indicates that there is a...

1. Cold front passing through

2. Temperature inversion with freezing rain aloft

3. Snowstorm occurring

4. Thick layer of clouds above

The correct answer is: Temperature inversion with freezing rain aloft

The presence of ice pellets at the surface signifies a temperature inversion with freezing rain occurring aloft. In this meteorological scenario, warm air rises and forms a layer above a colder layer near the surface. When precipitation forms in the warmer air, it can fall as rain but, if it encounters the cold air below, it can freeze into ice pellets before reaching the ground. This process indicates that while the surface temperature is below freezing, there is warmer air above where the precipitation originates, creating the conditions conducive to the formation of ice pellets. In contrast, while a cold front can bring various types of precipitation, it typically does not lead to ice pellets specifically; it is more associated with cold air overrunning warm, moist air. A snowstorm, on the other hand, would typically result in snow rather than ice pellets under comparable conditions. Similarly, while thick layers of clouds can be present during various weather patterns, they do not specifically indicate the formation of ice pellets, which are more directly linked to the temperature inversion scenario.