What is the difference between visibility and ceiling?

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Multiple Choice

What is the difference between visibility and ceiling?

Visibility refers to how far you can see horizontally. Ceiling refers to the height of the lowest cloud layer that is broken or overcast (or the vertical visibility if the sky is obscured). This distinction matters because you can have good horizontal visibility but a low cloud base, or vice versa. For example, you might be able to see 10 miles across a clear surface, but the ceiling could be at 3,000 feet AGL if there’s a cloud layer down there. The other options mix up horizontal versus vertical sight, or define ceiling in terms of moisture, which isn’t how these terms are used in meteorology.

Visibility refers to how far you can see horizontally. Ceiling refers to the height of the lowest cloud layer that is broken or overcast (or the vertical visibility if the sky is obscured). This distinction matters because you can have good horizontal visibility but a low cloud base, or vice versa. For example, you might be able to see 10 miles across a clear surface, but the ceiling could be at 3,000 feet AGL if there’s a cloud layer down there. The other options mix up horizontal versus vertical sight, or define ceiling in terms of moisture, which isn’t how these terms are used in meteorology.

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