The wind and temperature at 12,000 feet MSL as reported by a pilot are

• A. 080° at 21 knots and -7°C
• B. 060° at 15 knots and -5°C
• C. 090° at 25 knots and 0°C
• D. 270° at 10 knots and -10°C

Answer: (A)

Winds aloft reports give the actual wind at a given altitude plus the true air temperature. The wind direction is where the wind is coming from, and the speed is how fast it’s blowing. The temperature is the actual air temperature at that altitude, in Celsius.

At 12,000 feet, the standard atmosphere temperature is about -9°C. An observed -7°C is only a couple of degrees warmer than standard, which is well within normal atmospheric variation, so it’s a plausible temperature for that level. The wind of 080° at 21 knots indicates a moderate easterly flow, which is a reasonable and common kind of wind at that altitude.

So the combination of wind from 080 degrees at 21 knots and a temperature of -7°C at 12,000 feet aligns with typical conditions you’d expect to report, making it the best choice. The other options would require less common or larger deviations from standard conditions or unlikely wind patterns for this altitude.