Which term describes the greatest distance seen in all directions across the area?

• A. Prevailing visibility
• B. Point visibility
• C. Aircraft visibility
• D. Ground visibility

Answer: (A)

Prevailing visibility is the greatest distance you can see across most of the horizon around you. It reflects the overall, area-wide visibility conditions rather than what you might see in a single direction or at a single point. This is the value used in weather reports to convey how far visibility extends generally. Other terms describe narrower notions: point visibility is just along a specific line of sight; ground visibility relates to how far you can see features on the ground; aircraft visibility concerns how far an aircraft can be seen. So the description of the greatest distance seen in all directions across the area fits prevailing visibility.