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Weather Map Analysis

Weather Map Analysis. Lab 7. Can include: . Frontal lines Barometric pressure Isolines Temperature Frontal zones Frontal air. This is a surface weather chart. A weather map describing the state of the atmosphere over a large area at a given moment.

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Weather Map Analysis

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  1. Weather Map Analysis Lab 7

  2. Can include: • Frontal lines • Barometric pressure • Isolines • Temperature • Frontal zones • Frontal air

  3. This is a surface weather chart. A weather map describing the state of the atmosphere over a large area at a given moment. • Synoptic Map: map that shows weather conditions for a specific time.

  4. Weather Map Analysis:Simplified Surface Station Model Data are always plotted in the same position around the station symbol for consistent reading.

  5. Barometric Pressure • NORMAL AIR PRESSURE: 950 – 1050 mb • insert decimal point – over 1 number from the right to the left • replace the missing beginning number with a 9 or 10 : • The barometric pressure has to fall within the normal range (for our purposes) • EXAMPLE: 130 = 1013.0 mb

  6. Wind Direction • Measured by where wind is coming FROM • Will also determine the temperatures and moisture content of the air mass • Pressure Gradient Force

  7. Isolines • Isolines (lines of constant value) generally used to show spatial patterns of specific variables: • Isotherms: temperature • Isodrosotherms: dew point • Typically drawn at 5° intervals • Isobars : barometric pressure • Typically drawn at 4-mb intervals

  8. Streamlines: used to show wind flow patterns • Drawn parallel to wind barbs • Begin at an upwind location • End with an arrow where wind shifts abruptly Tips: Look for “corridors” Draw streamlines from the ‘tail’ to/towards the ‘head.’

  9. Air Masses • large body of air with relatively uniform temperature & moisture characteristics • Form over large land or water surfaces • Take on the temperature & moisture characteristics of the surfaces over which they formed. • Classification depends on: • Latitude – determines temperature characteristic (upper-case letter_ • Nature of the surface – determines the moisture characteristic (lower-case letter) • They are identified by two-letter codes Ex: cP

  10. Types of Air Masses Is there a type of air mass missing from this list?

  11. Fronts • boundary between two unlike air masses • Identified by: • Sharp temperature gradient • Sharp moisture gradient • Sharp change in wind direction • (in a clockwise direction)

  12. Types of Fronts • 1. Cold – cold air advances on warm air • Known to move more quickly • Vertical cloud formation • 2. Warm – warm air advances on cold air • Clouds form ahead of the front 3. Stationary – neither air mass advances; air flow parallel to the boundary Occluded – cold front overtakes warm front

  13. Easterly L Winds from the North = COLD Winds from the South == WARM Winds from the East = COOL South-Southeasterly North-Northwesterly Cold front: triangles extend into the warm air Warm front: semicircles extend into the cold air.

  14. High pressure systems are characteristic of clear skies • Low Pressure systems are characteristic of precipitation and clouds

  15. Pressure changes with temperature • Air flows from areas of higher pressure to areas of lower pressure • source for most winds is solar radiation (unequal heating of Earth’s surface) • High Pressure = high barometric pressure. Air is dense • Low Pressure = low barometric pressure. Air is light. Cold (dense) = HIGH PRESSURE Warm (less dense) = LOW PRESSURE

  16. Coriollis Effect • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriolis_effect

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