9: Weather Reports and Map Analysis
- Page ID
- 46815
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Introduction
The weather is the state of the atmosphere at a given time and is constantly changing. Temperature, pressure, humidity, wind, precipitation, cloud cover, visibility—this type of data is constantly being collected around the globe, both at the surface and aloft in the upper atmosphere. How is this data collected, and where does it come from? How is it shown on a map? What is the purpose of plotting weather conditions on a map if they are changing all the time?
This chapter serves as a brief introduction to surface synoptic weather maps and interpreting the data plotted on them. Simplified weather charts are frequently used on TV to show the locations of high- and low-pressure systems, fronts, and storm systems. You’re likely familiar with those, just from your day-to-day experiences. But the high-resolution weather charts that meteorologists commonly use can be highly detailed and very confusing. A sample high-resolution surface weather map is shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\).
By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:
- Describe a few global atmospheric observation networks
- Define the meaning of pressure and temperature lines on a map
- Discuss the importance of synoptic maps and the information required to make one
- 9.1: Meteorological Reports and Observations
- This page discusses the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) role in setting global weather observation standards, vital for consistent international weather reporting. It highlights the importance of METAR and SPECI codes for aviation, the integration of surface and upper-air observations, and the significance of adjusting air pressure for accurate synoptic map comparisons. This comprehensive data is fundamental for effective weather forecasting and analysis.
- 9.2: Synoptic Weather Maps
- This page provides an overview of station plot models used for surface weather observations, highlighting key elements like wind barbs, pressure readings, temperature, and cloud cover. It explains how wind direction is indicated with barbs and how to interpret sea level pressure. The page also offers guidance on reading both pressure and wind speed, complete with charts for better understanding. Mastery of these components is essential for accurate weather analysis.
- 9.3: Map Analysis
- This page covers the analysis of surface weather observations using station plots, isotherms, and isobars for mapping. It emphasizes the importance of drawing contours to represent constant temperature and pressure values, aiding in identifying weather patterns like wind direction and air mass boundaries. It also explains data interpolation for isotherms and highlights conventions in contouring.
- 9.4: Exercises for Chapter 9
- Some exercises to review the topics covered in this chapter.
Thumbnail: High Resolution Surface Map by NOAA is in the Public Domain