6.6 Weather Maps

WEATHER MAPS

This is the homework video

What can a weather map tell you about the weather?

A lot! A weather map indicates all sorts of things to let you know the forecast. It also may have some cute graphics associated with it.

Weather Maps

Weather maps simply and graphically depict meteorological conditions in the atmosphere. Weather maps may display only one feature of the atmosphere or multiple features. They can depict information from computer models or from human observations.

On a weather map, important meteorological conditions are plotted for each weather station. Meteorologists use many different symbols as a quick and easy way to display information on the map (Figure below).

Explanation of some symbols that may appear on a weather map.

Once conditions have been plotted, points of equal value can be connected by isolines. Weather maps can have many types of connecting lines. For example:

  • Lines of equal temperature are called isotherms. Isotherms show temperature gradients and can indicate the location of a front. In terms of precipitation, what does the 0oC (32oF) isotherm show?

An animation on how to contour isotherms is seen here: Contouring isotherms https://courseware.e-education.psu.edu/public/meteo/meteo101demo/Examples/Shockwave/contouring0203.dcr.

  • Isobars are lines of equal average air pressure at sea level (Figurebelow). Closed isobars represent the locations of high and low pressure cells.

Isobars can be used to help visualize high pressure (H) and low pressure (L) cells.

  • Isotachs are lines of constant wind speed. Where the minimum values occur high in the atmosphere, tropical cyclones may develop. The highest wind speeds can be used to locate the jet stream.

Surface weather analysis maps are weather maps that only show conditions on the ground (Figure below).

Surface analysis maps may show sea level mean pressure, temperature, and amount of cloud cover.

An online guide about to how to read weather maps from the University of Illinois is found here:http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28Gh%29/guides/maps/home.rxml.

More about remote sensing of weather is discussed in this online guide:http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28Gh%29/guides/rs/home.rxml.

Summary

  • Weather maps graphically depict weather conditions.
  • Isotherms are lines of constant temperature; isobars are lines of constant pressure; isotachs are lines of constant wind speed.
  • Isobars indicate pressure cells.

Practice

Use these resources to answer the questions that follow.

http://www.ehow.com/video_4435916_read-surface-analysis-weather-map.html

1. What do weather maps on television usually tell you?

2. Where should you begin when analyzing weather maps?

How to read weather plots on a weather map

http://www.ehow.com/video_4435917_read-weather-plots-weather-map.html

3. What website is an excellent source of weather information?

4. What is a weather station plot?

5. List the various items recorded on a weather station model plot.

Review

1. What is the purpose of isolines on a weather map?

2. Define isobar, isotach, and isotherm.

3. How are high and low pressure cells indicated on a weather map?

 

GOOD STUDY TOOLS

make a weather map usinghttp://www.glencoe.com/sec/science/activities/weather/

Weather Map Symbols Print Out (Given out in class): Weather Map Symbols Handout

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