Weather mapping and analysis
pdf
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Century College *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
1085
Subject
Geography
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
Pages
11
Uploaded by KidThunder12630
119 Weather mapping and analysis (40 points)
A station model is a diagram that shows coded weather data for each plotted location. Figure 1 will help to outline some of the atmospheric data commonly depicted on a station model. A more detailed overview of other data that may be included on station models is provided in Figures 2 and 3. Figure 1: Station model example •
The number in the upp
er left represents the location’s air temperature in degrees Fahrenheit. For this station model, the air temperature is 46°F. •
The number in the lower left represents the location’s dew point temperature in degrees Fahrenheit. For this location, the dew point temperature is 42°F. •
The central circle depicts the amount of the sky covered by clouds (typically state in eighths). This example shows cloud coverage at 8/8 or completely overcast. •
The number in the upper right represents the atmospheric pressure in millibars (mb). You must decode the pressure by adding either a 9 or 10 in front of the number and adding a decimal point before the last digit. Sea level pressures are typically near 1000 mb. Thus, to determine whether a 9 or 10 should be added, choose that which makes the pressure nearest to 1000 mb. Since the coded pressure in this example is 996, the actual pressure would be 999.6 mb. •
The lines extending from the central circle indicate wind direction and wind speed. The longest line shows the direction as the wind would be blowing into the circle. Thus, the wind in this example would be northeasterly (blowing from the northeast toward the southwest). The small lines extended from the long line indicate wind speed in knots (kt). The longer segments represent 10 knots and the smaller segments represent 5 knots. The wind speed on the station model above is 25 knots. A pennant (not shown here) is used to represent 50 knots. •
The central symbol along the left side indicates present weather. In this example, the small black dot indicates intermittent rainfall. There are nearly 100 different symbols used to depict various weather conditions that may be present. •
The central number on the right side indicates the pressure change (in mb) over the last three hours. Like the pressure, you must decode the pressure change by simply adding a decimal before the last digit. A negative symbol before the number indicates a drop in pressure. The coded example here, -11 would indicate a pressure drop of 1.1 mb over the last three hours. Sometimes angled lines are used to the right of the number rather than a + or –
to indicate the pressure change (not shown in the example above).
120 Figure 2: Weather map symbols
121 Figure 3: Present weather symbols
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
122 1. Draw a station model in the space below (using the circle provided) that correctly depicts the following weather variables. Temperature: 28°F Dew point temperature: 24°F Pressure: 1010.2 mb Pressure change: decreased by 1.7 mb in last three hours Sky coverage: 7/8 Wind direction: northwesterly Wind speed: 15 knots Current weather: intermittent fall of snowflakes (moderate at time of observation) Use the Surface Observation Map (Figure 4) to address the following questions. This map shows station models depicting weather data across the United States. Be sure to use the Weather Map Symbols data chart at the end of the lab to help as needed. 2. Locate the station model in Georgia. Fill in the weather variables listed below that this part of the country is experiencing. Be sure to label units on any numbered variable.
temperature_______________ dew point temperature_______________ wind direction_______________ wind speed_______________ sky coverage_______________ current weather_______________________________ pressure_______________ pressure change over the last three hours_______________ Isolines can be used to show patterns of many weather variables. Isolines are drawn using the same rules that apply to contour lines. 3.
What is an isotherm? 4. Using a colored pencil, draw isotherms across Figure 4
with a 10°F interval. Begin with a line valued at 25°F.
Label each line with its correct temperature. You may want to first draw the isotherms with a regular pencil that can easily be erased and then trace over them with a colored pencil or marker once you are confident in the locations. Indicate the color used for the isotherms by filling in the box here. 5a. Where are the warmest temperatures? b. Where are the coldest temperatures?
123 6. What is the maximum temperature range
present across this United States on this date? 7a. Circle three states from the list below that have the greatest temperature gradient across the state. Washington California Wyoming Texas Kansas Minnesota Arkansas Florida Kentucky South Carolina Pennsylvania Maine b. How did you determine the states you selected above? 8a. Where are the highest dew points in the country? Why are the water vapor levels high in this part of the country? b. Where are the lowest dew points in the country? Why are the water vapor levels low in this part of the country? 9a. What is the dominant wind direction across the central part of the country (from Minnesota through northern Texas)? b. What is the dominant wind direction in the southeastern part of the country? 10a. What are the temperature and moisture characteristics of a continental polar (cP) air mass? cool and moist cool and dry warm and moist warm and dry b. Label a location on Figure 4 where a continental polar (cP) air mass exists. 11. What are the temperature and moisture characteristics of a maritime tropical (mT) air mass? cool and moist cool and dry warm and moist warm and dry b. Label a location on Figure 4 where a maritime tropical (mT) air mass exists.
124 12a. Cold fronts are locations where a colder, drier air mass pushes into a warmer, moister air mass. On the diagram (blue line) below, draw the symbols used to show the location of a cold front. The arrow represents the direction the front will move over time. b. Write “cold air mass” on the side of the front where the cold air exists. Write “warm air mass” on the side of the front where the warm air exists. 13a. Warm fronts are locations where a warmer, moister air mass pushes into a colder, drier air mass. On the diagram (red line) below, draw the symbols used to show the location of a warm front. The arrow represents the direction the front will move over time. b. Write “
warm air mass” on the side of the front where the warm air exists. Write “
cold air mass” on the side of the front where the cold air exists. 14. Use the temperature, dew point, and wind directions on the map’s station models to locate and draw the position of the cold front on Figure 4
. 15. Based on the map, will temperature and dew point become higher or lower than they currently are in Mississippi and Louisiana? Why? 16. What is an isobar? 17. Using a colored pencil, draw isobars using a 4 mb interval on Figure 5
. Label each line with its correct pressure. Please note, some isobars will form enclosed circles in this case. Remember
—
the map is showing converted pressures on the station models. For example, if the station model shows a pressure of 160, the actual pressure is 1016.0 mb. Indicate the color used for the isobars by filling in the box here. 18. On Figure 5
, label the high pressure center with an H
. Label the low pressure center with an L
.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
125 19a. Examine the wind symbols on the station models around the high pressure system. Which way are the winds rotating around the central high pressure system? clockwise counterclockwise b. Examine the wind symbols on the station models around the low pressure system. Which way are the winds rotating around the central low pressure system? clockwise counterclockwise 20. High pressure tends to produce mostly clear, sunny skies with lack of precipitation. While low pressure tends to produce cloudy conditions with potential precipitation. Do the station model data in this example support this conclusion? 21. Shade in all regions of the country with winds greater than or equal to 15 knots on Figure 5
. 22. Differences in temperature cause differences in pressure. Differences in pressure cause wind. Thus, you might expect that areas with a high temperature gradient to have higher wind speeds. Do the data in this example support this conclusion?
126
127 Figure 4: Surface weather observation map (copy 1) Map source: National Weather Service Jet Stream Online School for Weather. 2022. Retrieved from http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/synoptic/images/sfc_plot_map.pdf
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
128
129 Figure 5: Surface weather observation map (copy 2) Map source: National Weather Service Jet Stream Online School for Weather. 2022. Retrieved from http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/synoptic/images/sfc_plot_map.pdf