Earth Science
Name:
________________________________________
Station Models: What’s the point?
The point of station models is to put a large amount of weather information in one spot. In
order to read the station model, you have to know the position of the numbers and what the
symbols mean.
For the Earth Science Regents Exam, you will need to know how to use them!
Here’s an example showing what each part means:
Temperature is in the top left, and dew point is bottom left.
Present weather is middle left.
Cloud cover is represented by how much of the circle is shaded (in percent).
Barometric pressure is top right.
Wind direction is indicated by the “feather”—it tells us which direction the wind is coming from
(cardinal directions). The feathers add up to tell us wind speed. Each long line is worth 10
knots, and each short line is worth 5 knots.
Temperature and dew point are easy to read once you remember top left is temperature and
bottom left is dew point. The closer these numbers, the more humid the air is. We will look at
dew point later this year.
How to read barometric pressure?
The barometric pressure is in the top right corner of the station model! But, it is slightly
encoded and needs to be decoded.
If the first number is less than 5 (0, 1, 2, 3, 4)
PUT A 10 in front.
PUT A Decimal between the last two numbers.
Example: 092  1009.2
If the first number is 5 or greater (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
PUT A 9 in front.
PUT A Decimal between the last two numbers.
Example: 893  989.3
Try these!
Number on Station Model
011
560
994
832
213
447
Actual Barometric Pressure
How to Read Present Weather?
Symbols Found in Your Reference Table, Page 13:
What kind of present weather do we see here? _____________________
How about here? __________________________
Reading Wind:
Look at the feather! What direction is it coming from? That is the wind direction.
Wind speed: Look at the feather! How many lines are on the tail? Each long line counts as 10
knots. Each short line counts as 5 knots. Add them up!
Wind Direction: __________________________
Wind Speed: ____________________________
Cloud Cover:
Look at the circle in the middle. How much of it is shaded? Give a PERCENTAGE!
What percent cloud cover do we have? ___________________
Try analyzing these station models!
1. What is the temperature at A? _____________
2. What is the dew point at A? ________________
3. What is the cloud cover at B? ______________
4. What is the present weather at B? __________
5. What is the wind direction at C? ____________
6. What is the wind speed at D? ______________
7. What is the air pressure at E? ______________
8. What is the air pressure at F? _____________
9. What is the cloud cover at F? ______________
10. What is the present weather at G? __________
11. What is the wind direction at H? ____________
12. What is the wind speed at H? ______________
13. What is the air pressure at I? ______________