I. Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at any
point in time.
A. Weather Variables are individual pieces of information that
describe specific conditions of the atmosphere.
B. Weather stations are locations that record weather data that
is shared with other stations, from which a weather map may
be created.
C. Weather maps provide a picture of the conditions of the
atmosphere at a moment in time. These provide
meteorologists with information to make predictions.
Link to current
Synoptic Weather maps
• A synopsis is a summary.
• Weather maps summarize an
incredible amount of data for
us from hundreds of weather
stations.
• Official weather stations are
locations that have the tools
for watching the weather.
There are thousands of these
stations.
• Synoptic weather maps:
•
The information from
many weather stations at one
time allows meteorologists to
create maps that show the
weather patterns for a large
area.
• Meteorologists also use
satellite images, radar, Doppler
radar, and incredible computer
software programs to assist
them in creating the maps and
making predictions.
http://image.weather.com/images/maps/pt_BR/tropical/pac_sst_720x486.jpg
pictures come up of sea surface with temperatures for drawing isotherms.
http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/dailywxmap/dwm_minmax_20080205.html
maps with daily highs and lows
Station models: where weather happens
• Station Models (p. 13 ESRT)
•
The station model shows the weather conditions for a
moment in time at one weather station.
• The model has a place and a code for MANY weather
variables. Information for the station models is obtained AT
THE STATION itself, using weather instruments, such as:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
the radiosonde balloons,
weather vanes for wind direction,
anemometers for wind speed,
thermometers for temperature,
psychrometers for humidity,
barometers for air pressure and
rain gauges for precipitation
amounts.
• Watching the changes that occur between
READINGS at one location over time,
and the changes
that occur
between
DIFFERENT
LOCATIONSat
one point in
time, allow
meteorologists
to make weather
maps and
predictions.
ESRT page 13: station models
Never use words or units on the station model.
Put symbols and numbers EXACTLY where they are supposed to
go, except for wind direction!!!
• Both air temperature and
dew point temperature
are in Fahrenheit.
• When those
temperatures are similar,
the relative humidity is
high.
• To convert Fahrenheit to
Celsius, use the
temperature chart on
page 13.
• Cloud cover is how
covered in the circle is.
100% cloudy is shown by
a filled circle.
• Wind direction is shown
with the shaft of the
feather. It comes into the
circle, showing wind
direction.
• Present weather uses
symbols to show
precipitation types. Is it
hail? Rain? Snow?
Converting air pressures for the station models
• Pressures are written in
short-hand to fit on map.
• So, the pressure:
1032.4 mb becomes
324
on the station model. Rule:
drop the decimal and write
the last 3 digits.
Ex. 2: 997.8mb becomes
978 on station model
• To convert from station
model to pressure,
remember you must
replace the decimal and
either a 9 or a 10.
• To decide whether it’s a 9 or
a 10, check if it will fit on
the pressure column on p.
13 ESRT.
• Ex.: 213 on model is
1021.3 mb and
978 on model is
997.8 mb
https://courseware.eeducation.psu.edu/public/meteo/meteo101demo/Examples/Images/Section2/contour_tool_p0207.swf
allows students to practice making isobars. It will convert from station model pressure to
millibars for them and draw the lines for them to check
Barometric (air pressure) trend
• How the air (barometric)
pressures has changed over
the past few hours gives a
pretty good clue about what
we can expect.
• If the pressure’s been
falling, it’s probably going
to be bad weather.
• If it’s been rising, it’s
probably good weather.
• The barometric trend on
the station model tells us:
• The trend: is it higher or
lower than it was?
• The amount of change: put
a decimal in front of first
number and mb.
• Is it rising, falling or steady?
• Ex.: +13\
• The pressure has risen
1.3mb in the past 3 hours
and is now falling.
Cloud types and precipitation
rst.gsfc.nasa.gov
cbs3springfield.com
We must practice using station model in class. Online
resources to help you:
Practice online: http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/wxwise/station/page5.html
http://profhorn.meteor.wisc.edu/wxwise/station/index.html
• Review Book : read • Castlelearning at
and do questions on • https://castlelearning.com/review/login/login.aspx
pages listed.
• page 182-186
• Questions page 217
• Page 198-199
• Page 212 # 1-11
• P. 215 #22-33