Weather Map

Where do you expect to see rainy weather?

Isotherms

What is an isotherm? Isotherms are lines of constant or equal temperature. They are often used on weather maps by meteorologists to give a large scale view of temperatures across the U.S. If you have ever looked at a weather map in a newspaper, the isotherms are used to divide the color-filled temperatures. For example, in the map below, temperatures in the 60s may be represented by a yellow color, while temperatures in the 70s may be represented by an orange color. The line that divides the yellow from the orange is the isotherm. All of the locations between the 60 degree isotherm and the 70 degree isotherm will have a temperature between 60 and 70 degrees.

Activity 1

Isobars

Isobars are lines of constant or equal pressure on a weather map. They can be used to find areas of low or high pressure over a broad area (like the U.S.), and they can tell us how intense the system may be. The lines circling them are isobars. Generally the lowest pressure is where precipitation is most likely to fall, and high pressures are usually associated with clear and sunny conditions. Where the isobars are close together, windy conditions may be expected. Elongated areas of low pressure on surface and upper air weather maps are called "troughs" and elongated areas of high pressure are called "ridges."

Activity 2

Activity 2

Surface Station Maps

Station Weather Symbols

Station Weather Plot Satellite images, fronts, isobars, highs and lows show large scale weather features and help us see the big weather picture. However, meteorologists need to look closer at the weather data with more detail. One common way is with station weather plots. The station weather plot shows the current weather conditions, cloud cover, wind speed, wind direction, visibility, temperature, dew point temperature, atmospheric pressure, and the change in pressure over the last three hours. Here is an example of a surface station weather plot (in black) with labels explaining the data (in blue).

Cloud Cover
Clear Scatterd (25%) Partly Cloudy (50%) Mostly Cloudy (75%) Overcast Sky Obscured Data Missing

The amount that the circle at the center of the station

plot is filled in represents the approximate amount of total cloud cover. In above case, the sky cover is overcst. Below are the common sky cover depictions.

Winds
Calm winds 5 knots 15 knots 20 knots 35 knots 65 knots

Wind: The longer line, extending from the sky cover plot, points in the direction that the wind is blowing FROM. The shorter lines, calledbarbs, on the outer end of

the direction line indicate the wind speed in knots (kt). Each long barb represents 10 kt with short barbs (half-lines) representing 5 kt, and each flag represents 50kt. In above case, the wind is blowing FROM the northeast and the wind speed is 25 knots. Below are some more examples of wind plots.

Air Pressure
Pressure & Pressure Trend: See-level pressure is plotted to the nearest tenths of millibars(mb),

with leading 9 or 10 omitted. For example: - if the pressure was plotted as 028, the complete sea-level pressure value is 1002.8 mb; - if the pressure was plotted as 462, it would be 1046.2 mb; - if the pressure was plotted as 867, it would be 986.7 mb. When trying to determind whether to add a 9 or 10 use the number that will give you a value CLOSEST to 1000 mb The pressure trend has two components, a number and symbol, to indicate how much (in tenths of millibars) in the past 3 hoursand the trend in the change of the pressure during the same period. In above case, the pressure was falling after steady or slightly rising and becoming 3 mb LOWER than it was three hours ago. Below are the meanings of the pressure trend symbols.

Air Pressure Symbols

Steady Rising, then steady Falling, then steady

Continuously Rising

Rising after slightly falling

Rising, then slowly falling

Continuously Falling

Falling after slightly rising

Falling, then slowly rising

Surface Condition Symbols

General Smoke Lightning Rain Shower

Haze

Funnel Cloud

Snow Shower

Dust

Mist

Hail

Blowing Snow

Heavy Fog

Thunderstorm

Identify five factors that affect climate and explain how each affects climate.

How does latitude affect climate? As latitudeincreases ________, the average annual temperature decreases _________.
Temperature 0

Latitude

90

How does closeness to a large body of water affect climate?

moderates Water __________ the temperature. Coole summers. _______ Warmer _______ winters. r Cities A & B are located
at the same latitude. City B is closer to a large body of water. Its temperature line is flatter (moderated).

The leeward sides of the Adirondacks & Catskills receive much less precipitation

The windward sides of the Adirondacks & Catskills receive a great deal more precipitation

How does the presence of mountains affect climate?

moist Windward Side: cool, ___________ warm, dry Leeward Side: _____________

Page 14 of the ESRTs We live in the troposphere. Temperature decreases with elevation.

During summer, temperature is strongly controlled by elevation -- cold at the higher reaches of the Alaska and Brooks Ranges, and warmer in the lowlands.

How does elevation affect climate?

As elevation increases _________, the average annual temperature decreases __________.
Temperature

Elevation

How do ocean currents affect climate?

Warm Currents: warmer climate Cold Currents: cooler climate