1. Chap. 3 - Weather maps

2. Surface station model Use on surface maps Shows the following: 1.Temperature 2.Dew point temperature 3.Significant weather 4.Pressure (reduced to sea level value 5.Wind speed/direction 6.Cloud cover

3. Surface observations Pressure analysis Isobar – line of constant pressure Location of strongest wind Cyclone – region of low pressure Anticyclone – region of high pressure http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/surface/ http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/model/

4. Contour analysis of temperature (isotherms) Contour analysis of dew point (isodrosotherms)

5. This morning at 1513 UTC (0923 CST)

6. Variations in T produce variations in p. Variations in p, in turn, produce wind. So temperature and wind are related. Therefore, non-uniform heating in the atmosphere produces horizontal wind. Sources of non-uniform heating: a)Variations in solar radiation b)Latent heating/cooling c)Vertical motion

7. Analysis of the height of the 500 mb surface (standard analysis) Identify the trof (trough) axis, which represents a key feature on this map. Analysis of the pressure value at a height of 5700 m above MSL.

8. Upper air observation model

9. 850 mb analysis of height and temperature. Individual observations from weather balloons are plotted. Fig. 3.6

10. Upper air maps and vorticity (lab)

11. Vertical cross sections are important analysis tools that reveal vertical and horizontal variations in atmospheric structure: temperature moisture precipitation wind Fig. 3.8

12. Homework None from Chapter 3. Lab exercises. Review: today’s weather situation http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/upper/