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.e-education.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

cbs3springfield.comrst.gsfc.nasa.gov

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 and do questions on pages listed.

• page 182-186 • Questions page 217• Page 198-199• Page 212 # 1-11• P. 215 #22-33

• Castlelearning at• https://castlelearning.com/review/login/login.aspx