ATM OCN 100 - Summer 2001 LECTURE 1B

1
ATM OCN 100 - Summer 2001LECTURE 1B

• OBSERVATIONS of EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE (cont.)
• A. Introduction Practical Questions
• B. The Planet Earth Earth Systems
• C. Survey of Planet Earths Atmosphere
• D. Weather Climate Elements
• E. Probing the Atmosphere

2
MADISONS CURRENT WEATHER
Madison Weather at 1000 AM CDT WED JUN 19 2002
Updated twice an hour at 05 and 25

Sky/Weather LGT RAIN
Temperature 67 F (19 C)
Dew Point 60 F (15 C)
Relative Humidity 78 Wind
S10 MPH Barometer 30.14R
(1020.6 mb)
3
F. THE SURFACE WEATHER MAP (cont.)

• Interpretation of modern surface weather maps
  where...

4
Sample Modern Weather Map Figure I.3, Moran
Morgan (1997)
5
ON THE SURFACE WEATHER MAP

• Pressure systems
• Isobars (iso bar)
• Highs Lows
• Winds
• Circulation around Highs Lows
• The Hand-twist Model

6
Air Converging AloftFig. 9.20 Moran Morgan
(1997)
7
Flow around Low Pressure Fig. 9.18 Moran Morgan
(1997)
8
Air Diverging Aloft Fig. 9.21 Moran Morgan
(1997)
9
ON THE SURFACE WEATHER MAP

• Pressure systems
• Winds
• Clouds
• Mainly around lows
• Temperature Patterns
• Isotherms (iso therms)
• Fronts
• Cold fronts, warm fronts stationary fronts

10
Cold Front
11
Stationary Fronts
12
Current Surface Weather Map with Isobars (iso
equal bar weight), Fronts and Radar
Isobars
13
Current Visible Satellite Image
Clouds
14
Current Temperatures (F) Isotherms(iso
equal therm temperature)
15
Rule of Thumb!Weather Systems move

• From West to East in midlatitudes
• From East to West in tropics

16
Tomorrow AM Forecast Map