A weather map, also known as synoptic weather chart, displays various meteorological features across a particular area at a particular point in time and has various symbols which all have specific meanings. Such maps have been in use since the mid-19th century and are used for research and weather forecasting purposes .
What do synoptic weather maps show?
A synoptic chart is the scientific term for a weather map. Synoptic charts provide information on the distribution, movement and patterns of air pressure, rainfall, wind and temperature . This information is conveyed using symbols, which are explained in a legend.
What is a synoptic chart used for?
A synoptic chart is any map that summarises atmospheric conditions (temperature , precipitation , wind speed and direction, atmospheric pressure and cloud coverage) over a wide area at a given time .
What are synoptic weather maps and why are they important?
Synoptic means “view together” or “view at a common point”. A synoptic weather map shows weather patterns over a large area by putting together many weather reports from different locations all taken at the same moment in time .
What is a synoptic weather system?
The word synoptic means “view together” or “view at a common point”. Therefore, synoptic meteorology is primarily concerned with viewing the weather at a common point — time . ... It shows the positions of high- and low-pressure systems, surface weather plots and locations of fronts.
What is the difference between prognostic and synoptic charts?
Prognostic charts are computer generated forecast showing the expected pressure pattern at a specific future time. Synoptic weather maps describe the state of the atmosphere over a large area at a given moment.
How would you identify a depression on a synoptic chart?
A depression, as its name implies, is a region of low barometric pressure and appears on the synoptic chart as a set of closed curved isobars with winds circulating anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere , clockwise in the southern hemisphere.
What is good example of a synoptic scale feature?
Phenomena on the synoptic scale can span over 1000s of kilometers and last for many days. Mid-latitude cyclones, hurricanes, and fronts are examples of synoptic weather events. A weather forecaster looks closely at the global scale and synoptic scale when making weather forecasts beyond 1 day out.
Why is the map called a synoptic map?
The word “synoptic” takes its roots from two Greek words — “syn,” meaning “the same” or “together,” and “optic,” meaning “visible.” Thus, synoptic literally means “together visible.” “Synoptic” can be thought of as analogous to “comprehensive” — that is, combining multiple sub-elements to provide a general overview, ...
What does high pressure look like on a weather map?
On weather maps, these readings are represented as a blue “H” for high pressure or a red “L” for low pressure.
What do isobars represent on a synoptic weather map?
Isobars are lines on a weather map joining together places of equal atmospheric pressure . On the map the isobar marked 1004 represents an area of high pressure, while the isobar marked 976 represents an area of low pressure. Usually isobars are drawn at intervals of two or four millibars (one thousandth of a bar).
What are the six types of weather conditions?
Types of weather include sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy, and snowy . One of the most significant factors that affects weather is air masses. Air masses cause warm, cold, stationary, and occluded fronts.
What is synoptic situation?
The word ‘synoptic’ simply means a summary of the current situation . In weather terms, this means the pressure pattern, fronts, wind direction and speed and how they will change and evolve over the coming few days.
What are the two types of weather charts?
- Pressure Maps. Pressure maps are measured in millibars, and tell the reader where there is high atmospheric pressure, as compared to average sea-level pressure, and where there is low atmospheric pressure. ...
- Station Model Maps. ...
- Aviation Maps. ...
- Temperature Maps. ...
- Streamline Maps.
