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Upper Air Maps: Contouring and Interpretation
Introduction
Upper-air charts are extremely useful for forecasting and general understanding of
atmospheric conditions. We are used to television meteorologists focusing on surface weather
and changes in surface atmospheric conditions, but rarely to look at the atmosphere in the
vertical dimension. The atmosphere, like the Earth is not flat. Upper-air atmospheric conditions
influence surface conditions and vice versa. You will learn much more about these interactions
throughout the course. This laboratory assignment uses access to real-time upper-air data to
introduce you to upper-air charts and allow you to hand analyze three of the mandatory pressure
levels and determine the day’s upper-air conditions.
Know Before You Go
Prior to completing the laboratory activity, you should review Chapter 6 and 8 Essentials
of Meteorology: An Invitation to the Atmosphere and answer the following questions.
a. What is meant by mandatory pressure levels?
The mandatory pressure levels mean the sequence of pressures delivered on the upper air maps.
These pressure levels are mandatory to be given for the evaluation of upper-air charts.
b. What are the mandatory pressure levels?
Mandatory pressure levels are the several constant-pressure levels that need to be provided
during the upper-air charts observations.

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c. What does a pronounced southward dip (trough) indicate on a 500-mb chart?
The pronounced southward dip (trough) displayed on a 500-mb chart indicates regions with low
pressure. In this region rainy, cloudily, and windy weather is expected.
d. What does a pronounced northward bulge (ridge) indicate on a 500-mb chart?
The pronounced northward bugle (ridge) displayed on a 500-mb chart indicates the region of
high pressure. In this region “pleasured” weather is expected.
e. In addition to height, what else is plotting on a 300-mb chart? Why?
On 300-mb chart the position of the polar jet stream and the subtropical jet stream is also plotted.
The jets streams provide important information regarding the heat transfer at the global level. By
the analysis of jet streams, it can be predicted the direction of the transport of pollutants and
particles emitted during the eruption of volcanoes.
f. How would we find a strong pressure gradient force on a map?
When the pressure is rapidly changed with the short distance the strong pressure gradient
happens. The strong pressure gradient force on a map can be observed in the region where
isobars are very close together (closely spaced isobars).
g. What is zonal flow?
The term for zonal flow means that the air is blowing from west-to-east directions.
h. What is meridional flow?
The meridional flow means that the air has more or less north-south trajectory (e.g. when the air
follows the direction of the west coast of North America).
i. What is cold or warm air advection?
The cold advection means that the cold air blows to the region of warmer air. The warm
advection means that the warm air blows to the region of cooler air.

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Upper Air Maps: Contouring and Interpretation Introduction Upper-air charts are extremely useful for forecasting and general understanding of atmospheric conditions. We are used to television meteorologists focusing on surface weather and changes in surface atmospheric conditions, but rarely to look at the atmosphere in the vertical dimension. The atmosphere, like the Earth is not flat. Upper-air atmospheric conditions influence surface conditions and vice versa. You will learn much more about these interactions throughout the course. This laboratory assignment uses access to real-time upper-air data to introduce you to upper-air charts and allow you to hand analyze three of the mandatory pressure levels and determine the day’s upper-air conditions. Know Before You Go Prior to completing the laboratory activity, you should review Chapter 6 and 8 Essentials of Meteorology: An Invitation to the Atmosphere and answer the following questions. a. What is meant by mandatory pressure levels? The mandatory pressure levels mean the sequence of pressures delivered on the upper air maps. These pressure levels are mandatory to be given for the evaluation of upper-air charts. b. What are the mandatory pressure levels? Mandatory pressure levels are the several constant-pressure levels that need to be provided during the upper-air charts observations. c. What does a pronounced southward dip (trough) indicate on a 500-mb chart? The pronounced southward dip (trough) displayed on a 500-mb ...
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