Synoptic Chart: by Saplan and Company

SYNOPTIC CHART
BY SAPLAN AND COMPANY

SYNOPTIC CHART
In meteorology, any chart or map on
which data and analysis are presented
that describe the state of the atmosphere
over a large area at a given moment of
time. Commonly referred as the Weather
Map.
PLOTTING WEATHER OBSERVATIONS
The first stage in preparing a synoptic
chart is to chart the position of each
meteorological station. These are marked by
a small circle. The weather report for each
station is then plotted in and around the
circle. Elements like temperature and
pressure are entered as plain figures. Others,
like the occurrence of rain, snow, cloud and
fog are plotted as internationally agreed
symbols.
Wind direction is represented by an arrow pointing in the direction from

where the wind is coming. In Figure the wind is from the northeast. The wind
speed is denoted by "feathers" on the wind arrow, a short feather indicating 5
knots, a larger one 10 knots, a long and short one 15 knots and so on.
Temperature is measured in degrees Celsius to
the nearest whole degree. Pressure at a station is
standardized to sea-level pressure measured in
millibars. The hundreds figure for the pressure is
omitted as being understood since the pressure is
almost always between 950 and 1050 millibars.
For example, a pressure of 987.8 millibars would
be written as 878; 1014.3 millibars as 143. In
Figure 8.1 the pressure is 1010.5 millibars.

Meteorological Symbols
ISOBARS
When plotting of the
meteorological observations is
completed, the forecaster then proceeds
with the synopsis and analysis of the
chart. The first step is to draw on the
isobars - lines along which the pressure
is the same. They are of the same nature
as height contours on a geographical
map. Usually, they are drawn at
intervals of 2 or 4 millibars
The meteorologist in drawing isobars has an additional aid in the plotted wind
directions of each station. Recalling lesson 3, it is the rotation of the Earth which
deflects moving air on course from high to low pressure. Thus, in the northern
hemisphere, the lower pressure is to the left of the wind, the higher pressure is to
the right. This is reversed in the southern hemisphere. The stronger the winds, the
closer the isobars.
Isobaric patterns
The completed isobars usually
reveal a few standard patterns. A set of
curved isobars surrounding an area of
low pressure reveals a depression, with
the wind in the northern hemisphere
blowing anticlockwise around its centre.
A set of curved isobars surrounding a
high pressure reveals an anticyclone,
with the winds in the northern
hemisphere blowing clockwise around
its centre. Open V-shaped isobars with
low pressure inside delineates a trough
of low pressure; high pressure inside the A col is the indefinite isobar
formation is called a ridge of high configuration between two highs and
pressure. two lows arranged alternately, and
has no particular type of weather
associated with it other than light
winds.
Geostrophic Winds
It came about because pressure gradient force and Coriolis
force come into balance after the air begins to move or air under
the influence of both the pressure gradient force and Coriolis force
tends to move parallel to isobars in conditions where friction is
low (1000 meters above the surface of the Earth) and isobars are
straight. Winds of this type are usually called geostrophic winds.
Geostrophic winds come about because pressure gradient force
and Coriolis force come into balance after the air begins to move
geostrophic wind A geostrophic wind flows parallel to the isobars.

In this model of wind flow in the
Northern Hemisphere, wind begins as
a flow of air perpendicular to the
isobars (measured in millibars) under
the primary influence of the pressure
gradient force (PGF). As the
movement begins, the Coriolis force
(CF) begins to influence the moving
air causing it to deflect to the right of
its path. This deflection continues
until the pressure gradient force and
Coriolis force are opposite and in
balance with each other.
GEOSTROPHIC WIND SCALE
A graphical device used for
the determination of the speed of
the geostrophic wind from the
isobar or contour-line spacing
on a synoptic chart.
GEOSTROPHIC WIND SCALE
It is a nomogram representing solutions of the geostrophic wind
equation:

where geopotential height is the vertical coordinate; or

Where atmospheric pressure is the vertical coordinate. In the
above equations, Vg is the speed of the geostrophic wind, ρ the
density of the air, f the Coriolis parameter, p the pressure at a fixed
geopotential height, z the height of a constant-pressure surface, and n
horizontal distance measured normal to the flow. The n axis is
directed to the right of the flow in the Northern Hemisphere and to the
left of the flow in the Southern Hemisphere. In the nomogram,
standard values of ρ or g are usually adopted. The gradient of pressure
or height is approximated by the finite difference ratio, Δp/Δn or
Δz/Δn, in which a standard difference in pressure or height is adopted;
Δn then represents the normal distance between isobars or contour
lines drawn. The nomogram often utilizes Δn as the abscissa and the
latitude as ordinate, so that the speed of the geostrophic wind may be
read from a family of lines of the graph.
THANK YOU
FOR
LISTENING!!!

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SYNOPTIC CHART

BY SAPLAN AND COMPANY

Wind direction is represented by an arrow pointing in the direction from

where geopotential height is the vertical coordinate; or

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