Synoptic weather charts Flashcards
The circular lines are called (1) and they join areas of the same (2)
1 - isobars
2 - air pressure
What can we learn from the pressure pattern?
Where the wind is coming from and how strong it is as well as areas of high and low pressure
If the difference between areas of high and low pressure is greater, the air will move (1) this is shown by isobars being (2) and so wind speed will be (3)
1 - faster
2 - closer together
3 - high
Why is there little precipitation in areas of high pressure?
Evaporated water can’t rise
In the Northern Hemisphere, air moves around high pressure in (1) direction and low pressure in (2) direction so isobars tell us wind (3)
1 - a clockwise
2 - an anti-clockwise
3 - speed and direction
What is used to represent a warm front?
A red line and red semi-circles
What is used to represent a cold front?
A blue line and blue triangles
What does the way in which semi-circles or triangles are facing represent?
The direction in which the front is moving
What does the position of a front depend on?
- Change in wind direction/ temperature
What tends to be increased along a front itself?
Cloud and rainfall
What is an ‘occluded front’
Cold fronts tend to move faster than warm fronts but sometimes they catch up with each other
How is an occluded front represented?
A purple line with a purple semi-circle and triangle next to each other
What is a ‘warm sector’? What weather is usually associated with it?
Air trapped between a warm and cold front
Low cloud and patchy light rain
What does a red or blue line broken with crosses represent?
Weakening front
Difference in the warmth or dryness of air becoming less marked
