Synoptic Meteorology

1
Synoptic Meteorology Weather Analysis

• 53.430/701

2
Quick ReviewWeather Forecasting Handbook

• Chapter 1 read it
• Chapter 2 know it
• Chapter 3 learn it
• Chapters 4 to 12 understand it
• This course will be an overview of meteorology
  and apply theory to every day weather.

3
Basic Weather Observations

• Surface Observations
• Hourly Weather Observations
• METAR (Meteorological Terminal Air Report or
  Meteorological Aviation Report)
• SA (Surface Aviation observation)
• Synoptic Observations
• SYNOs taken every 6 or 12 hours and is a
  summary of that period (Hi, Lo, Pcpn, Wx, etc)
• Upper Air Observations
• Vertical Atmospheric Profiles (every 12 hours at
  00 UTC 12 UTC around the world)

4
Wx Elements

• Temperature
• Dew point
• Wind
• Pressure
• MSL or SLP (in mb or Pa)
• Altimeter setting (in inches of mercury)
• Station pressure

5
Wx Elements (cont)

• Visibility
• Weather Obstructions to visibility
• Cloud
• Height (base in hundreds of feet)
• Amount (in 8th)
• Type

6
METAR Decode

• Station identifier four-letter identifier
• Observation time UTC
• AUTO machine
• Wind
• Prevailing visibility statue miles
• Weather
• Cloud height amount
• Temperature/Dewpoint degrees C
• Pressure
• Remarks

7
METAR decode

• Weather Forecasting Handbook Appendix pg. 171
• Weather Map Handbook pg. 122

8
Observational Charts

• Surface
• 850 mb
• 700 mb
• 500 mb
• 250 mb (300 mb in USA)
• Thickness Analysis (1000-500, 1000-700, 1000-850,
  850-700)
• Vorticity Analysis
• Vertical Velocity (Omega)
• Isentropic Analysis
• See Weather Map Handbook

9
Chart Analysis

• Isopleths Appendix 6
• Contour/isoheight
• isohyet
• isotherm/isentrope
• isodrosotherm
• Isochrone
• Surface Plot Schematic/Upper Air Plot
• Chart Symbology