This document summarizes key concepts in meteorology including how weather maps depict temperature, air pressure, and precipitation using lines and symbols. It explains common meteorological instruments and how weather systems such as high and low pressure areas, air masses, and frontal boundaries influence weather patterns and conditions. Global wind patterns like the jet stream also impact weather by directing weather systems as they move across the Earth.

2. Shows a summary of current weather
conditions at a particular weather station

3.  lines connected areas of the same
temperature

4.  lines connecting areas of the same air
pressure

5.  when isobars form circles they designate
the center of high or low pressure, labeled
with an H or L

6.  Thermometer – measures temperature
 Barometers – measures air pressure
 Anemometer – measures wind speed
 Wind Vane – measures wind direction

7.  uses reflected radio waves to determine
the velocity and location of objects, can
detect the precise
location, movement, intensity of
precipitation, wind patterns, and severity of
the storm

8.  Move from high pressure to low pressure
a) High Pressure – sunny calm weather
b) Low Pressure – can mean
storminess, fronts extend from them

9.  move by global winds and the jet stream
a) Arctic/Polar – typically move to the South
and West
b) Tropical – moves to the North and East
c) Bring characteristics of where they
formed, the longer they are stationary the
more they exhibit the characteristics of
that region, they change as they move

10.  Cold Front – preceded by strong thunder and
snow storms, after it passes temperatures drop
sharply and pressure rises rapidly
 Warm Front – thick, low level clouds, wide spread
precipitation
 Stationary Front – similar results as a warm
front, just over longer period of time
 Occluded Front – large scale precipitation and
widespread rain and thunderstorm

11.  The higher the dew point, the more water
in the air, thus higher chance of
precipitation

12.  If air pressure is dropping, a storm could
be on the way

13.  Wind follows the isobars, the closer they
are together, the stronger the winds due to
the larger pressure gradient

14.  High altitude, narrow bands of wind that
typically go west to east, dictate weather
pattern and air mass movement, stronger
during winter due to larger temperature
differences between poles and equator

15.  Generally weather patterns move from
west to east due to global winds (prevailing
westerlies)