Aim: What are station models?

Do Now: Why would meteorologists use a station model to represent data rather then

writing it all over a map.

I. Station Models- Use symbols to represent weather conditions in selected locations.

ESRT Page 13

A. Temperature• upper left corner (in degrees

Fahrenheit).

B. Dew Point• lower left corner (in degrees

Fahrenheit).

C. Winds• The stick that

comes off the circle is the "Wind Barb".

• The barb indicates the winds direction and speed.

1) Direction

- barbs point in the direction where the wind is coming from.

W E

N

SWhere is this wind coming from?

Where is it blowing towards?

2) Speed

•short feather = 5 knots (written in the middle)•long feather = 10 knots•If only circle is plotted, the winds are calm.

- Wind speed is written in the units of knots (knt), a nautical speed. (for fluids)

1 Knot = 1.15 mph

D. Pressure• Upper right corner in coded form.

They need to be converted

Rules for converting pressure:

•500 and Higher1. Put 9 in front2. Move decimal one to left

•Less Than 5001. Put 10 in front2. Move decimal one to left

E. Present Weather

Air Mass abbreviations Front

Symbols

Present weather

• Left side of circle (Symbol on ESRT p.13)

F. Cloud Cover• The circle indicates

the percent of cloud cover observed at the time.

• Percent of circle filled = the percent of the sky filled with clouds

Closure:

Obtain a Station Models worksheet from the front of the room. Use the rules at the top of the sheet and convert all the pressures on the sheet.