Weather Map Interpretation This Weather Map Interpretation Assignment is High School Level.There are 3 Weather Maps to look at and the 4th Map you have to

Weather Map Interpretation This Weather Map Interpretation Assignment is High School Level.There are 3 Weather Maps to look at and the 4th Map you have to predict what the Weather should like. The first 3 pages of this document are the information and the last 3 pages need to be completed by tomorrow at 4pm Central Time. Science | Graded Assignment | Laboratory: Weather Map Interpretation
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Date:
Graded Assignment
Laboratory: Weather Map Interpretation
Note: This is a text version of Laboratory: Weather Map Interpretation, including the Weather Map Activity. If you
are able to complete the Flash version, you do not need to complete this activity.
Imagine that a low-pressure system has been moving across North America over the past three days, and it’s
your job to predict where it will go next. You have to look at the data from the past few days, describe today’s
weather, and then predict tomorrow’s weather. To do this job, you will use results from a weather map tool. The
tool contains complete weather maps and weather data for the past three days, access to today’s data, and a
simulator.
Pre-Lab Exploration: Map Data
Two major currents affect systems that move across North America. The trade winds blow from west to east.
Atlantic currents blow east to west, but bend north along the east coast of North America.
The weather map tool has a wind toggle button that shows wind direction. Here are screenshots from the tool
when the wind toggle button is turned on for the past three days. Shorter arrows indicate lighter winds; longer
arrows indicate stronger winds.
3 Days Ago
2 Days Ago
Yesterday
Here is the wind map for today.
The position of fronts is an interpretation made by meteorologists. Often, you may find two weather maps from the
same day that show slightly different fronts because the people interpreting the information came to slightly
different conclusions.
Air rises and condenses when it encounters a low pressure system. Condensing air forms clouds, so you will
often find cloud formation near low pressure systems. Here are screenshots from the weather map tool showing
fronts with the pressure, temperature, cloud cover, and precipitation for the past three days. On day 4 it will be up
to you to figure out the position of the fronts.
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Page 1 of 6
Science | Graded Assignment | Laboratory: Weather Map Interpretation
Data
3 Days Ago
2 Days Ago
Yesterday
Pressure
Temp.
Cloud
Cover
Precip.
Here are some data from the weather map tool for certain stations from yesterday. For each, compare the
temperature and dew point. Notice that smaller differences between temperature and dew point are related to
greater cloud cover, a lower barometric pressure, and precipitation.
Station
Temp.
Dew Point
Cloud Cover
Pressure
Precip.
Medford, OR (Northwest)
28
24
None
1013
No
Salt Lake City, UT (West)
62
52
None
1021
No
Los Angeles, CA
(Southwest)
53
44
None
1014
No
Minot, MD (Midwest)
19
16
Half
1000
No
Columbus, OH (South of
Great Lakes)
62
60
Full
980
Yes
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Page 2 of 6
Science | Graded Assignment | Laboratory: Weather Map Interpretation
Station
Temp.
Dew Point
Cloud Cover
Pressure
Precip.
Knoxville, TN (Southeast)
65
63
Full
985
Yes
Burlington, VT (Northeast)
25
21
None
988
No
Miami, FL (Southeast)
89
82
Half
993
No
Pre-Lab Exploration: Simulation
The weather map tool contains a simulator. It is not a weather predictor. It does not account for all possible
factors. For example, the simulator does not consider the warming or cooling effect of water or elevation.
This simulator works using four basic rules: (1) Temperature is the same going east to west, but decreases as
you move north. (2) Wind blows from high to low pressure centers. (3) The closer the high and low pressure
centers, the faster the wind. (4) A station’s temperature is influenced by the direction the wind is blowing from and
the speed of the wind.
Here are screenshots from the simulator with the high and low pressure centers in different places. Compare the
strengths of the winds.
Here are two more simulations. These show both wind arrows and temperature ranges. Notice that the
temperatures in the east change when the positions of the high and low are switched. Notice also, that winds
blowing from the north are cooler, while winds blowing from the south are warmer.
In the real world, air masses maintain their properties as they travel from place to place. For example, a highpressure system that comes from the south will be warmer than a high-pressure system that comes from the
north. In the United States, high pressure systems often come down from Canada and make cold weather in the
southern states.
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Page 3 of 6
Science | Graded Assignment | Laboratory: Weather Map Interpretation
Lab Report
Total score: ____ of 25 points
(Score for Question 1: ___ of 5 points)
For today’s weather, it’s up to you to decide where the fronts are located. Draw the fronts on the map. Explain
your reasoning.
Answer:
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Page 4 of 6
Science | Graded Assignment | Laboratory: Weather Map Interpretation
(Score for Question 2: ___ of 10 points)
Now you are going to use station data to write weather forecasts for several cities for today. Write your forecasts
in complete sentences. Assume you are writing for the general public. Be sure to discuss temperatures,
winds, and possible precipitation.
City
Station Data
Weather Forecast
Los Angeles, CA
(Southwest)
Salt Lake City, UT
(West)
Chicago, IL (Midwest)
Philadelphia, PA
(Northeast)
New Orleans , LA
(South)
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Page 5 of 6
Science | Graded Assignment | Laboratory: Weather Map Interpretation
(Score for Question 3: ___ of 10 points)
Consider the track of the storm to predict what the weather will be like tomorrow.
(a) Draw the fronts and the pressure centers on the map. Shade the region where you predict
precipitation.
(b) Write a weather forecast for Chicago, IL, located in the Midwest, south of the Great Lakes. Assume
you are writing for the general public. Then explain your reasoning.
(c) Write a weather forecast for Burlington, VT, located in the northeast, southeast of Maine. Assume you
are writing for the general public. Then explain your reasoning.
Answer:
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