Recommended Readings from Moran and Morgan (1997):
pages 21-24; 377; 382-385.
pages 21-24; 377; 382-385.
Today's Lecture Objectives:
To identify the meteorological measurements obtained by a radiosonde.
To describe the manner in which the weather is depicted upon the standard
upper air charts.
To compare and contrast the features on the surface and upper air weather
charts.
To relate the wind flow and temperature regimes aloft with the topography
of constant pressure surfaces..
To contrast winds aloft with near-surface winds.
Outline:
A. INTRODUCTION
Overview - What is "Upper Air"?
The need to know.
B. UPPER AIR OBSERVATIONS
Practical Problems
Early Upper Air Observations - The Observing Platforms
Balloons
Kites
Current Upper Air Observations
The Radiosonde
Aircraft Reports
Meteorological Rockets
Weather Satellites
C. THE UPPER AIR WEATHER CHART
The Radiosonde Observation (RAOB) network
Use of Constant Pressure Charts
Plotting of Routine Upper Air Constant Pressure Charts
Isopleths used on Upper Air Charts
HEIGHT CONTOURS
ISOTHERMS
ISOTACHS
Topography of Constant Pressure Charts
Ridges
Troughs
Relationships between:
Height and temperature fields
Height and wind fields
Last revision 26 May 1999
Produced by Edward J. Hopkins, Ph.D.
Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI 53706
hopkins@meteor.wisc.edu