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GEO 212 - Week One Lab, 2021

This document provides instructions for a lab assignment involving the analysis and interpretation of surface weather maps. It includes two sample surface analysis maps of North America from May 18, 2020 and the eastern US from three hours later. Students are asked 20 multiple choice questions requiring them to observe station models, pressure systems, wind patterns and other surface features on the maps.

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Pip Turen
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
118 views

GEO 212 - Week One Lab, 2021

This document provides instructions for a lab assignment involving the analysis and interpretation of surface weather maps. It includes two sample surface analysis maps of North America from May 18, 2020 and the eastern US from three hours later. Students are asked 20 multiple choice questions requiring them to observe station models, pressure systems, wind patterns and other surface features on the maps.

Uploaded by

Pip Turen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GEO 212 – Week One Lab: Station Models and Introduction to Surface Analysis Maps.

You will need to have viewed the Week One video lecture in order to do this lab.

Figure 1 – US Surface Analysis

The map above is a surface analysis map of the US, southern Canada and northern Mexico
showing station models, fronts, isobars and other surface features at 1200Z on May 18, 2020.
The “Z” in 1200Z stands for Zulu time, which is the same as GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) and
is the time at Greenwich, England (very close to London, England) and is where the Zero
longitude line runs through. The time 1200 is based on the 24 hour time clock, and, therefore is
noon. For example, on the 24 hour time clock 2200 would be 10:00 pm and 0400 would be 4:00
am.
The state of Arizona remains on Standard Time throughout the year and is 7 hours earlier than
Zulu time, therefore, the above map is at 1200 – 0700 = 0500 or 5:00 am Arizona time.

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Questions 1-16 refer to Figure 1, questions 17-20 refer to Figure 2. Please write the correct
answers and submit either through Canvas or as a Word attachment to my email:
[email protected]

All questions are based on the surface analysis maps of figures 1 and 2. Here is the link to
station model interpretation: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/html/stationplot.shtml

1. For Phoenix, Arizona (located in central Arizona) what is the air temperature?
 54
 101
 53
 +7

2. For Phoenix, Arizona what is the wind direction?


 Southeast
 Calm
 North
 West

3. For Phoenix, Arizona what is the wind speed?


 Calm
 5 knots
 10 knots
 20 knots

4. For Tucson, Arizona what is the barometric pressure?


 101
 101.0
 1010.1
 910.1

5. For Albuquerque, New Mexico what is the wind speed?


 5 knots
 10 knots
 15 knots
 Calm

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6. Note the low pressure system centered in northern Illinois and recall that the general wind
circulation around the center of a low pressure system is counterclockwise and inward toward the
center of the low. Observe the wind directions in the cities surrounding the low pressure system
in northern Illinois (look in the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska and Michigan). Does
the wind direction around the low center fit the general rules for low pressure systems?
 Yes
 No

7. Recall that “weather” as denoted in a station model is technically a restriction to visibility


which usually, but not always, means some form of precipitation is falling. Look at the station
model in central Oregon (Bend) – what is the “weather?”
 Fog
 Heavy rain
 Light rain
 Haze

8. For the same station as #7, what is the wind speed?


 Calm
 5 knots
 10 knots
 20 knots

9. What is the “weather” at the station model in central Nevada?


 Hail
 Ice pellets
 Haze
 Fog

10. Winnipeg, Manitoba is the southern-most station model in the Canadian Province of
Manitoba (Manitoba borders the states of North Dakota and Minnesota). What is the “sky
condition” at Winnipeg?
 ___________________

11. What is the “weather” at Spokane, Washington (it is located in north-central Washington)?
 ____________________

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12. In general, the sky conditions in Texas are:
 Clear
 Scattered clouds
 Partly cloudy
 Overcast

13. In general, the sky conditions in Wisconsin are:


 Clear
 Partly cloudy
 Mostly cloudy
 Overcast

14. In general, the wind speeds in New Mexico are:


 Strong
 Moderate
 Light
 Calm

15. Bolded barometric pressure numbers that are underlined on a surface analysis map give you
the lowest pressure of a low pressure system or the highest pressure of a high pressure system.
What is the lowest barometric pressure of all of the low pressure systems on the surface analysis
map west of the Mississippi River?
 999
 1000
 1001
 1003

16. Using the same rules as in #15, what is the highest barometric pressure of all of the high
pressure systems on the surface analysis map in the US west of the Mississippi River?
 1004
 1006
 1017
 1024

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Figure 2 – surface analysis of eastern-central US

Figure 2 is a surface analysis map of eastern-central US with observations taken 3 hours


after Figure 1. The following questions 17-20 are based on Figure 2.

17. Note the tropical storm located just off the east coast of North Carolina (it is the red circle
with 2 red wings). What is the general wind circulation around it”
 Counterclockwise
 Clockwise

18. Locate Norfolk, Virginia (extreme southeast corner of Virginia). What is the wind
direction?
 north
 south
 east
 west

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19. What is the lowest indicated wind speed in the state of Virginia?
 calm
 10 knots
 15 knots
 5 knots

20. There is a station just off the coast of South Carolina with the symbol M for sky conditions.
What does this mean?
 ____________________

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