Department of Geosciences

 Name _______________________________
 San Francisco State University

 Fall 2004

 

Meteorology 356
Homework #2
Due Beginning of Class, Friday 29 October 2004

Note: Answer on separate sheets of paper, and in complete sentences. Points deducted for one phrase or one word answers.

Southern Great Plains Disturbance: March 18, 2002

Surface Weather Map
Charts To Use In Assignment

You will need to draw on the Surface Weather Map and the 500 mb chart. When you click on those, you will get larger printable versions.

All others are accessible from the class website. Click on any chart to see readable, full-size version.

If you have problems printing the surface and 500 mb charts, see me on Monday 25 October.

500 MB Chart

Visible Satellite Image

Radar Chart at 2030 UTC

Infrared Satellite Image

Radar Animation--Click To See All of Texas

Convective Outlook (for informational purposes only)

 

1. Surface Map

  1. Draw color streamlines (blue--relatively cold air; red--relatively warm air) on the surface chart to indicate the windflow east of the Dry Line and north and south of the unlabeled frontal line that stretches from west to east on the chart.
  2. Place the correct symbols (with the correct color) on the unlabeled frontal line that stretches from west to east on the chart. (Obviously, this means that you have to decide what type of front this is).
  3. The low pressure area seen in the southern Great Plains is an example of a frontal cyclone. What is the name given to this general type of surface cyclone? Why is this name given to this type of surface cyclone?

2. 500 MB Chart

  1. Indicate the jet stream right on the chart with a long arrow as we have done in class.
  2. If cumulonimbus clouds were present at the time of the 500 mb chart in Texas, estimate their motion (in what direction would they move and roughly how fast) based upon what you see on the 500 mb chart.

3. Examine the Radar Animation.

  1. In what way does this animation suggest that a few thunderstorms have formed over Texas.
  2. Explain how the motion of the precipitation areas corresponds to your answer in 2. b. above.

4. Examine the Surface Chart, 2030 UTC Radar Chart, and the Visible and Infrared Satellite Images.

  1. We have discussed how using the visible and infrared satellite images together helps meteorologists isolate the cloud systems that are liable to be associated with precipitation. Compare the two satellite images with the surface chart. Describe what you see on these three charts that shows that this method would NOT have worked in this case (in other words, that you would have overestimated or underestimated the portion of the region that had precipitation and/or thunderstorms).
  2. We have also discussed how using radar information to supplement the surface weather map and satellite imagery allows us to really hone in on areas of meteorological concern (for example, areas of heavy rainfall or strong/severe thunderstorms). Examine the 2030 UTC radar chart. How does this do a better job in portraying such areas of "meteorological concern" over Texas than either the surface chart or the satellite imagery.