Reading Weather Maps

Book describes how to read and use the data on all the basic weather charts, radar data and weather satellite imagery, and how to make weather forecasts from this information. The book can be used as a college text in meteorology and as an educational book and reference book for adults who have good scientific knowledge and are interested in meteorology.

Can you read weather maps? They are much more complex than the maps you consult when looking for directions. This book will give you the information that you need to use weather maps in identifying pressure systems and predicting forecasts. Later, you will begin to understand where the information and data in weather maps came from. Start reading today.

The activities in this packet explain elementary concepts in the study of weather including pressure, reading weather symbols, and maps. General background information, suggested activities, questions for discussion, and answers are included.

Explains how to read and understand a weather map.

Weather maps have made our atmosphere visible, understandable, and at least moderately predictable. In Air Apparent Mark Monmonier traces debates among scientists eager to unravel the enigma of storms and global change, explains strategies for mapping the upper atmosphere and forecasting disaster, and discusses efforts to detect and control air pollution. Fascinating in its scope and detail, Air Apparent makes us take a second look at the weather map, an image that has been, and continues to be, central to our daily lives. "Clever title, rewarding book. Monmonier . . . offers here a basic course in meteorology, which he presents gracefully by means of a history of weather maps." —Scientific American "Mark Monmonier is onto a winner with Air Apparent. . . . It is good, accessible science and excellent history. . . . Read it." —Fred Pearce, New Scientist "[Air Apparent] is a superb first reading for any backyard novice of weather . . . but even the veteran forecaster or researcher will find it engaging and, in some cases, enlightening." —Joe Venuti, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society "Monmonier is solid enough in his discussion of geographic and meteorological information to satisfy the experienced weather watcher. But even if this information were not presented in such a lively and engaging manner, it would still hook most any reader who checks the weather map every morning or who sits happily entranced through a full cycle of forecasts on the Weather Channel."—Michael Kennedy, Boston Globe

Any young reader who has ever wondered about how weather is predicted will be fascinated by this book. It describes the many features of weather maps, from temperature and air pressure markings to wind speed and wind direction symbols. Students will also read about how meteorologists study and predict weather based on the information found in weather maps. A follow-up activity encourages readers to track weather over several days and make a new weather map each day to record the results.

Meteorologists do a very important job, and this book will give you an inside look of what they do. Here, you will learn to read weather maps. You will read about pressure systems, fonts, and other features of weather maps and charts. You will also learn about symbols commonly used in weather maps and charts. So the next time you listen to a weather broadcast, you’ll know exactly what they mean.