Natural Hazards
Weather maps show the kinds of weather happening at many places at the same time. It also shows the air masses, fronts, and pressure systems. If a weather map is correctly read, the temperature, precipitation, and wind speeds can be predicted.
these are the main symbols that are needed to read weather maps correctly.
This symbol stands for high pressure. High pressure usually means good weather because in high-pressure systems, cool air fall down. Then, as the air is closer to the ground, the temperature increases. So, the air becomes warm and expands into other areas. So, high pressure usually means clear skies.
This symbol means low pressure. Low pressure usually means cloudy weather. This is because during low pressure, warm air rise into the air. As this air moves up, the temperature decreases, so the new cool air carrying all that moisture condenses, forming clouds in the sky. This is why low pressure means cloudy weather.
This symbol means a cold front. Cold fronts mean cold weather because a cold front is made of a cold air mass that pushes a warm front out of its way. The cold air forces the warm air into the sky rapidly along the front, producing rain and thunderstorms. Cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds form along the front, producing rain and thunderstorms. A cold front is usually followed by fair, cool weahter brought by the cold air.
This is the warm front symbol.Warm fronts are air mass boundaries moving so warm air is replacing cold air at the Earth's surface. Some warm air is pusshed upward since warm air is less dense and is lighter. The first signs of warm fronts are high cirrus clouds. Then, altostratus clounds may develop while the warm front continues to move.
A stationary front results when pressure differences cause a warm or cold front to stop moving. THis may result in slight winds and precipitation. Conditions may stay for days.
An occluded front is when two cold air masses pushes a warm air mass between them, making it rise since warm air is lighter then cold air. This results in strong winds and heavy precipitation.
