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:
Stephen.Doyle@yc.edu
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
2
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?
____________________
