Lab 5b - Meteorology

Compare the altitudes and pressure levels from the two soundings. Which pressures were at higher altitudes over Little Rocks then over Denver

- 700 mb - 500 mb - 400 mb - 300 mb - 250 mb - 100 mb

At 21z 25 September 2018, the pressure was about ____ mb

1007

The pressure value plotted for North Platte, NE (located in the center of the state) was 274, meaning the sea level pressure was ____ mb

1027.4

Between 21z 25 and 13 z 26 September, the pressure change (positive or negative) was approximately _____ mb

11

An even more significant change of temperature occurred in the hour between 22z and 23z 25 September, which was approximately ____ degrees F

14

Temperature to the west and northwest of Chicago, specifically in the neighboring states of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, were mostly in the ____ degrees F.

40s

Between 13z and 18z 25 September, the pressure changes positive or negative was approximately _____ mb

3

Comparing the two dewpoint temperature profiles, the atmosphere from 700 mb to 250 mb was cooler and drier above which station

Denver or Little Rock

Comparing the two temperature profiles, the atmosphere from 700 mb to 250 mb was cooler above which station

Little Rock or both stations are within a few degrees of one another

Compare the temperatures, dewpoints, air pressure, and wind directions on the figure 5b-1 mareogram at 13z 26 September 2018 to those of the figure 5b-2 station models surrounding the Chicago area in Illinois and Missouri. The values _____ similar

are

In figure 5b-3, Little Rock, AR is located on the periphery of a high-pressure system, providing warm air across much of the southeastern states. Upstream (to Little Rock's northwest), multiple cold fronts advanced from northwest to southeast. The air over Colorado was, in fact, ______ than over Little Rock

cooler and had less water vapor

Between 2z and 12 z 26 September the ambient temperature trend

decreased

Constant pressure "surfaces" are those that can be imagines an undulating surfaces in the atmosphere on which the air pressure is the same (for example, the 500 mb surface) Comparing the altitudes of each of the pressure surfaces from 700 mb to 100 mb indicates that individual constant pressure surfaces slope from their altitudes in the warmer air over Little Rock ____ to their altitudes in the cooler air over Denver

downward

Conversely, if you were to fly from Denver to Little Rock while maintaining an actual altitude of 31,000 ft the air pressure outside your plane would _____.

gradually increase

Looking at the sky cover/wind station model between 3z and 8z 26 September, sustained wind speeds were generally among their ___ for the 24-hour period on this mareogram at about ___ knots. This speed deviation coincided (at its outset) with the shift in wind direction and change in the ambient temperature during this same period

greatest....15

Based on their relative positions on the figure 5b-2 surface map, the nearby cold front ____ swept eastward beyond the Chicago station

half already

Assume you fly from Denver to Little Rock at 31,000 ft (9400 m) above sea level, a typical altitude for commercial aircraft, using your pressure altimeter. With a pressure altimeter, you fly along a constant pressure surface. (to visualize this flight, you can compare the reported altitudes of the 300 mb levels of the two stations) as you approach Little Rock, your aircraft would be at a ____ altitude than indicated by your pressure altimeter when you were over Denver

higher

The plotted temperatures and dewpoints in Denver begin much higher on the chart than Little Rock because Denver, the "mile-high" city is at a much ____ elevation than Little Rock. This means the launched balloon at Denver cannot obtain data for all the same pressure levels as Little Rock

higher

On the mareogram in figure 5b-1, compare the temperatures at Chicago from 21z 25 September 2018 to that at 13z 26 September 2018. This temperature change _____ consistent with the passing of a cold front

is

Recall from inv 5a where profiles from New York and Florida over a range of latitude were shown in figure 5a-7. In general, as you move toward Earth's poles and higher latitudes, you expect the altitudes of a particular constant pressure surface to become ____.

lower

This altitude changes of a given pressure surface as you move poleward is in response to generally _____ average temperatures in the underlying air columns, between the constant pressure surface and Earth's surface

lower

The air pressure (mb) is shown in the bottom graph panel of the mareogram. From 20z to 22z 25 September 2018, the air pressure at Chicago was ____. During this period, the storm system and its front were in close proximity to Chicago, moving in from the west.

mostly unchanging

From 3z until 11z 26 September, winds were generally from the _____, a noted change from the trend on the previous day when the front was not yet past Chicago

north-northwest

Winds reported in the states of Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana were predominantly from the ___. The sky conditions reported in Illinois and Iowa stations were reported as partly cloudy.

northwest

At 23z 25 and 0z 26 September, multiple hourly weather reports (denoted in the row labeled 'WX' underneath the temperature plot) identified some kind of precipitation or weather event. The symbols, which are consistent with those used on surface weather station plots, indicate ___ were the dominant events being reported at Chicago was during this period

rain and thunderstorms

The top panel grid on the mareogram shows two black lines representing two types of temperature observations/trends. The top curve is the ambient air temperature, with dewpoint temperature represented and the lower trend line. From 18z to 22z 25 September 2018, the ambient temperature ____.

remained generally constant

From 0z until 13 z 26 September, the end of the mareogram period, the air pressure generally ____. This rate of pressure change occurred swiftly compared to the earlier portion of the mareogram

rose

Directly above the pressure grid panel, second from the bottom in figure 5b-1, a display of sky cover and winds is shown with station model circles. From 17z 25 to 0z 26 September, the wind direction was generally from the ____

south-southwest