EAS 381 (All Teaching Majors in EAS 380) Assignments 3-4

    Assignment 3: Analysis and Fronts (Analysis Due: Thursday, 8-October-2009)

  1. ANALYSIS (100 pts)

    On the surface map from 18Z 1-November-2000, do the following:
    1. On one copy, draw isotherms (solid) for every 5°F, e.g., 55°F, 60°F, 65°F, 70°F. Label all isotherms. Here is a version of the map with temperatures only.
    2. On a second copy, draw isodrosotherms (dashed) for every 5°F. Label all isodrosotherms. Do not analyze off the edge of the map! Here is a version of the map with dew points only.
    3. Label your map to denote which map is which.
    4. On a third copy, draw in black pencil (solid line) isobars for every pressure value divisible by 4 (i.e., 996, 1000, 1004 mb). (Hint: how would these values appear in the pressure plotting code?). Here is a version of the map with coded sea-level pressure only.
      1. Label each isobar with its actual value in whole millibars.
      2. If there is an area of low pressure, draw a red L and label with the central pressure value in whole mb.
      3. If there is an area of high pressure, draw a blue H and label with the central pressure value. Do not draw centers on the edges of the map.
    5. On a fourth copy, draw in the isallobars (constant pressure change) as follows (here is a version of the map with pressure change only):
      1. Rises every 1 mb/3 hr in dashed blue colored pencil.
      2. Falls every 1 mb/3 hr in dashed red colored pencil.
      3. The "zero" isallobar in dashed black colored pencil.
      4. Label all values.
    6. Draw a red F in the center of the maximum pressure falls and a blue R in the center of the maximum pressure rises. Do not draw centers on the edges of the map!
  2. FRONTS (50 pts)
  1. Finally, draw any fronts you can find on the map. Warm fronts should be shown with red barbs and cold fronts with blue barbs.
  2. Explain why you positioned the fronts where you did according to the typical changes seen along fronts. This section should be typed and spelled correctly.

 

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Assignment 4: Current Weather Discussion (Begins Monday, 12-October-2009)

Each person will present a 10-minute discussion using a current weather map without fronts, like those on the UCAR Surface Menu, about the position of fronts.

There must be a front present on the map to use it. If there's no front on the Minnesota area section, pick another one.

You will explain where you draw the front to the class and what meteorological variables, e.g., wind shift, temperature change, etc, tells you that a front is there. These will begin each class until each person has done three discussions.

I will send you a particular well-done example from previous years.

Sign up by emailing Bob Weisman before Oct 1.

Each presentation will be graded on the following:

  1. Accuracy
    1. Correct Location of Front
    2. Correct Analysis of Type of Front
  2. Supporting Information
    1. Showing Changes in Meteorological Elements Supporting the Front (should be five elements)
    2. Accuracy of These Changes
  3. Presentation
    1. Enabling Class to See and Understand the Information You Present
    2. Staying Within Time Limit

 

Last updated: Friday, September 11, 2009 10:19 AM