Weather Stations & Weather Map Symbols

When meteorologists need to see all of the data for a particular area or station, they use a model to represent the weather conditions. The model is called a STATION MODEL.

The amount of the circle shaded shows the approximate amount of sky covered by clouds (50% in the model above) Pressure is shown in mmHg, ATM or kPa

The small lines coming off of the wind direction bar are called barbs The small lines coming off of the wind direction bar are called barbs. Each full barb = 10 knots. (A knot is about 1.15 mph) A half barb = 5 knots The direction the wind is blowing FROM is shown by the direction the bar is pointing. (Southeast in the model above)

Isobars Isobars-connect points of the “same” Examples: temperature and wind speed The further away the lines the lower the wind speed

Weather Station Worksheet