Meteorologists and
Weather Maps

Georgia Perimeter College

1. Tell what a meteorologist is and does.
2. Define isobar and isotherm.
3. Interpret weather maps using isobars to locate high and low pressure systems, .

Meteorologists

Meteorology is the study of the atmosphere and its phenomena.

Meteorologists are scientists who study the atmosphere and its phenomena. Many also interpret weather maps and make forecasts.

Weather Maps

Weather maps show isobars and isotherms.

• Isobars are lines of equal air pressure.
  The isobar lines are labeled with a number representing the air pressure in hectopascals.
  In high pressure systems, the air pressure increases towards the center.

  When the isobars are closely spaced, strong winds are likely to be present associated with low pressure systems.
  When the isobars are far apart, relative calm prevails which is usually associated with high pressure systems.

• Isotherms are lines connecting points of equal temperature.

Because of the earth’s rotation, the winds are deflected toward the right in the Northern Hemisphere. (This is known as the Coriolis Effect.) The coriolis effect causes the winds to blow clockwise and outward from the center of the highs, and counterclockwise and inward toward the center of the low.

Return to Earth & Space Science page

Return to Georgia Geoscience Online

Notes written by E. Lynn Zeigler
Web page created and edited by Pamela J. W. Gore
Georgia Perimeter College,
Clarkston, GA

June 1, 2000