Name:______________________________________  
Earth Science- Mr. Schuerman Weather Lab 
Lab: Station Models 
 
Introduction:​​ At commercial airports throughout the country the weather is observed, measured and recorded. 
In New York State alone there are over a dozen observation sites. These stations record: temperature, dew 
point, cloud cover, visibility, height of cloud base, amount of precipitation, wind speed and wind direction to 
name a few. The measurements made every hour at every station around the world. This is a very large amount 
of data, which can be very useful in predicting the weather. The challenge is that a large amount of data needs 
to be communicated to every weather station in the US. Because of the lack of space on weather maps, the 
weather information needs to be coded. In order to do this the information needs to be highly organized and 
standard throughout country. Notice that units are NEVER given on a station model; rather they already are 
standardized across the country. By using station models the data can be represented by a symbol or number, 
and it’s meaning is easily understood by where the symbol or number is placed on the station model. Through this 
lab you will learn to understand station models used in meteorology by coding and decoding a variety of stations. 
 

Vocabulary: 
Station Model 
Wind Speed 
Wind Direction 
Pressure 
Temperature 
Encode 
Decode 
 
 

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Current Air Pressure:​​ The following explains how barometric pressures are ​encoded ​on a weather station. 
Example: 1013.7 mb 
a. Drop the decimal point: 10137 
b. Report the last 3 digits: 137 
 
Example: 989.6 mb 
a. Drop the decimal point: 9896  
b. Report the last 3 digits: 896 
 
Try encoding these: 1022.7 = _____________ 998.0 = ___________ 
 
When ​decoding​​ air pressure on a station model, use the following rule: 
● If the air pressure on the station model is 500 or more, place a 9 in front of this number. Also put a 
decimal point in front of the last number EX: 588= 958.8 millibars 
● If the air pressure number on the station model is less than 500 add a 10 in front of the number. Also 
put a decimal point in front of the last number EX: 091=1009.1 millibars 
 
The following explains another way that barometric pressures are ​decoded ​when reading a weather map: 
Example: 146 
a. Replace the decimal point ex. 14.6 
b. Place a “9”, then a “10”, in front of the coded number ex. ​9​14.6 or ​10​​14.6 
c. Determine which of the 2 decoded pressures falls within the normal range of pressures at the earth’s surface 
(960 - 1040 mb). Since 914.6 is below the normal range, ​146 ​is the code for atmospheric pressure of ​1014.6 mb. 
 
Example: 972 
a. Replace the decimal: 97.2  
b. Place a 9 and a 10 in front: 997.2 or 1097.2  
c. Choose which one is in normal range: 997.2 (just right), 1097.2(too big!)  
 
Try decoding these: 127 = ___________ 865 = _____________ 001 = _____________ 
 
Past Pressure:​​ Good forecasting requires us to know what the barometer has been doing lately (rising, falling, 
or holding steady), and where the barometer is heading. This barometric pressure information is indicated in 
the center right position of the station model circle. Interpret as follows: 
Example: + 34 / 
The “+” means that the pressure is h ​ igher ​now than it was 3 hours ago. 
The “34” is code for 3.4 mb. This is ​how much higher t​ he barometer is now than it was 3 hours ago. 
The “/” means the barometer is ​still rising n ​ ow. It is called the barometric ​trend​. 
 
Example: - 27 \ 
The “-” means that the pressure is ​lower ​now than it was 3 hours ago. 
The “27” is code for 2.7 mb. This is ​how much lower ​the barometer is now than it was 3 hours ago. 
The “\” means the barometer is s​ till falling ​now. 
 
Example: -31- 
The “-” means that the pressure is ​lower ​now than it was 3 hours ago. 
The “31” is code for 3.1 mb. This is ​how much lower t​ he barometer is now than it was 3 hours ago. 
The “ - ” means the barometer is ​holding stea​dy now. 
 
Temperature and Dew point:​​ Are always reported in degrees Fahrenheit (°F) these may need to be converted 
to degrees Celsius (°C) using the ESRT. 
 
Wind direction​​ is measured by where the wind originates. The stick of the station models points in the direction 
of where the wind comes from. The flags on the stick approximate the speed of the wind, a short flag: 5 knots, 
a long flag 10 knots and triangle is 50 knots. A knot equals 1.85km/hr or 1.2 mph 
 
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Cloud Cover​​ is determined by how much of the visible sky is filled with clouds. It does not matter which side is 
shaded.  

 
 
Precipitation​​ may fall to the earth in many different forms. The form is indicated by a symbol shown below. The 
water equivalent (the water or melted form of the precipitation) for the last three hours is reported in the 
station model using inches. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Example #1 
Wind direction? _________________ 
Wind speed? __________________ 
What is the temperature? _______˚F ________ ˚C 
(use the conversion chart in the reference tables) 
What is the dew point? _______˚F ________ ˚C 
What is the present barometer reading at this station?____________ 
Is the barometer higher or lower than it was 3 hours ago? ____________ 
How much has the barometer changed in the last three hours?___________ 
What was the barometer reading 3 hours ago? ___________ 
What is the barometer doing NOW (rising or falling)?_____________ 
 
 
Example #2 
Wind direction? _________________  
Wind speed? __________________ 
What is the temperature? _______˚F ________ ˚C 
What is the dew point? _______˚F ________ ˚C 
What is the present barometer reading at this station?____________ 
Is the barometer higher or lower than it was 3 hours ago? ____________ 
How much has the barometer changed in the last three hours?___________ 
What was the barometer reading 3 hours ago? ___________ 
What is the barometric trend here?_____________ 
What is the relative humidity of the air at this station? _____________  
(This is a little tricky - you'll need to use both charts on page 12 of the ESRT. Use the Dewpoint Chart 
first, and work 'backwards' to find the difference between the dry bulb and the wet bulb. Use that information 
to find the RH on the Relative Humidity chart) 
 
Example #3 
Draw a station model below indicating the following conditions. 
Overcast skies, Temperature is 78oF, dew point of 74oF, 
barometer 3 hours ago 1003.6 mb, now 1000.1mb and falling.  
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Wind NNE* at 20 knots, visibility one half mile, light rain falling.  
Enter only the information that is used on an official station model  
(for instance, record only the numerical part of the temperature - not the °F label!) 
*Remember: Winds are named for ​where they come from​. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Part 2: 
Using the station models below, decode the weather conditions and record the information displayed in the 
following table:  
 

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Part 3 
In the chart below, you find meteorological data that was taken at several different New York State 
airports. Use this data to create station models for each citylisted in the table. 
 

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Part 4 
The image to the right is part of an actual synoptic 
weather map of the US from 11 March, 2003. It 
shows Texas and New Mexico, and parts of the 
surrounding states, Mexico, and the Gulf of Mexico. 
The stations have been labeled A​ -Gf ​ or the 
purposes of this exercise. 
 
1) Which station is reporting the lowest temperature? __________ 
What is that temperature?_________ 
2) Which station is reporting the highest dewpoint?________  
What is that dewpoint?_________ 
3) Which station is reporting the highest air pressure?________  
What is that pressure?_________ 
4) Which station is reporting the lowest air pressure?________  
What is that pressure?_________ 
5) Which station probably has the highest relative humidity?_________ How do you know? 
___________________________________________________________________________________ 
___________________________________________________________________________________ 
6) Where is the air at that station coming from?_______________ 
Which station is probably in the driest air mass?_________How do you know?___________________ 
___________________________________________________________________________________ 
___________________________________________________________________________________ 
7) Where is the air at that station coming from?_______________ 
Consider the answers to the last 4 questions above, and make a clear, thoughtful statement about relative 
humidity of air masses that form over water and air masses that form over land. 
_________________________________________________________________________________ 

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