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Powerpoint Grade 12 Synoptic Weather Maps

This document discusses synoptic weather maps, including what they show, key features like fronts and pressure systems, common map symbols, and how to interpret weather conditions from the maps. It also provides examples of station models and how to read them, explains various weather systems like mid-latitude cyclones and tropical cyclones, and discusses regional weather phenomena in South Africa like berg winds.
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100% found this document useful (1 vote)
2K views24 pages

Powerpoint Grade 12 Synoptic Weather Maps

This document discusses synoptic weather maps, including what they show, key features like fronts and pressure systems, common map symbols, and how to interpret weather conditions from the maps. It also provides examples of station models and how to read them, explains various weather systems like mid-latitude cyclones and tropical cyclones, and discusses regional weather phenomena in South Africa like berg winds.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A joint initiative between the Western Cape Education Department and Stellenbosch University.

GEOGRAPHY
GRADE 12

SYNOPTIC WEATHER MAPS


What is a
Synoptic
Weather Map?
What is a Synoptic Weather Map?
The word 'synoptic' simply means a summary of the current
situation. In weather terms, this means the pressure pattern,
fronts, wind direction and speed and how they will change and
evolve over the coming few days.

A Synoptic weather map


shows weather conditions at
a particular time with
different conditions and
features with special
synoptic chart symbols
Isobar: pressure at all places Clockwise: movement
High along this line is 1008hPa around low pressure (SH)
Pressure
Low
Tropical
Pressure
cyclone:
Elene 5th
CHARACTERISTICS

Coastal low:
Develops Isobar
along west interval
coast, moves Pressure
southwards difference
between 2
consecutive
South isobars
Atlantic HP
Anti-clockwise South Indian
HP

Cold front moves Weather conditions at PE: Air temp 25ºC; Dew point 18ºC;
west to east Cloud cover ½; Wind direction SW; Wind speed 25 knots
Station Model and Key
STATION MODELS
Complete the table. YOU MUST BE ABLE TO INTERPRET SYMBOLS

Air temp
Dewpoint temp
Cloud cover
Wind direction
Wind speed
Weather
SUMMER WINTER

• Date • Date
• High air temperatures • Low temp air temperatures
• Moisture front • Interior cloudless
• Thunderstorms over interior • Kalahari HP cell present
• Tropical cyclone • Cold fronts close to/over country
• Absence of Kalahari HP • Rain over Southwestern Cape
• Cold fronts passing south of country
Application
Grade 12
NSC QUESTION Refer to the sketch below of a synoptic weather map. Complete
NOVEMBER 2023 the statements in COLUMN A with the options in COLUMN B



FACTORS - TEMPERATURE

East coast warmer - influence of ocean currents on temperature


APPLICATION Role of oceans in climate control Steep Pressure gradient

LP
Clockwise

Easterlies
Sub-polar
Low
Pressure

Westerlies

HP
Sub-tropical High Pressure Anti-
clockwise
Identification on synoptic weather maps and satellite images:
• Identification of stages of development on synoptic weather maps
• Impact of South Indian High and South Atlantic High on movement of the
cyclone
• Reading and interpretation of weather symbols, predicted weather impact
MID-LATITUDE CYCLONE Cold front Clockwise rotation

Circular
isobars Warm
Cold sector sector

Low
pressure

Warm front
Occlusion
CROSS SECTIONS

Cold front occlusion Warm front occlusion


Weather
Changes:
Cold Front

NB Reasons for weather


changes “Explain why”
questions. Qualifier
Changes Reasons
Temperature drops Cold air behind front
Wind changes from NW to SW (Backing) Air around LP rotates in clockwise direction
Cloud cover increases Upliftment of warm air cools, condenses
Rainfall / Thunder showers Increase in Cumulonimbus clouds
Pressure drops, then rises Pressure rises as cold air arrive
MID-LATITUDE CYCLONE Weather changes - Satellite image

W Movement of cyclone E

•NW-wind
•High temp
•Few/no clouds
•SW-wind •No precipitation
•Low temp •Pressure drops
•High cloud cover
•Precipitation
•Pressure rises

LP
TROPICAL CYCLONES Clockwise circulation (SH) Symbol in SH Name - 5th

Location

Wind speed

Stage NB Lowest air pressure Steep pressure gradient


NSC QUESTION
NOVEMBER 2023

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MARKING

Draw a sketch of a tropical cyclone in its mature stage as (i) Pressure reading at centre of eye
represented on a synoptic weather map. Indicate the must not be more than 988
following on (range 950-988 )(1)
the sketch:
(i) Air pressure reading at the centre of the tropical (ii) 4 isobars where the steepest gradient
cyclone is in the forward left- hand
(ii) At least four isobars indicating the correct spacing quadrant (1)
(iii) Symbol to represent the tropical cyclone
(iii) correct symbol showing the southern
hemisphere (1)
SUBTROPICAL ANTICYCLONES
Line Thunderstorms
Check the following:
• Two HP systems (names)
• Wind circulation
• Winds meeting at moisture
front
• Cloud cover
• Area of thunderstorms
• Why east of Moisture front?
HP in Interior
SOUTH AFRICAN BERGWIND

Winds blow
Higher
from HP to LP
temperatures
Down
escarpment
Heated

LP at coast
NSC QUESTION Refer to the sketches Name the high-pressure cell and low-
NOVEMBER 2023 below on berg winds. pressure cell indicated on the sketch
map that leads to the development of
berg winds.
Kalahari high Coastal low
Which sketch (A or B) represents
the formation of berg winds?
Give a reason for your answer
B Air from the interior (KHPC)
descends down the escarpment
Explain why cloudless conditions
are indicated by the station model
at X on the sketch map.
• Air descending the escarpment
is offshore hence dry
• Descending air heats up
resulting in no condensation
hence cloudless conditions

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