Powerpoint Grade 12 Synoptic Weather Maps
Powerpoint Grade 12 Synoptic Weather Maps
GEOGRAPHY
GRADE 12
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
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
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
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