FIGURE1 A weather map that you might see in digital and printed resources
Cold front advancing from west to east — towards southern Australia. Note how the isobars behind it are close together, indicating strong winds.
Shading indicates rain fell in the previous 24 hours.
Greater distance between isobars indicates wind is weaker in these regions.
Darwin
LOW
Townsville
High pressure system. Note how the isobar is joining points with an atmospheric
HIGH
pressure of 1016 (higher than 1013 average).
Brisbane
HIGH
HIGH
Perth
Adelaide
LOW
Sydney
Canberra
Melbourne
The cold front that has just passed over Melbourne has brought unsettled, rainy weather
LOW
Hobart
behind it. More rainy weather is
likely for Melbourne when the cold front coming towards it from the west gets closer.
0
500
1000 km
1020
Isobar (value in hectopascal)
MELBOURNE
Cold front
Rainfall in previous 24 hours
Warm front
NOON
Trough
Low pressure system. Note
Warm front advancing from west to east behind the cold front. Note the lower atmospheric readings on the isobars.
Typical weather map
how the isobar is joining points with an atmospheric pressure of 992 (lower than the 1013 average).
weather are the low pressure system south of it, the high pressure system to the north-west, and the cold fronts to the west and east.
Source: MAPgraphics Pty Ltd, Brisbane
How are weather maps useful for decision making? Understanding weather is crucial. Weather impacts everyone’s lives. Reading weather maps helps you anticipate upcoming conditions. Farmers, tourists and emergency services all rely on forecasts for making decisions with respect to planning and safety. Today, meteorologists predict weather more accurately using satellite images, radar, weather balloons, automatic stations, ships and aircraft. 8.4.2 Showme How to interpret a weather map You will need: • a weather map • a key to interpret the weather map symbols.
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 7 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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