GEOL 3378: Introduction to Atmospheric Science
Course instructor:
Dr. Jim Lawrence,
Dept of Geosciences,
UofH
EXERCISE #11
Due November 15, 2002
Obtain a 850 mb and a 500 mb height map from the
drawer at the north end of the hall on the third floor of Science and Research
Building #1. These maps show contours of the height of 850 and 500 mb in the
atmosphere on April 1, 1997. The large depression on the 850 mb map is the
center of the storm which produced heavy snowfall in the NE US. A depression
(trough or valley) also shows on the 500 mb map. The winds follow the contours
as is indicated by the wind indicators which point into the wind. Note the
directions of wind flow in the two maps. Your assignment is to make a three
dimensional model of each map by cutting thin pieces of cardboard, stacking
them and gluing them together. Your bottom piece of cardboard will be one
flat piece the size of the map. The next piece will have the lowests height
cut away. The piece after that will have the next lowest height cut away,
etc. You will find a detailed description of upper air plots at http://weather.unisys.com/upper_air/details.html
.