Question

(Meteorology)

Hi, I'm a little confused on this problem. Some explanation would be appreciated.

a. "is" / "is not"

b. "in Northern California, Oregon, and Washington" / "in Arizona and extreme Southern California" / "in both of these locations"

c. "Convection" / "Frontal Lifting"

d. "Is not likely" / "is Likely"

e. "South-Central Arizona" / "Southern Tennessee, Northern Mississippi, and Northwestern Alabama"

The weather map below shows the weather conditions, fronts, and precipitation across the United States for 0300UTC (7pm Pacific Time) on Thursday, February 21, 2019. 03Z 22 FEB 2019 Isobors. Fronts. Radar & Doto 1020 Fronts at 00Z 106 1016 10084 18 245 202 2 H 212 248 8 2796 4 /253 1020 26 15 16 TOS9 159 153 14 279 20 262 45f57 19 10 15 195 32 28 268 1016 32 19 257 US5 28. 24 54 1000%1008 $51 DBZ 230 37 TIG8 30 1016 75 70 37 213 12 4624 55 052 44 4741 05 40 170 4.1 41/209 363053 205 55 50 48 E6 044 5 075 71 173 69 36 200 50 69 20 79 712 1012 62 09 71 100B ND 1016 100 1004 NATIONAL 2 KM BASE REFLECT 0.00 DEG Isobars (4 mb) Blue NCEP/NWS/NOAA A large, organized band of precipitation associated with the cold front over Arizona. On the other hand, precipitation is present .The precipitation in this area is likely caused by . Furthermore, another large mass of rainfall, located in Central Atlantic region (Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia caused by the area's proximity to the Appalachian mountains (in addition to the nearby stationary front). The strongest precipitation, indicated with red shadings in the irregular blue-green-yellow-red precipitation shadings is likely around

Thank you!

Answer 1

Let us start with a few basic things regarding interpreting weather charts.

As mentioned, the blue line indicates the isobars (lines of constant pressure) drawn at a difference of 4mb. The lows and highs are indicated with L and H respectively. You can also see few dashed red lines, which are also isobars but for lower pressures.

Next comes fronts. The blue line with triangles on them indicate a cold front. The red line with semi circles on them indicate warm front. You will also find lines with both red semi circles and blue triangles facing in opposite direction; it indicates stationary front.

Lastly comes the RADAR reflectivity factor measured in logarithmic scale in dBz indicated by colours and number ranges in the left side of your map. In easy words, it helps to detect cloud clusters and using the Marshall-Palmer relation, you can also determine the amount of rainfall.

Now, coming to your question:

A large organised band of precipitation is likely associated with cold front over Arizona. On the other hand, precipitation is present in Arizona and extreme Southern California . The precipitation in this area is likely caused by Frontal Lifting ( the cold front associated with colder air mass is steeper and forces the warm air to rise and eventually produce rainfall). Furthermore, another large mass of rainfall, located in Central Atlantic region (Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia) is likely caused by the area's proximity to the Appalachian Mountains (in addition to nearby stationary front). The strongest precipitation with red shadings in the irregular blue-green-yellow-red precipitation shadings is likely around Southern Tennessee, Northern Mississippi, and Northwestern Alabama.

[I choose to go with this option in d because of greater presence of cloud clusters in that region].