Student Pages - Lesson 5 - Activity 4: Highs, Lows, and Isobars
In Activity 4, you will add isobar lines and pressure systems to your weather map. You can study a weather map and notice immediately if an area of the country is experiencing a high or low pressure system. Low pressure systems generally create cloudy, stormy weather and High pressure areas generally create fair weather. An easy way to remember this is L = Low = Lousy, and H = High = Happy.
1. Now that you understand high and low pressure systems, use the internet to collect data for the 13 weather stations. Remember to use the appropriate symbols for highs (H and the color blue) and lows (L and the color red) and for the isobar lines on your weather map.
Use the link below to gather real-time weather data for highs and lows for the 13 weather stations.
- http://weather.unisys.com/surface/meteogram/index.html
- http://weather.unisys.com/surface/meteogram/details.html
- http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/synoptic/wxmaps.htm Review of symbols and their meanings.
- Collect your data and add the high and low pressure data to your weather map.
- Add the isobar lines on your weather map to connect any stations that report the same barometric readings.
- Record your data in your spread sheet as you collect it.
- As a group, discuss the areas of that are under low or high pressure influence.
2. In your journal, write a traveler's advisory report. It should indicate to the public areas that are safe to travel in and which areas they should avoid. Be prepared to share your report with the class.
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