Upper Air Charts

By Tom Collow
November 8, 2010
 Reading Upper Air Charts
Wind direction and
speed (knots)
Temperature
(C)
Height

Dewpoint Depression
(C)
Temperature, dewpoint depression, wind speed, and wind direction
are read the same on the charts for every level. The circle is filled
in for a dewpoint depression less than 5C.

However, there are different procedures for reading the height

value depending on what level chart you are looking at.

The methods shown are those followed by the National Weather

Service. Some agencies use different formats so be sure to check
to see if you are using the correct procedure.
 Types of Contours
Isobar line of constant pressure
(These do not exist on a constant
pressure chart)
Isoheight/Isohyspe = line of constant
height on a constant pressure chart
Isotherm = line of constant
temperature
Isotach = line of constant wind speed
 850 mb
To find the actual height place a 1 in front of
the three digit number on the plot.
Ex. If the plot has 532, then the height is 1532 m.
The 850 mb temperature is often used as a
guide in precipitation type during winter storms.
850 mb. Temperature > 0C = Rain
850 mb. Temperature < 0C = Snow
The pattern of troughs and ridges is not well
defined at this level.
850 mb data does not exist for parts of the
western United States. Why?
Some locations in the Rocky Mountains have an
elevation above that of the 850 mb level.
Sample 850 mb Map from 12 UTC

0C Isotherm
Low
Pressure
System

0C
Isotherm

High
Pressure
System
 700 mb
To find the actual height place a 2 or 3 in front
of the three digit number on the plot.
Add 2 if number is between 500 and 999
Add 3 If number is between 000 and 499
Or another way is to add whichever number brings
the actual height closer to 3000 m.
Ex. If the plot has 148, then the height is 3148 m.
Ex. If the plot has 894, then the height is 2894 m.
Troughs and ridges begin to become better defined.
Dewpoint depressions at this level, as well as at the
850 mb level, give meteorologists an idea of the
depth of the moisture layer. This is important for
precipitation and severe weather forecasting.
Sample 700 mb Map from 12 UTC

Ridge Low
Trough dewpoint
depression
s

High
dewpoint
depressions
 500 mb
To find the actual height, add a 0 to the end of
the three digit number on the chart
Troughs and ridges are well defined at 500 mb
The 500 mb height is the height at which half
the mass of the atmosphere is below and half
the mass is above
The 500 mb height gives a good estimate of the
mean atmospheric flow
Vorticity is another important variable measured
at 500 mb. Vorticity is the measure of the
rotation of air horizontally.
Positive vorticity leads to upward vertical motion
which leads to precipitation and clouds
Sample 500 mb map from 12 UTC
today

Shortwave

Trough Ridge
Closed low

Regions of positive vorticity are

shaded
 300 mb and 200 mb
To find the height on a 300 mb map, follow
the same procedure as on a 500 mb map
For a 200 mb map, add a 1 to the front
of the three digit number and a 0 at the
end
Ex. A chart value of 220 means a height of 12200 m.
Jet streams are found at these levels
The jet streak is a region of maximum winds within a jet
stream.
The jet stream is usually a divider of temperature. It is
warmer to the south of the jet stream and colder to the
north
Sample 300 mb map from 12 UTC
today

Jet Streak

Jet
Streak

Wind speeds are shaded

Sample 200 mb map from 12 UTC
today

Jet Streak
Low still closed
at 200 mb

Jet Streak

Wind speeds are shaded