8.1. Review of Surface Station Models#
SURFACE STATION MODEL#
Fig. 8.1 This is the example station model, each element is described below.#
ff is the “flag”. It represents the wind speed. A half stick represents 5 kts, a full stick is 10 kts, and a filled in triangle is 50 kts.
dd is the wind direction. It always points in the direction FROM which the wind is blowing
TT is the temperature. In the United States it is typically in °F while in every other part of the world it typically is °C (Assume °F unless otherwise specified for this class.)
VV is the visibility in statute miles.
ww is the present weather condition. This is typically a symbol. Please see later portions of this hand out for what these symbols are.
TdTd is the dewpoint temperature. It follows the same unit convention as the temperature.
PPP is the sea-level pressure to the nearest tenth of a unit. The units are typically hectopascals (hPa), which is equivalent to millibars (mb). You need to add either a 10 or a 9 to the front end of this given number (whichever beings the pressure closer to 1000).
pp is the pressure tendency over the previous 3 hours given in tenths of a unit. Typically a “slash” is present as well indicating if the pressure is rising (/) or falling (\).
N is the sky cover in oktas (eighths).
Clear = A circle with nothing in it.
1 Okta = A circle with a single vertical line in the middle
2 Oktas = A circle with the upper right quadrant filled in.
3 Oktas = A circle with a single vertical line in the middle AND the upper right quadrant filled in.
4 Oktas = A circle with the right half filled in
5 Oktas = A circle with a single horizontal line in the middle AND the right half filled in.
6 Oktas = A circle with the right half and bottom right quadrant filled in.
7 Oktas = A circle that is filled in EXCEPT a single vertical line in the middle.
8 Oktas = A circle that is filled in completely.
Obscured Sky = A circle with an X in it.
Please note that this is not all-inclusive. There is additional information that can be displayed on a surface station plot; however, this covers the basics.