Synoptic Analysis and Forecasting

Synoptic Analysis and Forecasting: An Introductory Toolkit provides the bridge between the introductory fundamentals of a meteorology course and advanced synoptic-dynamic analysis for undergraduate students. It helps students to understand the principles of weather analysis, which will complement computer forecast models. This valuable reference also imparts qualitative weather analysis and forecasting tools and techniques to non-meteorologist end users, such as emergency/disaster managers, aviation experts, and environmental health and safety experts who need to have a foundational knowledge of weather forecasting.

• Presents the fundamentals of weather analysis and forecasting
• Offers clear accessible writing aimed at students from a variety of mathematical backgrounds
• Discusses the reading and interpretation of surface observations and METAR code, processes associated with the motion and intensity of cyclones and anticyclones, and quantitative and/or qualitative diagnosis of processes associated with ascent and descent

Second- and third-year undergraduate meteorology students; first-year graduate students with an undergraduate degree in a field other than meteorology; professional meteorological users (e.g., broadcast weather presenters, pilots, dispatchers, emergency managers, environmental/air quality experts)

1. Meteorological Conventions
   2. Surface Observations and Instrumentation
   3. METAR code
   4. Upper-air Observations
   5. Upper-tropospheric Charts
   6. Lower-tropospheric Charts
   7. Upper-tropospheric Processes
   8. Lower-tropospheric Processes
   9. Putting It All Together
   10. Fronts and Drylines
   11. Satellite Imagery
   12. Radar Imagery
   13. Thermodynamic Diagrams Basics
   14. Thermodynamic Diagrams Interpretation
   15. Weather Forecasting Basics