Weather map
A map displaying observed or forecast atmospheric conditions, including pressure, fronts, precipitation, temperature, and wind.
Isobar: A line connecting locations with equal atmospheric pressure. Isobars reveal pressure patterns and help locate highs, lows, and pressure gradients.
Weather observation: A measurement or report of atmospheric conditions at a particular time and place. Surface maps plot observations gathered by stations, ships, aircraft, and other instruments.
Surface weather analysis: A map-based analysis of near-surface pressure systems, fronts, and weather observations. It is the classic map for tracking fronts and surface cyclones.
Weather satellite image: An image of Earth and its atmosphere captured by a weather satellite. Satellite images depict cloud and atmospheric patterns rather than plotting them primarily as chart symbols.
Weather front: A boundary separating air masses with different temperature and moisture characteristics. Front symbols mark boundaries associated with changing weather and precipitation.
Weather station: A site equipped to measure atmospheric conditions over time. Station networks supply many of the measurements plotted on surface weather maps.
Upper-air chart: A map of atmospheric conditions at a specified pressure level above Earth's surface. Upper-air charts show steering winds and disturbances that shape surface weather.
Climate map: A map showing long-term patterns or averages of climate variables. Climate maps summarize long-term conditions, unlike weather maps of current or forecast states.
Station model: A compact graphical format for plotting weather observations at a location. Station models place temperature, wind, pressure, and cloud observations directly on maps.
Weather analysis: The process of estimating the atmosphere's state from observations and other evidence. Analysis turns scattered measurements into coherent fields and boundaries.