Help plotting isobars on weather map!?

Question

I'm in meteorology class in high school and we have to plot isobars on a weather map in terms of inches of mercury (ALT). How do I go about plotting these isobars? I know that you draw lines that are .08 apart. Please help!

But how do I connect the plots? How do I draw the curves?

Answer 1

Figure out what your range of pressures is first and what the values of the isobars will be. Then, draw the lines so that pressures greater than the value for the isobar all fall on one side of the line and values smaller than the value for isobar fall on the other. Try to make them as smooth as possible. Also, remember that two isobars can never cross, because that would mean that the place where they crossed had two different pressures, which is impossible.

Answer 2

If you are in meteorology class, it surprises me that you are not using hectoPascals. Millibars were the unit in the centimetre/gram metric system. In the world standard system which uses metres and kilograms, the unit is the hectoPascal. The actual figure is the same as millibars so it was unnecessary to change all the altimeters in aeroplanes. The only people who use inches of mercury are the general public in the USA, no meteorologist does. Look at the chart. The observations will be plotted on it with pressures in the upper right corner. Below that there could be pressure differences such as +07 or -06. Look at the satellite picture and the previous chart. Determine where your fronts are. The previous chart, the satellite image and the isallobars (pressure differences) will show you.(Pressures fall as a front approaches and rise behind it). Plot your fronts, first estimate anyway. Look at the range of pressures on the chart. Choose one that is near the middle 1000hPa is likely. Draw the isobar so that all pressures lower than that are to one side and all pressures higher are on the other side. If the isobar crosses the front don't forget the sharp change of direction. Draw other isobars at 4hPa intervals and then, if you need them, draw the 2hPa isobars. It takes practice but you can do it. I'm an operational meteorologist and draw charts every day.

Answer 3

When you look at weather maps for the same day but from different origins, you'll notice that some will have a H or a L where the other one has not. That is the art of the meteorologist who has to read data samplings and draw something that makes sense. I don't think there are special rules other than the feeling and experience of the meteorologist.

Answer 4

You've alreadt plotted the points.....

now join them with nice smooth curves