Introduction
Display current surface fronts and high and low pressure centers
In this topic, you learn how to display areas of high and low pressure in conjunction with current surface fronts.
We estimate that this will take 3 minutes to complete.
Detailed Explanation
Surface fronts and high and low pressure centers
You can view high and low pressure centers together with current surface fronts to obtain a better idea of storm movement or the arrival of calmer and clearer weather.
Low pressure centers mark the epicenter of storms (air rising and moving along the surface). Surface high pressure centers follow behind the low pressure storms bringing in calm and clear weather (air descending).
N-Tracking displays different surface fronts on the map using different colors and symbols.
indicates a cold front, a zone separating two air masses, of which the cooler, denser mass is advancing and replacing warmer air.
indicates a warm front, a transition zone between a mass of warm air and the cold air it replaces.
indicates an occluded front, which is a composite of two fronts formed as a cold front overtakes a warm front. Two types of occlusions can form: a cold occlusion, where the cold air is behind the cold front and a warm occlusion, where the coldest air is ahead of the warm front.
indicates a trough, an area of relatively low atmospheric pressure. This is the opposite of a ridge.
indicates a stationary front, a front between a warm and cold air mass that is moving very slowly.
In this example, the map is focused on the western U.S. coast and the Sigmets and Radar US weather layers are already active.
To view high and low pressure centers, enable the additional weather layers.
Click the Layers button.
Click the BASIC tab.
Scroll down in the list of weather layers.
Click the Current Surface Fronts slider.
The Current Surface Fronts layer displays fronts and troughs and is updated every three hours.
A blue line represents a cold front.
A red line indicates a warm front.
A purple line indicates an occluded front.
Optionally, enable the High and low pressure centers slider to display those centers.
Click the High and low pressure centers slider.
A blue letter H indicates a center of high pressure.
A red letter L indicates a center of low pressure.
Click the Zoom in (+) button.
As with other weather layers, hovering your mouse over a weather feature (such as the highlighted warm front) causes detailed information to display.
SUCCESS
Congratulations! You have successfully displayed active surface fronts and high and low pressure centers on the map, using different weather layers.