1. Education

An Introduction to Weather Map Symbols and Terminology

From , former About.com Guide

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The Tools of Meteorologists - Weather Map Symbols and Terminology
Historic Weather Map

Most meteorologists drew weather maps by hand before the advent of computer generated maps.

NOAA Photolibrary
Background:The purpose of a weather map is to give a graphical or pictorial image of weather to a meteorologist. As a forecasting tool, weather maps allow a meteorologist to see what is happening in the atmosphere at virtually any location on earth. Complex three-dimensional models of weather systems can be made by collecting weather data at multiple levels in the atmosphere. Computers then compile that information to produce the pictures that weather scientists analyze. In the early days of meteorology, these pictures were all drawn by hand!

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