Composite Map I (Upper Air)
Reference: Graphical Guidance (1994) pp. 18-33
The Composite Map I (4 panels)
Some Uses of this Map
Jet Maxes: 850 jets are considered a low
level jet (LLJ) and might indicate strong areas of low level warm
advection, moisture advection, and wind shear. Strong jets at
all levels might indicate strong wind shear in a region and the
potential for severe storms, given all the other elements are in
place
700 to 500 lapse ratesComposite Map II shows
this better. However..using these two panels of Composite I, a forecaster
can see how the lapse rates may also change.
Mid Level warm or cold advection: This might
allow one to find areas where lapse rates will either steepen (become
greater) or lessen, areas where there is strong mid level cold advection
helping destabalize the atmosphere, or areas of warm advection which
might help stablize the atmoshpere and increase the strength of a cap
that might be in place. This may also allow you to figure out if
a low, or wave, is strengthening or weakening. Strong Cold Advection
on the backside of a wave indicates that heights will fall and allow
for the wave to continue to dig, or strengthen.
The Upper Air Help Page
The Upper Air Page
