Basic Question about Weather Charts

[Tom Mull]

I have been looking at the NWS Standard Barotropic Level Fax Charts, specifically the 200 mb height/isotach chart. I am having trouble figuring out what all the lines represent. So my first question is, where I can find a chart legend for each level?

On the 200b chart, I believe that the solid lines are constant height lines. Is that correct? Then there are two sets of dashed lines, a medium weigh dashed line and a thin dashed line. The medium weight line has labels of -50, -45, etc. Are these isotherm lines of constant temperature? The thin lines do not seem to have any identification. What are they indicating?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Bob Schafer]

Yeah, the solid lines are heights, in deca(?)meters. e.g. 176=17600 meters. You are also right about the temps (c). The thin lines are indicating wind speeds, i.e. winds within one region (between lines) are similar speeds.

 

[John Olexa]

Thanks for answering Bob, I was like " dang if I know!" LOL That was more than a basic question to me!!

 

[Bob Schafer]

It is so rare that I actually know an answer that I jump on it when I do know an answer.

 

[Tom Mull]

Bob,

Thanks for the info.