Question about height contours

[Tom Mull]

I know that the height contours on the various weather maps show the actual height of the given pressure level. What I can't seem to do is figure how this information is useful in forecasting the weather. I have not seen anything that tells me how to apply that information to forecasting. Does anybody have an explanation of how height contours are used or refer me to a good discussion? Thanks.

 

[James Langford]

Here you go! Great info, but I have to be honest that a lot of it was tough for me to understand. Some of the height contour stuff did sink in a little:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ylyYh1AZ8k

 

[Robert Edmonds]

Winds in geostrophic balance follow these lines (i.e. pressure gradient is balanced with coriolis), and travels faster when the lines bunch together. Wind is not in perfect geostrophic balance due to there being other forces like friction or buoyancy that can become important.

 

[NealRasmussen]

I know that the height contours on the various weather maps show the actual height of the given pressure level. What I can't seem to do is figure how this information is useful in forecasting the weather. I have not seen anything that tells me how to apply that information to forecasting. Does anybody have an explanation of how height contours are used or refer me to a good discussion? Thanks.