What are the different Synoptic charts?
There are two types of synoptic charts on the website. There is one analysis chart and six forecast charts.Analysis Chart The analysis chart represents the current state of the atmosphere over Australia at any given time. The time stamp is located in the bottom right corner of the chart. This chart is updated four times per day at 4am, 10am, 4pm and 7pm. The main purpose of this chart is to reflect the current pressure pattern over Australia. The white lines overlayed onto the map are called isobars, which connect points of equal pressure. Wind flows roughly parallel to these isobars. Air flows in a clockwise direction around a low pressure system (represented by the symbol L) and anticlockwise around a high pressure system (represented by an H). The number below these symbols indicates the central pressure of these systems, measured in hectopascals (hPa). As a general rule, the spacing of the isobars in relation to one another reflects the strength of the surface winds, i.e. the close
