Isobars make it easier to read weather maps.
Isobars are lines of repeating or equal pressure on a weather map. They can be used to find areas of low or high pressure over a big area (like America), and they can tell us how intense the system may be. On weather maps, you may have noticed areas that have a large "L" or "H" over a area with lines circling around them. The "L" stands for low pressure (where we would think to find the lowest pressure) and "H" stands for high pressure (where we would expect to find the highest pressure). The lines circling around them are isobars. Usually the lowest pressure is where rain is most likely to fall, and high pressures are usually connected with clear and sunny conditions. Where the isobars are close together, windy conditions may be expected. Long areas of low pressure on surface and upper air weather maps are called "troughs" and long areas of high pressure are called "ridges."
Isobars are lines of repeating or equal pressure on a weather map. They can be used to find areas of low or high pressure over a big area (like America), and they can tell us how intense the system may be. On weather maps, you may have noticed areas that have a large "L" or "H" over a area with lines circling around them. The "L" stands for low pressure (where we would think to find the lowest pressure) and "H" stands for high pressure (where we would expect to find the highest pressure). The lines circling around them are isobars. Usually the lowest pressure is where rain is most likely to fall, and high pressures are usually connected with clear and sunny conditions. Where the isobars are close together, windy conditions may be expected. Long areas of low pressure on surface and upper air weather maps are called "troughs" and long areas of high pressure are called "ridges."