Relative topography

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Altitude weather map for the 500 hPa isobar surface, source: Deutscher Wetterdienst

Relative topography , abbreviated to RETOP , is the representation of the height differences or the layer thickness between two areas of the same air pressure ( isobars ) in the earth's atmosphere over a certain geographical area.

This representation is based on lines of the same geopotential height , the isohypses , in an altitude weather map . Let me tell you about the connection between the barometric formula and the altitude

  • Centers with a high layer thickness (usually marked with “W” for “warm” in German-language altitude weather maps) identify areas with a relatively high mean air temperature .
  • Centers with a small layer thickness (usually marked with “K” for “cold” in German-language altitude weather maps) identify areas with a relatively low mean air temperature.

From this information, the direction and speed of thermal winds can be calculated, which are also shown on altitude weather maps.

Maps for the relative topography between the 500 hPa isobar area and the 1000 hPa isobar area are most frequently used , which, depending on the framework conditions, corresponds to an air layer between a good 5000 meters above sea level and close to the ground. However, other isobaric surfaces can also be considered, depending on the intended use.

Web links