Which feature is commonly shown on a surface analysis chart?

• A. Local weather only at the airports.
• B. Areas of high and low pressure, fronts, temperatures, dewpoints, wind directions and speeds.
• C. Vertical wind shear aloft.
• D. Radio navigation frequencies.

Answer: (B)

Surface analysis charts map weather at the Earth's surface and show how pressure, temperature, moisture, and wind are arranged across a region. They depict areas of high and low pressure, frontal boundaries, surface temperatures, dew points, and the wind at the surface (direction and speed) using station models and wind barbs. This combination lets you see how air masses and fronts are interacting right at ground level and how that translates into wind and moisture patterns.

Local weather at airports isn’t the only thing shown; these charts include observations from many surface stations, not just airports. Vertical wind shear aloft is an upper-level feature, typically shown on wind-aloft or upper-air charts, not on a surface analysis. Radio navigation frequencies aren’t weather features and aren’t part of surface weather charts.