A Synthesis of Interpretations of Extratropical Vortex Patterns as Seen

An attempt is made to integrate the existing knowledge, from some 28 published sources, with regard to the iiitcrprctatioii of satellite observed cloud vortex patterns. It is found that the inodel proposed by Boucher and Newcoiiib is gciicrdly valid, although certain elaborations seem reasonable. Characteristics of cloud patterns indiccttive of troughs riLther than closed Lows have been determiired by Rogcrs. It is found tha t information conceriiiiig pressure center positions, pressure departures from normal, future system inovciiiciit, frontal positions, air iiinss conditions, surfitce and upper-level winds, and precipitation can often be deduced froin the cloud patterns visible ill the satellite pictures.