Geopotential height Temperature at 100 hPa

Geopotential height at 100 hPa (solid line)
Temperature at 100 hPa (colored, dashed)

The maps show the predominant tropospheric waves (trough or ridge). They virtually control the ''weather'' (dry, warm / wet, cold) and the long waves drive the smaller synoptic waves. Thus, this upper-level chart illustrates the dynamics of our atmosphere.