Nephanalysis

 ( Synoptic Meteorology And Weather ) 

A nephanalysis or neph chart is a type of synoptic chart plotting the types and amount of clouds and precipitation. Nephanalyses may map cloud cover, the altitudes of , or , incorporating data from surface, aerial, and satellite observations. The earliest nephanalyses were based on cloud reports from surface weather stations and were used to study the structure of . Satellite observations largely supplanted surface observations for most applications of nephanalysis after 1960, though surface reports remained critical for information relating to . The first satellite-based nephanalyses were hand-drawn based on a meteorologist's interpretation of images largely taken in visible light. Nephanalyses based on infrared satellite imagery and automated analyses later emerged as data weather satellites became increasingly abundant.

A nephanalysis can be used to avoid hazardous weather areas, by preparing routes for cruises, and to locate good fishing areas.National Weather Service. Nephanalysis. Retrieved on 2008-01-22. This technique is rarely performed in modern forecasting, due to the prevalence of worldwide satellite imagery.AEROGRAPHER'S MATE 1&C. SHORT-RANGE EXTRAPOLATION. Retrieved on 2008-01-22.