synoptic meteorology

Synoptic meteorology is a branch of meteorology focused on diagnosing, studying, and forecasting weather. It utilizes synoptic weather observations and charts to achieve these goals. The core concept of synoptic meteorology involves characterizing the weather over a large region at a specific time to organize information about prevailing conditions.12

This approach relies on simultaneous observations plotted on a map for a broad area, providing a general view of the weather. The term "synoptic" itself comes from a Greek word meaning "general or comprehensive view". The synoptic weather map became a primary tool for meteorologists in the 19th century and continues to be used today in weather stations and reports. The establishment of weather-station networks and services, facilitated by telegraphy, made synoptic forecasting a reality by the late 19th century.23