What is a weather depiction chart?

A weather depiction chart is a visual representation of current weather conditions across a geographic area, primarily based on METAR reports. METAR stands for Meteorological Aerodrome Report, which provides standardized observations of air temperature, dew point, wind direction and speed, visibility, and various weather phenomena like precipitation and cloud cover at airports and meteorological stations. Because this information is gathered and reported regularly, the chart effectively illustrates conditions such as cloud cover, visibility, and any significant weather impacts that could affect aviation.

The fundamental purpose of this chart is to provide pilots with easily interpretable weather information that can assist in flight planning and in-flight decision-making. By using METAR data, pilots can visualize weather conditions at various airports and regions, making it an essential tool for flight safety.

The other options provided, such as the notion that the chart is based solely on radar data or that it's updated every six hours, do not accurately reflect what a weather depiction chart is. Additionally, stating that it is used solely for visual flight rules is misleading, as the information displayed is relevant for both visual flight rules (VFR) and instrument flight rules (IFR) operations.