With regards to air pressure and isobars, if you want to do some basic forecasting as well, then the 500-millibar chart is something that should be examined. Historically (pre-satellite downloading via Iridium and Predict Wind) sailors/mariners would use them to help see what's coming for voyage planning:

* https://www.vos.noaa.gov/MWL/dec_08/milibar_chart.shtml

* https://www.oceannavigator.com/basics-of-the-500-millibar-ch...

* http://familygonesailing.com/2018/01/18/using-500mb-charts-o...

* PDF: https://ocean.weather.gov/articles/mariners_guide_500mb_char...

* https://www.amazon.com/Weather-Avoidance-Concepts-Applicatio...