What is the primary purpose of a surface analysis chart?

The primary purpose of a surface analysis chart is to depict current weather conditions and phenomena. These charts provide a snapshot of the weather at a specific point in time, showing features such as high and low pressure systems, fronts, and significant weather events like precipitation and storms. Surface analysis charts are essential tools for meteorologists because they help in understanding the existing weather patterns, which are crucial for making short-term forecasts and informing the public about the current weather situation.

The other options do not align with the primary function of these charts. While they may involve aspects of weather analysis, they do not focus specifically on depicting the immediate and real-time weather conditions, which remains the core objective of surface analysis charts.