Definition
A weather product, viewable on a Multi-Function Display (MFD), that shows a surface analysis chart depicting current ground-level weather features — pressure systems, fronts, and isobars — together with forecast weather conditions for selected cities. The surface analysis portion reflects observed conditions at the Earth's surface; the city forecasts portion provides expected conditions (such as sky cover, temperature, wind, and precipitation) for named locations.
Plain English
A weather page on the cockpit screen that shows two things at once: a map of what the weather is doing at ground level right now (highs, lows, fronts) and short forecasts for specific cities along or near your route.
Context Anchor
Seen on multi-function display weather pages when viewing graphical weather information in the cockpit.
Derivation
Surface here means ground level — the bottom of the atmosphere where the aircraft takes off and lands. Analysis means a chart built from current observations, not a forecast. So a surface analysis is a 'snapshot map' of what is happening at the ground right now, paired with city-by-city outlooks for what comes next.
Why Pilots Care
Gives pilots a quick view of surface conditions and near-term city weather to support route and alternate decisions.
Intuition Check
Do not read surface here as the runway surface. It means weather conditions near the ground over a wide area. Do not treat city forecasts as a complete flight forecast. They are a helpful overview, not a replacement for aviation weather information for your route.
Example Sentence 1
Before departure, the pilot pulled up the surface analysis to include city forecasts (SFC) on the MFD to see where the cold front was sitting and what conditions were expected at the destination.
Example Sentence 2
During the flight the crew referenced the SFC layer to confirm that forecast city conditions still supported the planned alternate.