Predicting the weather

1. Predicting the weather

2. Vocab • Meteorologist- scientist who study the causes of weather and try to predict it. • Isopleth- connected lines showing equal or similar values • Isotherm = equal temperatures • Isobar= equal barometric pressure

3. Weather Forecasting • Simple Observations- • Using what we know to deduct what is going to happen • Ex. We know cumulus clouds often form on humid warm afternoons, when these clouds begin to grow taller to cumulonimbus we can deduct there is a storm approaching or forming

4. Digital forecasting • Interpreting complex data • Meteorologists use maps, charts, and computers to analyze weather data and to prepare weather forecasts. • Different instruments are analyzed for different heights • Balloons, satellites and weather stations

5. Short term vs long term • Short- involves comparing situations occurring presently to those that occurred recently to picture what will happen in the close future • Too complicated to rely on one area of forecasting • Changes in patterns rely on upper level wind movement • Long- regardless of technology forecasting becomes less reliable due to huge amount of parameters • Accuracy declines greatly over time

6. Weather Technology • Technological improvements in gathering weather data and using computers have improved accuracy of weather forecasts • Weather Balloons- carry instruments up to the stratosphere

7. Basic tools • Anemometer- measures wind speed • Hygrometer- measures humidity using a wet and dry bulb. As water evaporates from the wet bulb the temperature between the 2 bulbs changes, we measure this difference

8. Rain gauge- measures amount of rainfall • Barometer- measures air pressure

9. Weather Satellites- orbit the earth use camera, thermometers, barometers etc. • Automated weather stations- surface locations that measure a variety of features

10. Computer forecasts- • Computers gather and process massive amounts of data and arrange it for wide areas and larger time spans