Weather Patterns Environmental Science 2.2

Weather Predictions Meteorology – study of the physics and chemistry of the atmosphere Weather – atmospheric conditions that result from interactions between temperature, moisture, winds, and clouds Behaves according to scientific laws, so weather can be predicted Wildlife behavior often changes when weather is going to change Cats groom their coats more often when a storm is approaching Deer and cattle feed earlier and longer before a storm If elk begin migrating out of the high country during late fall, it means that heavy snowstorms are on the way

Weather Forecast U.S. has most advanced weather forecast system in the world Environmental satellites Global view Constantly monitor atmospheric conditions Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) 2 orbit Earth at same rotational speed Short-range forecasts Polar-Orbiting Environmental Satellite (POES) Collect data from remote ocean areas Long-range forecasts Weather balloons and aircraft

Storm Warnings NEXRAD – Doppler radar that can map velocity of wind currents within a cloud Tornado detection Hurricanes Connie and Diane in 1955 prompted creation of the National Hurricane Center

Improving Forecasts Jet stream – 200 mph river of air that flows 20,000-30,000 ft. above Earth Don’t understand why it moves the way it does El Nino – irregular warming of water in East Pacific May hold key to seasonal forecasting Long-range weather forecasts will require better understanding of connections between ocean water temps and weather patterns All weather is due to the interactions of four things Sun Earth’s atmosphere Shape and movement of Earth Shape and make-up of Earth’s surface

Hydrogen Furnace Sun produces energy by fusion

Air Around Us Atmosphere enables life on Earth Greenhouse effect Clouds – airborne masses of microscopic water droplets or ice crystals Smoke, salt, dust, etc. provide surfaces for condensation of water vapor (condensation nuclei)

Seasonal Weather Earth rotates on its own axis from west to east Determines direction of prevailing winds and ocean currents Tilt of Earth creates 4 seasons

Down to Earth Water needs a very large amount of heat to change its temperature (high specific heat) Differences in temperatures of land and water create differences in air pressure that causes air movement Humans change local weather Brick, concrete, asphalt, buildings hold heat Normally, atmosphere temps decrease w/ altitude Inversion – condition where layer of warmer air covers layer of cooler air (fog) Major air pollution disasters have happened during fall and winter