Predicting Weather

Meteorologist A person who studies the weather. They make weather maps from information gathered using various weather instruments. Doppler Radar Weather balloons Computers Satellites

Technology Used Thermometer Measures air temperature Barometer Measures air pressure Anemometer Measures wind speed

Surface Observations Normally at Airports Made by people Made by machines ASOS Automated Surface Observing System Analyzing the Weather

Collecting Data Doppler Radar Weather Balloons Satellites

Measures direction and speed of moving objects Ex. Precipitation Can see long distances Great detail Very sensitive Can detect birds, bats, bugs, pollen in the air and leaves rustling on nearby trees. Doppler Radar

Contains equipment to measure conditions Records humidity, temperature, pressure Launched twice a day At least 120 sites around the country 900 Around the world Weather Balloons

Satellites Dozens around the world Keep watch over Earth – Some are stationary – Some rotate Measure – Clouds – Pollution – Storms – Ocean Currents – Snow Cover – Ice Cover

Weather Maps With all of this data meteorologists make weather maps There are six basic types of weather maps: – Satellite – Radar – Precipitation – Temperature – Wind speed – Front

What do we use these maps for?

Satellite Maps Cloud Cover Height Thickness Movement Allow us to track storms

What do we use these maps for?

Radar Maps Precipitation Light rain – blue Medium rain – Green Heavy rain – Red Winter mix – Pink Snow - White

What do we use these maps for?

Temperature Maps Temperature Displays temperatures on map Uses color to show temperatures Blue = Cold Green = 40 – 80 Yellow = Over 80

What do we use these maps for?

Precipitation Maps Precipitation More detailed than radar maps Provides type of precipitation and amount

What do we use these maps for?

Wind Speed Maps Wind Speed Numbers represent gusts Colors represent speeds Isobars (defined later) explain wind speed in greater detail

What do we use these maps for?

Front Maps High and Low Pressure Areas High Pressure – Sunny Low Pressure – Rainy Warm Fronts Cold Fronts Stationary Fronts Occluded Fronts

Symbols Isobars – Lines of equal pressure. The closer together two isobars are the stronger the winds. Isotherms – Lines representing equal temperature. None on radar or satellite maps usually In the attached photo, the red bars are isobars and the yellow are isotherms

Isobars

Fronts on a weather map Warm occluded Cold Stationary direction The symbols point in the direction that the front is moving towards Pressure symbols:

Map Symbols Weather information can be represented on a weather map using symbols: – Air pressure – High and low pressure – Wind direction – Wind Speed – Fronts – Various precipitation – Temperature