PREDICTING THE WEATHER

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Rain gauge- measures amount of rainfall  Barometer- measures air pressure

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

 Computer forecasts-  Computers gather and process massive amounts of data and arrange it for wide areas and larger time spans