1. Meteorology
The study of WEATHER

2. Station Models – a shorthand way of including a lot of information on one symbol

3. Station Models help predict weather

5. Cloud Cover Symbols
The percent of the circle filled in is equal to the percent of the sky covered by clouds.

6. How many knots would this example be?
Wind Speed Symbols
Use the key on the reference table. One feather equals 10 knots. ½ of a feather equals 5 knots.
How many knots would this example be?
25 knots

7. High visibility vs. low visibility

8. How to convert between station model number and actual barometric pressure:
To conserve space pressure is written using 3 digits and no decimals. All real pressure numbers have 4 or 5 numbers and one decimal. They are either high 900’s or low 1000’s.

9. If the first number is greater than 5 place a nine in front of the number and a decimal between the last two digits.

10. If the first number is less than or equal to 5, place a 10 in front of the number and a decimal between the last two digits

11. Practicing Conversions: Convert the station model numbers to millibars
320 =
168 =
924 =
740 =

12. Convert the following air pressures to station model format:
120
284
860
692
1016.0
mb =
mb =
986.0 mb =
969.2 mb =
30.00 in. =
= 160

13. Which station model(s)…
Q: Has 100% cloud cover?
A: A, D
Q: Has no clouds?
A: B, C
Q: Has the warmest temperature?
A: C = 92 degrees
Q: Has winds coming from the east?
A: D
Q: Has a windspeed of 20 knots?
A: C
Q: Has the lowest dew point temperature?
Q: Has the highest barometric pressure?
A: A = mb

14. PREDICTING THE WEATHER

15. Bill Evans 5 Day Forecast…
How do they know???

16. Can we rely on Punxsutawney Phil?

17. Groundhog’s Day – February 2nd
Here’s a little groundhog, furry and brown, he’s coming up to look around.
If he sees his shadow down he goes, then 6 more weeks of winter snows.
Opposing views for 2008:
Phil saw his shadow – more winter?
Staten Island Chuck didn’t – spring is on its way?

19. Nature’s clues about weather conditions…
Pine cones close up when rain is on the way
A ring around the moon means rain or snow is coming
Some flowers open when it is sunny, and close when rain is due
Cows lie down when bad weather is coming

20. Weather Satellites & Balloons
Weather satellites remain in fixed positions 22,000 miles above the equator. Together, their rotating cameras can photograph the entire Earth. They have greatly improved weather prediction.
The long tails of weather balloons are equipped with radio transmitters hooked up to instruments that measure temperature, air pressure, and humidity in the atmosphere. Some balloons ascend as high as 90,000 feet to send data to Earth.

21. Locations of weather observing stations around the world
This is why station models are written in a shorthand format.

22. Radar Image of Earth from Weather Satellites

23. Satellite images of Earth are used to predict weather patterns