1. Forecasting Weather
After completing this section, students will analyze weather maps and the resulting regional weather (Standard PI – 061)

2. To prepare accurate weather forecasts, meteorologists must gather, distribute and analyze huge amounts of atmospheric data

3. Weather data can be collected by:
Satellites
Weather Balloons and Radiosondes
Weather Stations
Weather Radar
Airplanes and Ships

4. Satellite images provide weather information about about every spot on the Earth
Meteorologists use 2 kinds of satellite images, visible images and infrared images

5. Visible satellite images are black and white pictures of the Earth
White colors represent clouds or snow, grey represents land and black is water

6. By tracking the movement of clouds, meteorologists can estimate wind speed and direction and track storms
One disadvantage of visible satellite images is that they are not available at night

7. Infrared satellite images use temperature to create pictures
Infrared images can be taken day or night

8. Bright areas represent cold temperatures and cold high tops of clouds
Dark colors represent warmer temperatures and low clouds

9. The taller the cumulonimbus clouds, the stronger the storm
By looking at cloud height (as represented by color) meteorologists can determine the severity of a storm
The taller the cumulonimbus clouds, the stronger the storm

10. Radiosondes – an instrument pack attached to a balloon which carries it up into the atmosphere
Meteorologists use radiosondes to measure temperature, humidity and pressure at different altitudes

11. Information from radiosondes can be used to predict how air masses might move

12. Weather Stations
A device for measuring temperature, air pressure, dew point, wind speed and direction and precipitation

13. Weather station report conditions about every hour
Only by analyzing data from weather stations can meteorologists decide where in a storm it is raining, or snowing
Weather station report conditions about every hour

14. Station Models (Modelo de estación)

15. Using the data they get from weather stations, meteorologists create weather maps

16. To fit large amounts of data onto a compact map, scientists have developed the station model
A station model includes information on temperature, dew point, weather conditions, wind speed and direction

17. Making a Surface Weather Map

18. It takes several steps to make a surface weather map
First a computer draws a map showing station models connecting areas of equal air pressure (isobars) and temperature (isotherms)

19. Meterologists then draw in fronts based on where low pressure systems are located

20. Modern-day weather forecasts are based on computer models
They use observed data such as, temperature, wind speed and direction, and plug it into a mathematical equation to make predictions