Weather Forecasting
Celena Hicks
What Is Weather Forecasting?
Weather forecasting is a prediction of what the weather will be like in an hour, tomorrow, or next week. Weather forecasting involves a combination of computer models, observations, and a knowledge of trends and patterns. By using these methods, reasonable accurate forecasts can be made up to seven days in advance.
Meteorologist
(Weather Man)
More than just images of clouds, meteorologists compare temperature readings, winds, atmospheric pressure, precipitation patterns, and other variables to form an accurate picture of our climate. From past readings, meteorologists are able to draw conclusions and make predictions about how our climate will translate into local weather every day. Meteorologists also carry out basic research to help us understand the way the atmosphere works, ranging from why hurricanes and tornadoes form when and where they do, to why the ozone hole formed over the Antarctic in the spring. They use satellites, aircraft, ships, and balloons to take the data needed to help understand, document, and predict weather and climate.
Weather Patterns
Meteorologists are able to predict the changes in weather patterns by using several different tools. They use these tools to measure atmospheric conditions that occurred in the past and present, and they apply this information to create educated guesses about the future weather.
Tools Used For Weather Forecasting
Some tools that Meteorologists use would be a thermometer (measures the air temperature), a barometer (measures air pressure), a sling psychrometer (measures relative humidity), a rain gauge (measures the amount of rain that has fallen over a specific period of time), a wind vane ( an instrument that determines the direction from which the wind is blowing), an anemometer (measures wind speed), a hydrometer (measures the water vapor content of air or the humidity), and many more tools are used.
How Tecnology Helps Weather Forecasting
The best forecasts take into account the weather events that are happening over a broad region. Knowing where storms are now can help forecasters predict where storms will be tomorrow and the next day. Technology, such as weather satellites and Doppler radar, helps the process of looking over a large area, as does the network of weather observations. The more technology that is available for the use of forecasting weather, is going to make a more accurate weather prediction.
Weather Maps
A weather map is a "snapshot" of weather conditions at a particular time over a large area. The National Weather Service collects data from weather stations all over the county. The data that is collected is shown on a weather map. Thin lines on a weather map connect places with the same air pressure or temperature. An isobar is a line on a weather map that connects places with the same air pressure. An isotherm is a line on a weather map that connects places with the same temperature. Most maps use symbols. The symbols stand for different things on different maps. Most maps have a legend. The map legend shows you what the symbols mean. On a weather map, different colors, letters, lines, and symbols are used. Cold temperatures are usually shown in blue. Hot temperatures are shown in red. A place that has high air pressure is marked with a capital "H." Places with low air pressure are marked with a capital "L."