predicting weather. meteorologist a person who studies the weather. they make weather maps from...
TRANSCRIPT
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 WeatherAnalyzing 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 RadarDoppler 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 BalloonsWeather 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 mapWarm occluded
• Cold
Stationary
The symbols point in the directiondirection 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