Notes- Forecasting the Weather
Weather Maps
-National Weather Service (NWS) -Station Model -Reading a weather map >Isobar: Lines that connect points of equal air pressure; high or low areas >Fronts
Weather Forecasting Tech
-Weather ballons: Carry radio transmitters that send measurements to stations on the ground -Measure air temp and pressure: thermometer (temp)+barometer (atmospheric pressure) -Measuring wind direction= Windsock or wind vane -Wind Speed=Anemometer -Radar and satellites >Used to find location movement, and amount of precipitation >provide images of weather systems >track storms at different altitudes
What is a barometer?
A barometer is an instrument used to measure air pressure.
What information can you get from a station model?
A station model gives you the location of a weather station as well as the weather data collected at that station
Why are so many station models used to gather weather data in the United States?
Because the country is so large, and Earth's atmosphere is constantly changing, we need data from many stations to make accurate forecasts.
Give examples of three occupations in which weather forecasts are essential.
Farmers, airplane pilots, and space scientists all need accurate weather forecasts.
Weather maps contain several standard symbols to convey information about the weather. Explain how to interpret three of those symbols.
Isobars are lines that connect areas of equal pressure. Fronts are represented by colored lines. Areas of high or low pressure are indicated by a large, capital H or L.
Describe how a sunshine recorder works.
It consists of two bulbs, one of which is blackened, that communicate through a glass tube of small diameter. The tube is partially filled with mercury and contains two electrical contacts. When the instrument is exposed to sunshine, the air in the blackened bulb is warmed more than that in the clear bulb. The warmed air expands and forces the mercury through the connecting tube to a point where the electrical contacts are shorted by the mercury. This completes the electrical circuit to the pen on the chronograph. The Marvin sunshine recorder is equally sensitive to the direct rays of the sun and to diffuse radiation from the sky (the heat from the latter at midday in overcast may be more than that from direct sunshine in the early morning); thus, the instrument is not without ambiguities. It is standard equipment at National Weather Service stations.
Meteorologists have many sophisticated tools to help them forecast the weather. However, weather forecasts are still sometimes incorrect. Why do you think this is the case?
Many different factors affect weather and the can all change rapidly. Also, despite computers, satellites, and other technology, humans must still interpret data and can make errors.
What is the function of an anemometer?
Measure wind speed
How can radar be used to forecast weather?
Radar can be used to track the location, amount, and movement of precipitation
What can isobars that are drawn very closely together reveal about the weather?
The closer the isobars are together the windier it is.
Why would a meteorologist compare a new weather map with one that is 24 hours old?
To show the progression of things, if a storm system was over Cali on Monday and Nevada on Tuesday, it will probably be over Utah on Wednesday. You have to look at patterns and progressions in order to make predictions.
What is the function of a synoptic chart?
To summarize atmospheric conditions (temperature, precipitation, wind speed and direction, atmospheric pressure and cloud coverage) over a wide area at a given time.
What are two tools that can be used to measure wind direction?
Wind direction can be measured using a windsock or a weather vane.
