Bell Ringer Identify the wind system. A: B: C: Quiz tomorrow (7.1-7.4). Polar easterlies Prevailing westerlies Trade winds

METEOROLOGY

Meteorology Review: Meteorology – the study of things that happen in the atmosphere Meteorologists use both current data and long-term data (climate) to predict the weather

Meteorology Digital Forecast – relies on numerical data from computers, satellites, and models Analog Forecast – compares current weather to past patterns (assuming the weather will react in a similar way) The more data collected, the better the forecast, so meteorologists use a combination of digital and analog data

Weather forecasts usually can’t be trusted more than three days out What does that mean for the 7-day forecast? What does that mean for tracking a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean? What does that mean for planning an outdoor wedding in July?

Meteorology Devices that measure at ground-level: Thermometer – measures temperature Barometer – measures air pressure

Meteorology Devices that measure at ground-level: Anemometer – measures wind speed Hygrometer – measures relative humidity

Meteorology Radiosonde – weather balloon with sensors that measure weather conditions up in the atmosphere Very expensive, so not used for daily forecasts

Weather Satellites and Radar Weather observation is one of the main uses of satellites that orbit the Earth Satellites are able to track clouds, but not necessarily precipitation

Weather Satellites and Radar Infrared Imagery -- detects differences in heat Objects that radiate warmth at different frequencies show up as different colors Helps to detect strong storms and other severe weather

Weather Satellites and Radar RADAR – RAdio Detecting And Ranging Weather Radar – radio waves detect where rain is falling Radar of Hurricane Katrina August 2005

Weather Satellites and Radar Doppler Effect – the change in wave frequency that occurs as waves move towards or away from an observer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3RfULw7aAY

Weather Satellites and Radar Doppler Radar – uses the Doppler Effect to estimate wind speeds associated with rain storms Distinct advantage over conventional radar systems

Interpreting Weather Maps Station Model – a record of weather data for a particular area at a particular time Fits a large amount of data into a small space Uniform way of communicating weather data

Interpreting Weather Maps Isopleths – Lines that connect points of equal value (iso = same or equal) Example from Unit 1: contour lines (lines of the same elevation)

Interpreting Weather Maps Isobars = areas with the same pressure (barometers measure pressure)

Interpreting Weather Maps Isobars that are close together indicate strong winds Winds flow from high to low pressure, so isobars can be used to locate high and low-pressure systems

Interpreting Weather Maps High pressure systems tend to have sunny and clear weather Low pressure systems tend to have cloudy and rainy weather “Happy highs, lousy lows”

Interpreting Weather Systems High-Pressure Systems – sinking air hits Earth’s surface and spreads away from the center, like water spilling on a table Coriolis Effect causes it to spin clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere

Interpreting Weather Maps Low-Pressure Systems – air rises and other air flows towards the center to replace it, like sucking from a straw Spins counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere

Interpreting Weather Maps Isotherms = areas with the same temperatures (thermometers measure temperature) Isotherms can be used to locate warm and cold fronts

Interpreting Weather Maps Cold fronts are depicted with a solid blue line and blue triangles pointed in the direction the front is moving Warm fronts are depicted with a solid red line and red semicircles pointed in the direction the front is moving

Interpreting Weather Maps Stationary fronts are depicted with a combination of cold and warm front symbols

Interpreting Weather Maps Occluded fronts are depicted with a solid purple (red + blue) line and alternating purple triangles and semicircles pointed in the direction the front is moving

Practice! What are the different colors representing? Different temperatures What types of fronts are on the map? Cold & warm What type of weather are the high-pressure locations having? Clear, sunny What type of weather are the low-pressure locations having? Rainy, cloudy

Weather Map You may either work with your tablemate or independently You will need coloring pencils and/or markers Make sure you finish every page Turn in when finished Complete vocabulary; I am still missing assignment from: Alejandro, TaNayaha, Tylik, Avi, D’Avi, Hailey, Luke, Natalia, Chavon, Akira, Chandler, Matthew (Arnold), Jesse, Kimberly, Tati, Joel, Jennie

Weather… imagined by kids http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8jEfWv2mW0

Working on 2 WSs today in assigned groups Working on 2 WSs today in assigned groups. You must work on all of this TOGETHER. If I see people working on different parts, you will each have to do the assignment individually. Isopleth WS. Follow directions carefully. Turn in when done and get Weather WS. Weather WS -- requires colored pencils. Get them from Stn 1 when you get to that WS (not before). Return them to Stn 1 and turn in WS when done. Use remainder of time to study for quiz. No free time!