1. Meteorology Tools
5.02 Evaluate meteorological observing, analysis, and prediction:
Worldwide observing systems.
Meteorological data depiction.
1.05 Analyze reports of scientific investigations and environmental issues from an informed scientifically literate viewpoint including considerations of:
Appropriate sample.
Adequacy of experimental controls.
Replication of findings.
Alternative interpretations of the data.

2. Data Collection and Weather Prediction
There are many ways to collect data and predict the weather.
Methods include: land-based collection techniques, upper air instruments, satellites, marine data collecting, and observing the past through paleoclimatology.

3. Land-based Data Collection
Land-based data collection describes the climate of a location or region.
Examples include measuring temperature, dew point, relative humidity, precipitation, etc.
This also includes data observed by weather radars.
Geographic Information Systems
Weather Stations
Maps and Models

4. Radar and Charts and Maps

5. Upper Air Data Collection
Upper air data collection includes weather data from the atmosphere above the earth's surface (> 3 meters).
Instruments include: radiosondes, rawinsondes, and rocketsondes.
These are carried by weather balloons, rockets, etc. and transmit the data back to a receiving station on the ground.
Examples of data collected could be temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, and wind.

6. Satellites
Hundreds of artificial satellites orbit the Earth every day.
Uses include navigation and communication.
Satellite orbits are either Geosynchronous or Polar.

7. Satellite Examples GOES (Geostationary) POES (Polar) DMSP (Military)
NPOESS (National -Polar)

8. Atmospheric Data Is Closely Related With Ocean Circulation!

9. Marine Data
Surface Marine observations can describe the nature of the climate of a location or region.
Data collected can include temperature, dew point, relative humidity, precipitation, snowfall, snow depth on ground, wind speed, wind direction, cloudiness, visibility, atmospheric pressure, evaporation, soil temperatures, and various types of weather occurrences such as hail, fog, thunder, glaze, etc.

10. Hurricanes Can Also be Closely Observed!!

11. Paleoclimatology Paleoclimatology is the study of past climate.
Paleoclimatologists use clues from natural sources such as tree rings, ice cores, corals, and ocean and lake sediments to understand natural climate variability.

12. Careers in Weather
If you are interested in a weather career, you should visit the NOAA website.
(Source: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration)

13. Other Cool Pictures!

14. Sources for Information and Pictures
NOAA Website:

15. Questions and Answers to Submit
Use the Internet, your book, or other resources to answer the following questions.
Make a T-chart. On the left column, list the various data collection techniques. On the right side, summarize what they do.
Go to this website: (Source: National Weather Service) what is the weather predicted for your area for the next few days?
Research paleoclimatology. Which natural source is the most interesting to you? Why?