1. Predicting Weather

2. Meteorologist A person who studies the weather. They make weather maps from information gathered using various weather instruments. Doppler Radar Weather balloons Computers Satellites

3. Technology Used Thermometer Measures air temperature Barometer Measures air pressure Anemometer Measures wind speed

4. Surface Observations Normally at Airports Made by people Made by machines ASOS Automated Surface Observing System Analyzing the Weather

5. Collecting Data Doppler Radar Weather Balloons Satellites

6. 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 Radar

7. 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 Balloons

8. Satellites Dozens around the world Keep watch over Earth – Some are stationary – Some rotate Measure – Clouds – Pollution – Storms – Ocean Currents – Snow Cover – Ice Cover

9. 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

10. What do we use these maps for?

11. Satellite Maps Cloud Cover Height Thickness Movement Allow us to track storms

12. What do we use these maps for?

13. Radar Maps Precipitation Light rain – blue Medium rain – Green Heavy rain – Red Winter mix – Pink Snow - White

14. What do we use these maps for?

15. Temperature Maps Temperature Displays temperatures on map Uses color to show temperatures Blue = Cold Green = 40 – 80 Yellow = Over 80

16. What do we use these maps for?

17. Precipitation Maps Precipitation More detailed than radar maps Provides type of precipitation and amount

18. What do we use these maps for?

19. Wind Speed Maps Wind Speed Numbers represent gusts Colors represent speeds Isobars (defined later) explain wind speed in greater detail

20. What do we use these maps for?

21. Front Maps High and Low Pressure Areas High Pressure – Sunny Low Pressure – Rainy Warm Fronts Cold Fronts Stationary Fronts Occluded Fronts

22. 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

23. Isobars

25. Fronts on a weather map Warm occluded Cold Stationary direction The symbols point in the direction that the front is moving towards Pressure symbols:

26. 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