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Figgerbottom's Lessons
The Quiz
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| There's more to forecasting than little tricks about looking
at the clouds and feeling how the wind blows. Modern forecasting involves
technology, science and advanced math to accurately predict the weather.
Many people make weather forecasts, from local forecasters to national
meteorologists. The government has an organization called the National
Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (or NOAA) that studies the weather.
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The first step in weather forecasting is to
get information about the weather, or weather data. Data is collected from
the atmosphere from launching balloons twice a day all around the world.
Weather balloons record data such as temperature, pressure, humidity, and
wind speed at different heights in the atmosphere.
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| Another useful tool for forecasters is satellite
technology. Satellites allow meteorologists to see what the earth and clouds
look like from space. This way, forecasters can see how the atmosphere
is behaving.
Doppler Radar is useful, too. Doppler radar can "see" inside the clouds
with radio waves. Radar can see how rain or snow is acting in a cloud
or how it might change.
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The data from weather balloons and satellites is put onto
maps by computers. The computers can make forecasts based on certain conditions,
and mark them on the weather maps. Meteorologists read the weather maps,
and by interpreting the data that appears on them, they are able to make
a forecast.
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| The great thing is that if all of this information fails, a meteorologist or skilled forecaster can just go outside and observe the weather and how it's behaving. Sometimes, that's enough to make an accurate forecast. | ||
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