| Weather prediction starts with observations, | | | | been placed near the end of the home page |
| techniques and equipment. Barometers are for | | | | for quick reference. You will see pages |
| making air pressure measurements and | | | | about cloud generation processes, convection |
| thermometers show temperature, usually on the | | | | and lapse rates, thunderstorm creation, |
| Fahrenheit or Celsius scale. We use many | | | | turbulence, stability, inversions, air |
| types of hygrometers for determining | | | | quality and global warming.Overall, the most |
| humidity, as there are a lot of ways of | | | | noticeable implement used in forecasting is |
| stating and the air's moisture content. Winds | | | | the weather map. Meteorologists can see how |
| are measured using an anemometer for speed | | | | winds will blow systems around (advection) |
| and weather vanes or socks give the | | | | and change their shape (deformation). If you |
| direction. Rain and snow gauges allow us to | | | | were to visit the link below, you would learn |
| find out how much precipitation has fallen. | | | | that wind flows clockwise around a high |
| See how to convert from one type to another. | | | | pressure system (in the northern hemisphere) |
| Our national governments and airport | | | | and why, as well as how atmospheric pressure |
| authorities use all of these devices on site | | | | relates to observable conditions (sunny, |
| to provide for safer aviation. a picture of | | | | rainy etc.) And why.You have heard of the |
| our planet and the current weather systems | | | | troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere and |
| will be included. Sorting out technical | | | | thermosphere above us. They are all very |
| issues like wavelength and resolution will | | | | different from each other, but consistent |
| help trained image interpreters draw useful | | | | over the entire planet. Some maps show |
| information from the photographs. Things | | | | important large scale features such as air |
| emit, absorb, transmit and reflect radiation | | | | masses and jet streams. In order to be |
| and the people figure this all out, such as | | | | accurate, they have to incorporate influences |
| which ones are sources and which are | | | | such as the curvature and rotation of the |
| obstacles. In fact they need the help of | | | | earth.Again the presence or absence of |
| computers to do so. radar shows us current | | | | moisture is crucial in all aspects of |
| and recent weather in fine detail. Radar | | | | forecasting. For instance, we use that |
| uses a fancy radio set that detects moving | | | | information for storm prediction and many |
| objects. Both digital and analog equipment | | | | more complicated things. That is because the |
| is required to make picture creation | | | | latent heat stored in water vapor serves as a |
| possible. The use of wave physics is | | | | potent energy source to drive mechanical |
| important here as well, as the subject can be | | | | processes, which can then extract more heat |
| quite technical. One machine quickly | | | | from the vapor and so on. Another construct, |
| alternates between broadcasting and receiving | | | | vorticity, further enhances the twisting and |
| signals, in the form of pulses, so passive | | | | lifting power of the atmosphere.The waves and |
| targets can be detected. Technicians have to | | | | streamlines on an assortment of weather maps |
| learn to deal with all types of problems and | | | | carry special meanings for meteorologists as |
| flaws naturally occurring in the system. | | | | well. Again, an intuitive knowledge of |
| Doppler radar adds another dimension of | | | | physics greatly helps the forecaster |
| useful information to the picture. More | | | | understand, explain and prognosticate the |
| details are available at... are weather | | | | situation. word or two about myselfI |
| balloons used for? To measure what is | | | | sometimes go by the nickname weather man, or |
| happening above. Atmospheric motions involve | | | | even piano man. I have a B. Sc. in physics |
| a great deal of wet and dry air undergoing | | | | and meteorology - University of Alberta in |
| elevation and pressure changes. It gets | | | | Edmonton, Canada. Much of my work has been in |
| further complicated if heat or vapor flows in | | | | the field of atmospheric modeling. I also |
| and out of an area, such as when the wind | | | | have been a musician of one kind or another |
| blows on or offshore, so a solid | | | | all my life. I got into web design. I took |
| understanding of thermodynamics is required | | | | on a few different roles in environmental |
| to comprehend it properly.Meteorologists use | | | | consulting and government services, and |
| standard maps and graphs (with names like | | | | accumulated quite a bit of expertise. All |
| tephigram, skew-t or nomograms) to make the | | | | the while, I was thinking it would be in my |
| calculations. While involved in this serious | | | | best interests to create an internet |
| analysis, an advanced concept called wet-bulb | | | | presence, and perhaps supplement my living |
| potential temperature can be a forecaster's | | | | with it. I discovered a complete web |
| best friend.This specialized field of | | | | business designing program with excellent |
| employment requires a four-year university | | | | course materials to get me started. Some |
| degree plus extensive job-specific training. | | | | were even free. From that point on, it was a |
| Links to pages explaining the more advanced | | | | matter of following the directions I |
| concepts for those who need to know more have | | | | received. |