Weather Analysis & Forecasting
WEATHER ANALYSIS & FORECASTING
** Weather Analysis: process of collecting, compiling, analyzing and transmitting the observational data of atmospheric conditions
*this data & analysis is then used to forecast future weather conditions * Types of data: * Each weather station, 10,000 around the world, collects the same data at the same time, at least 4 times per day(0000, 0600,1200, 1800 GMT) * Most US stations also collect data continuously or at least every hour * A network of sea buoys, the Tropical Atmosphere Ocean/Triangle Trans-Ocean (TAO/TRITON) system, obtains data at sea * Satellite images & data are also used extensively used ** Data collected: T°, dpT°, pressure, wind speed & direction, current & past weather (cloud cover, precip., etc) * Plotted on a station model, with each piece of data in a particular location on the symbol * a map of this information is called a synoptic weather chart * Charts drawn for various levels of the atmosphere at pressure levels of 800mb, 700mb, 500mb, etc.
* Daily weather maps are drawn for the surface & 500mb
** Weather Forecasting Methods: Synoptic Weather Forecasting, Numerical Weather Forecasting, Analog Approach/Statistical Methods, Short-Range Forecasting * Synoptic Weather Forecasting: *Use of synoptic weather charts
*Forecasting what will happen in an area based on what is happening now in an area “upwind”
*usually accurate for only a few hours or 1-2 days
NEED TO KNOW HOW TO READ WEATHER STATION MODELS:
Cloud cover, wind direction and speed,
* Numerical Weather Prediction(NWP): * Used extensively in current forecasting for zone forecasts * Uses what is known of the physical principles of the gases of the atmosphere to predict future conditions *Really only possible after the advent of high-speed computers and computer models * Local
** Weather Analysis: process of collecting, compiling, analyzing and transmitting the observational data of atmospheric conditions
*this data & analysis is then used to forecast future weather conditions * Types of data: * Each weather station, 10,000 around the world, collects the same data at the same time, at least 4 times per day(0000, 0600,1200, 1800 GMT) * Most US stations also collect data continuously or at least every hour * A network of sea buoys, the Tropical Atmosphere Ocean/Triangle Trans-Ocean (TAO/TRITON) system, obtains data at sea * Satellite images & data are also used extensively used ** Data collected: T°, dpT°, pressure, wind speed & direction, current & past weather (cloud cover, precip., etc) * Plotted on a station model, with each piece of data in a particular location on the symbol * a map of this information is called a synoptic weather chart * Charts drawn for various levels of the atmosphere at pressure levels of 800mb, 700mb, 500mb, etc.
* Daily weather maps are drawn for the surface & 500mb
** Weather Forecasting Methods: Synoptic Weather Forecasting, Numerical Weather Forecasting, Analog Approach/Statistical Methods, Short-Range Forecasting * Synoptic Weather Forecasting: *Use of synoptic weather charts
*Forecasting what will happen in an area based on what is happening now in an area “upwind”
*usually accurate for only a few hours or 1-2 days
NEED TO KNOW HOW TO READ WEATHER STATION MODELS:
Cloud cover, wind direction and speed,
* Numerical Weather Prediction(NWP): * Used extensively in current forecasting for zone forecasts * Uses what is known of the physical principles of the gases of the atmosphere to predict future conditions *Really only possible after the advent of high-speed computers and computer models * Local