Gathering Weather Information
What does a thermometer measure?
Temperature
What does a wind sock measure?
The direction of the wind.
The Weather Station Model
Who is in charge of the weather?
God
Barometer
What are the two temperature scales commonly used?
Celsius and Fahrenheit
What does an anemometer measure?
Wind speed
National Weather Service
Where do local weather people get the information to make weather forecasts?
From the maps generated by the computers at the National Weather Service.
Hygrometer
A tool to measure relative humidity.
What is air pressure?
The amount of pressure or force that the air exerts on the earth.
How do meteorologists measure the weather up higher in the atmosphere?
The send instruments up into the air in giant air balloons filled with helium or hydrogen.
Where are weather stations located?
All over the earth: on land, on ships, on airplanes, and on satellites
Why are weather forecasts more accurate today than they were 20 years ago?
New computer programs are able to compile more information and make better models of the weather, plus more information is available.
Polar orbit
Orbiting the earth from pole to pole
What do meteorologists measure with a psychrometer?
Relative humidity.
Give THREE examples of the sophisticated instruments meteorologists use.
Radar, Doppler radar, satellites, and computers.
What does the Surface Weather Map show?
Low pressure areas, precipitation, and weather fronts on the surface of the earth.
What is an important function of local National Weather Service offices?
The monitor weather conditions and put out warnings and alerts when dangerous weather conditions are likely to develop.
Radiosonde
A box containing a thermometer, barometer, hygrometer, and a radio to relay the readings back to a weather station on the ground.
Explain what the heat index and wind chill factor are.
The heat index is the apparent temperature based on actual temperature and relative humidity.
The wind chill factor is the apparent temperature based on actual temperature and wind speed.
How does a weather satellite help in tracking a hurricane?
Why is it necessary for one location to collect and analyze all of the weather data across the country?
Air masses change the weather as they move across a country. It is necessary to know where the different air masses are, how big they are, and in what directions they are moving. This can only be obtained by compiling measurements from multiple locations.
What does Psalm 95:6-7 say and why is it related to weather forecasting?
"Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand"
It is related to weather forecasting because it shows the ultimate power of God and that He is in control of everything; even the weather.
Geosynchronous orbit
Orbiting the earth in the same direction and same speed that the earth moves.