Vocabulary
barometer An instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure.
isobars Lines connecting locations that have equal air pressure.
isotachs Lines connecting locations that have equal wind speed.
isotherms Lines connecting locations that have equal temperatures.
prognostic chart (prog) A chart showing the state of the atmosphere at a given time in
the future.
radar Radio detection and ranging device that emits radio waves and receives them after
they bounce on the nearest surface. This creates an image of storms and other nearby
objects.
radiosonde Agroupofinstrumentsthatmeasurethecharacteristicsoftheatmosphere—temperature,
pressure, humidity, etc. — as they move through the air.
weather map A map showing weather conditions over a wide area at a given time, it
collects data from many locations.
weather satellite A human made object that orbits the Earth and senses electromagnetic
waves, mostly in the visible light and infrared spectra.
Points to Consider
- With so much advanced technology available, what is the role of meteorologists in
creating accurate weather forecasts? - Withsomuchadvancedtechnologyavailable,whyareweatherforecastssooftenwrong?
- What advances do you think will be necessary for meteorologists to create accurate
weather forecasts one- to two-weeks in advance of a major weather event?
Image Sources
(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Thunderhead.anvil.jpg. GNU-FDL.