25.3 Weather InstrumentsWinds are always labeled from the direction from which they blow.

Wind vane – most common, located on buildings; always point into the wind.

Anemometer – measures wind speed and direction

Weather BalloonsMeasuring Upper - Atmospheric conditions

Doppler RADARRadio wave pulses

Particles of water bounce back

Weather Satellites

El Niño and La NiñaNew Text p. 546-547

El Niño - Normally cold offshore waters are replaced by unusually strong warm equatorial waters (Read p. 546)

El Niña – atmospheric phenomenon when surface temperatures of the eastern Pacific are colder than average; blows cold air over the Pacific NW & plains, but warms the rest of the U.S.

Normal conditions

25.4 Forecasting the Weather

www.projectsharetexas.org/node/12016

How to read weather maps:www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd7DcVnrSL8

IsobarsIso = equalBar = pressure

Pressure flows ‘around’ the pressure center• counter clockwise around lows• clockwise around highs

The closer the isobars, the stronger the winds

Low pressure system:Increased clouds, winds,Chance of rain

High pressure system:Clear calm conditions with reduced chance of rain.Drier air results in greater range of H and L temps.

Turn to page 534 in your Text. Learn the symbols.

Interpret the maps!