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Mr. Hartwell -- F-M Meteorology
Weather vs. Weather vs.
ClimateClimate
Weather
•The state or condition of the atmosphere on a day-to-day basis.
Weather
• MeteorologyMeteorology – study of the atmosphere and its motions; prediction of weather
• From Greek root meteoron, “high in the sky”
U.S. & World Geography
• Understanding weather is important
• How can you report the weather if you don’t know where it’s happening?
• Learn the locations of:– 50 U.S. States– 7 Major continents & mountain ranges– All major oceans & seas
Climate
•The condition of the atmosphere over many years.
•Cyclic—patterns
Climate
• ClimatologyClimatology –study of meteorological trends; projection
NCODA: Navy Coupled Ocean Data Assimilation
Continents affect climate
• Temperature gradient between tropics & poles drives Earth’s climate
• Atmosphere & oceans try to equalize temperatures
• Antarctica—modulates atmospheric processes
Scales of Weather
1.1. SynopticSynoptic
2.2. MesoscaleMesoscale
3.3. MicroscaleMicroscale
4.4. Storm-scale cumulus systemsStorm-scale cumulus systems
Synoptic Weather
Mesoscale Weather
Right: Northeast RADAR 9/9/07
Microscale Weather
Weather events too small for a weather map, for example
Storm-Scale Cumulus Systems
Specific storm-related weather
Map Plotting
• Latitude: a place on Earth north or south of the Equator
• Longitude: a place east or west of the Prime Meridian
‘+’ = North and/or East
‘—’= South and/or West
Mr. Hartwell -- F-M Meteorology
Hydrologic Cycle
Carbon Dioxide Cycle
Atmosphere & Cycles
• Weather involves water in the atmosphere (hydrologic cycle).
• Climate also involves trace atmospheric gases (carbon-dioxide cycle)
Trace Gases
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
• Water vapor (H20)
• Ozone (O3)
• Methane (CH4)
• CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons)
• Modify energy balance in atmosphere
Sinks vs. Sources
• Cycles involve storage and release of gases in the atmosphere.
• Source—supplies / releases gases to atmos.
• Sinks—remove / store gas from atmos.
Carbon Cycle
Hyrdologic Cycle
Hydrologic Cycle• Water plays a major role in climate &
weather.
• A change in one component causes change in weather.
• EX: Less cloud cover more sun hitting ground warms ground & atmos.
Mr. Hartwell -- F-M Meteorology
Time ZonesUTC/GMT/ZMilitary TimeInt. Date Line
Time Zones• Earth has _____ time zones.
• 24—One for each of the 24 hours it takes for Earth to rotate on its axis.
• TZ—used to coordinate global weather observations.
• Coordinating times is CONFUSING!
UTC
• UTC = Coordinated Universal Time (Universel Temps Coordonne)
• UTC = GMT (Greenwich Meridian Time; Greenwich, England)
• Z = Zulu (UTC without the last 2 zeros)
Military Time• UTC observations recorded in military
time.• 24 hour clock• Examples:
12 midnight = 000012:30 am = 00301:00am12:59pm is “normal”1:00pm = 1:00 + 1200 = 13004:30pm = __________ = _______
US Time zones• Eastern (New York, Florida)=
-5 GMT standard time-6 GMT Daylight Savings Time
EST = Eastern Standard TimeEDT = Eastern Daylight Time
Daylight Savings Time
• Advanced time so afternoons are longer
• Widespread use in 1916 to conserve wartime coal use
Daylight Savings Time
• Advanced time so afternoons are longer
• Widespread use in 1916 to conserve wartime coal use
• Complicates weather observation
US Time zones
• Eastern (New York, Florida)= 0 (-5 GMT)• Central (Illinois, Louisiana)= -1 hour from
Eastern time• Western (Utah, New Mexico)= -2• Pacific (Oregon, California)= -3• Alaska= -4• Hawaii= -6 hours from Eastern time
International Date Line• 180o longitude• Halfway around world from Greenwich,
England• 24 hour difference on one side vs. other• East = backward 1 day• West = forward 1 day
• EX: Australia is on tomorrow’s date
Time Zones 2
Try this in your logbook:• If there are 24 time zones on
Earth, how many degrees make up each time zone? Think about it quietly, then we will share with the class.
Time Zones 3
• T. Zones are roughly parallel to lines of longitude.
• They are adjusted to local areas. WHY?
• So 1 major city or other population center does not have 2 different times.
Mr. Hartwell -- F-M Meteorology
Meteorological Organizations
Types of Meteorologists
Public Organizations (Government)
• NOAA—National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration
• NWS—National Weather Service• NCDC—National Climatic Data Center
NOAA
• Conducts ocean & atmosphere research
• Environmental outreach• Regulates use of resources (ie:
fisheries)
NWS
• Collects / collates weather observations• Uses computer models• Issues alerts
– Severe weather
– Flooding
– Tsunamis
• Weather safety
Private Organizations
• AMS—American Meteorological Society• WMO—World Meteorological Society• NASCAS—National Association of
Storm Chasers And Spotters
AMS
• Development & dissemination of education & information
• Atmospheric, oceanic, hydrologic sciences
• For enthusiasts & academics
WMO
• Agency of the United Nations• Authoritative voice on state & behavior
of the Earth’s…– Atmosphere
– Interaction with ocean
– Climate
NASCAS
• World’s first professional storm chasing organization
• Provide accurate safety & educational information
• Safety & responsibility• FREE MEMBERSHIP!
www.chasingstorms.com
Types of Meteorologists
1) TV meteorologists
2) Weather forecasters
3) Consulting meteorologists
4) Climatologists
TV Meteorologists
• Presents the weather information and forecasts to many people by television
• B.S. or M.S. in meteorology
• Member of the American Meteorological Society.
• Courses in meteorology involve mathematics and physics.
• Produce interesting graphics.
Weather Forecasters
• Analyze data and produce forecasts for TV Meteorologists, the National Weather Service, or other customers.
• Takes data from local weather sites, balloon launched instruments, RADAR/ satellites
• Ph.D. in meteorology or atmospheric science
Consulting Meteorologist
• Testify in court
• Paid to provide advice on weather
• B.S. or M.S. in meteorology, and may find a Ph.D. helpful
Climatologist
• Collect weather records and produce summaries of the records
• i.e.: next season's rainfall or temperature
• Most states have a State Climatologist
• Members of college or university faculties and do research