Weather Forecasting

Weather Forecast – a prediction of weather conditions over the next few days

Meteorologists use special instruments to collect data for weather forecasting

Weather Balloons

Weather Balloons – carries electronic equipment up to 30 km high which measures:

• temperature• air pressure• relative humidity• wind speed & direction

Transmits radio signals to meteorologists

Weather Socks Windsock – a cone-shaped cloth bag that is open at both ends

wind enters wide end and exits through narrow end wide end always points into the windDetermines direction of the wind

Wind Vane – shaped like an arrow and attached to a pole

wind pushes the tail of arrow vane spins until arrow points into windDetermines wind direction

Wind Vanes

Anemometer – measures wind speed

has three or four cups connected to a pole with spokes wind pushes on open side of cups and makes them spin this spinning produces an electric current which is displayed on a dial

Anemometer

Radar – used to locate fronts and air masses

can show how much precipitation is falling and what kind it is

RADAR

Satellites – orbits Earth to produce images of weather systems

can also measure wind speeds, humidity, and temperatures used to track storms

Satellites

Weather Maps Weather Maps:

contain a station model – a symbol that shows the weather at a certain location

Weather Maps Weather Maps:

contain isobars – lines that connect points of equal air pressure

closed circles represent areas of high or low pressure

Weather Maps

Weather Maps show:

fronts air masses high pressure low pressure temperature precipitation

Recap!!!

How is an anemometer different from a windsock or a wind vane? Anemometers measure wind speed. Windsocks and wind vanes are used to find wind direction.What is a weather balloon and how does it work?It carries electronic equipment up to 30 km high and transmits radio signals to meteorologists. It measures temperature, air pressure, relative humidity, wind speed & direction.

What does each symbol stand for?

Cold Front

Isobar

High Pressure

Warm Front

Low Pressure

Stationary Front

12

34

5

6

Climate Zones

Climate Zones There are three climate zones:

1) Tropical Zones2) Temperate Zones3) Polar Zones

Tropical Zone – known as the Tropics because it receives so much solar energy, it has high temperatures – hottest climate zone

found between 23.5 N and 23.5 S latitude surrounds the equator

Climate Zones

Temperate Zone – receives less solar energy than the Tropical Zone

temperatures tend to vary depending on location and time of year this is the middle zone found between 23.5 and 66.5 north or south latitudes most of the US is in this zone

Climate Zones

Polar Zone – is the coldest climate zone

found between 66.5 and 90 north and southReceives least solar energy extends to the poles

Climate Zones

Recap!!!

What are the three climate zones?

Tropical Zone, Temperate Zone, & Polar ZoneWhich zone surrounds the equator?

Tropical ZoneWhich zone extends to the poles?

Polar Zone

Which zone has temperatures that vary?

Temperate Zone

Which zone is the coldest climate zone?

Recap!!!

Polar Zone

Which zone is the hottest climate zone?

Tropical Zone

Which climate zone is most of the US located in?

Temperate Zone

Label the climate zones

Polar Zone

Polar Zone

Temperate Zone

Temperate Zone

Tropical Zone

Tropical Zone

1

6

2

3

4

5