Chapter 13 Weather Forecasting Flashcards
what is the world meteorological organization?
part of the UN, allows member states to share data
-surface data collected via land-based stations
-upper air data collected by radiosondes, satellites, etc
what is the National Weather Service?
forcasts local weather by regions. established in 1870. the national hurricane center and national severe storms lab are the only centers of the NWS that go beyond local region
what are the differences between advisories, watches, and warnings?
advisories: lower threats (dense fog)
watches: hazardous weather could happen (tornado, hurricane, blizzard)
warning: hazardous weather will happen (tornado, hurricane, blizzard)
what are broadcast meteorologists?
on-air forecasters who disseminate weather information to the public
what are AWIPS?
stands for advanced weather interactive processing system
-high speed data visualization
what is doppler radar?
shows precip, type, movement
what is satellite imagery?
shows clouds, height/temp
what are the main forcast charts?
sounding: temp, dewpoint, winds w/ height
Meteograms: variables w/ time
station models: coding multiple variables at one time
what is NWP?
numerical weather prediction
-start w/ current conditions (analysis map)
-map with all the data going into the model
-equations allow data to interact and evolve
-stop model after 24 hrs
-output map: guidance (prognostic chart)
what are the forecasting techniques?
- persistence forecast
- steady-state/trend forecast
- analog method
- statistical forecast
- reading the sky
- climatological
explain persistence forecast
same weather for the next day
explain steady-state/trend forecast
weather moves in same direction and speed
explain the analog method
pattern recongnition
explain statistical forecast
weighted analog, probability of occurrence in each of ensemble runs
what does probability in forecasting represent?
the likelihood that an event will occur at any point in the selected area (forecast region)
