7 Weather Observation and Forecasting Free Online FlashCards

What conditions do surface weather stations measure?

Surface stations report conditions such as temperature, dew point, air pressure, wind, and precipitation.

What do weather balloons measure at different heights?

A radiosonde carried by a weather balloon measures pressure, temperature, humidity, and winds at different heights.

What can Doppler radar reveal about storms?

Radar detects precipitation and tracks its movement; Doppler measurements can also show winds within storms.

What is a key advantage of weather satellites?

Satellites observe clouds and atmospheric conditions over broad areas, including oceans and places with few ground stations.

What do closely spaced isobars generally indicate?

Isobars connect places with equal air pressure. Closely spaced isobars generally indicate a stronger pressure gradient and stronger winds.

How do winds generally circulate around highs and lows in the Northern Hemisphere?

In the Northern Hemisphere, winds generally circulate clockwise around highs and counterclockwise around lows.

How are cold, warm, and stationary fronts conventionally shown on maps?

A cold front is conventionally shown with blue triangles, a warm front with red semicircles, and a stationary front with alternating symbols.

Why do forecasters use upper-air maps?

Upper-air maps show conditions above the surface. Winds and temperature patterns aloft influence how surface weather systems develop and move.

What does a numerical weather prediction model do?

A numerical weather prediction model uses mathematical representations of atmospheric processes to estimate how weather will evolve.

Why is model output guidance rather than a finished forecast?

A model is guidance, not a finished forecast. Forecasters compare its output with observations, other models, and local knowledge, then may update forecasts as new observations arrive.

What does a forecast's valid time tell you?

The valid time tells you when the forecast applies; a forecast period may cover several hours rather than an entire day.

What are three sources of weather forecast uncertainty?

Uncertainty arises because observations cannot measure every place and moment, the atmosphere is complex, and models approximate atmospheric processes.