Weather Forecasting

These flashcards cover key concepts from the Geography 131 lecture on weather forecasting, focusing on tools, methods, and data sources.

Weather Balloons

Airborne instruments launched to report temperature, pressure, moisture, and wind data.

Satellite Data

Estimates of temperature, humidity, and wind speed, often the only data for less populated areas.

Radar

Emits microwave energy reflected off hydrometeors to provide data on their amount and movement.

Model Output Statistics (MOS)

Statistical tools used to predict local weather based on upper-air patterns.

850 mb Level

An atmospheric pressure level commonly used in weather balloon data, relevant to forecasting.

Dewpoint

The temperature at which air becomes saturated with moisture, critical for weather analysis.

Insolation

Incoming solar radiation, important in weather forecasting equations.

Ideal Gas Law

An equation that relates pressure, volume, and temperature of gas, used in atmospheric models.

UTC Time

Coordinated Universal Time, which is the time standard for air data reporting.

Surface Maps

Weather maps showing conditions at the Earth's surface level.

Upper Air Maps

Maps displaying atmospheric conditions at various heights above the Earth's surface.