Mr. Hartwell -- F-M Meteorology

1. Mr. Hartwell -- F-M Meteorology Weather vs. Climate

2. Weather • The state or condition of the atmosphere on a day-to-day basis.

3. Weather • Meteorology – study of the atmosphere and its motions; prediction of weather • From Greek root meteoron, “high in the sky”

5. 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

6. Climate • The condition of the atmosphere over many years. • Cyclic—patterns

7. Climate • Climatology –study of meteorological trends; projection

8. NCODA: Navy Coupled Ocean Data Assimilation

9. Continents affect climate • Temperature gradient between tropics & poles drives Earth’s climate • Atmosphere & oceans try to equalize temperatures • Antarctica—modulates atmospheric processes

10. Scales of Weather • Synoptic • Mesoscale • Microscale • Storm-scale cumulus systems

11. Synoptic Weather

12. Mesoscale Weather Right: Northeast RADAR 9/9/07

13. Microscale Weather Weather events too small for a weather map, for example

14. Storm-Scale Cumulus Systems Specific storm-related weather

15. Map Plotting • Latitude: a place on Earth north or south of the Equator • Longitude: a place east or west of the Prime Meridian

16. ‘+’ = North and/or East ‘—’= South and/or West

17. Mr. Hartwell -- F-M Meteorology Hydrologic Cycle Carbon Dioxide Cycle

18. Atmosphere & Cycles • Weather involves water in the atmosphere (hydrologic cycle). • Climate also involves trace atmospheric gases (carbon-dioxide cycle)

19. Trace Gases • Carbon Dioxide (CO2) • Water vapor (H20) • Ozone (O3) • Methane (CH4) • CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) • Modify energy balance in atmosphere

20. 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.

21. Carbon Cycle

22. Hyrdologic Cycle

23. 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.

24. Mr. Hartwell -- F-M Meteorology Time Zones UTC/GMT/Z Military Time Int. Date Line

25. 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!

27. UTC • UTC = Coordinated Universal Time (Universel Temps Coordonne) • UTC = GMT (Greenwich Meridian Time; Greenwich, England) • Z = Zulu (UTC without the last 2 zeros)

28. Military Time • UTC observations recorded in military time. • 24 hour clock • Examples: 12 midnight = 0000 12:30 am = 0030 1:00am12:59pm is “normal” 1:00pm = 1:00 + 1200 = 1300 4:30pm = __________ = _______

30. US Time zones • Eastern (New York, Florida)= -5 GMT standard time -6 GMT Daylight Savings Time EST = Eastern Standard Time EDT = Eastern Daylight Time

31. Daylight Savings Time • Advanced time so afternoons are longer • Widespread use in 1916 to conserve wartime coal use

33. Daylight Savings Time • Advanced time so afternoons are longer • Widespread use in 1916 to conserve wartime coal use • Complicates weather observation

34. 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

35. 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

37. 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.

38. 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.

39. Mr. Hartwell -- F-M Meteorology Meteorological Organizations Types of Meteorologists

40. Public Organizations (Government) • NOAA—National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration • NWS—National Weather Service • NCDC—National Climatic Data Center

41. NOAA • Conducts ocean & atmosphere research • Environmental outreach • Regulates use of resources (ie: fisheries)

42. NWS • Collects / collates weather observations • Uses computer models • Issues alerts • Severe weather • Flooding • Tsunamis • Weather safety

44. Private Organizations • AMS—American Meteorological Society • WMO—World Meteorological Society • NASCAS—National Association of Storm Chasers And Spotters

45. AMS • Development & dissemination of education & information • Atmospheric, oceanic, hydrologic sciences • For enthusiasts & academics

46. WMO • Agency of the United Nations • Authoritative voice on state & behavior of the Earth’s… • Atmosphere • Interaction with ocean • Climate

47. NASCAS • World’s first professional storm chasing organization • Provide accurate safety & educational information • Safety & responsibility • FREE MEMBERSHIP! www.chasingstorms.com

48. Types of Meteorologists 1) TV meteorologists 2) Weather forecasters 3) Consulting meteorologists 4) Climatologists

49. 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.

50. 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