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

Mr. Hartwell -- F-M Meteorology

Weather vs. Weather vs.

ClimateClimate

Weather

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

Weather

• MeteorologyMeteorology – study of the atmosphere and its motions; prediction of weather

• From Greek root meteoron, “high in the sky”

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

Climate

•The condition of the atmosphere over many years.

•Cyclic—patterns

Climate

• ClimatologyClimatology –study of meteorological trends; projection

NCODA: Navy Coupled Ocean Data Assimilation

Continents affect climate

• Temperature gradient between tropics & poles drives Earth’s climate

• Atmosphere & oceans try to equalize temperatures

• Antarctica—modulates atmospheric processes

Scales of Weather

1.1. SynopticSynoptic

2.2. MesoscaleMesoscale

3.3. MicroscaleMicroscale

4.4. Storm-scale cumulus systemsStorm-scale cumulus systems

Synoptic Weather

Mesoscale Weather

Right: Northeast RADAR 9/9/07

Microscale Weather

Weather events too small for a weather map, for example

Storm-Scale Cumulus Systems

Specific storm-related weather

Map Plotting

• Latitude: a place on Earth north or south of the Equator

• Longitude: a place east or west of the Prime Meridian

‘+’ = North and/or East

‘—’= South and/or West

Mr. Hartwell -- F-M Meteorology

Hydrologic Cycle

Carbon Dioxide Cycle

Atmosphere & Cycles

• Weather involves water in the atmosphere (hydrologic cycle).

• Climate also involves trace atmospheric gases (carbon-dioxide cycle)

Trace Gases

• Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

• Water vapor (H20)

• Ozone (O3)

• Methane (CH4)

• CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons)

• Modify energy balance in atmosphere

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.

Carbon Cycle

Hyrdologic Cycle

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.

Mr. Hartwell -- F-M Meteorology

Time ZonesUTC/GMT/ZMilitary TimeInt. Date Line

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!

UTC

• UTC = Coordinated Universal Time (Universel Temps Coordonne)

• UTC = GMT (Greenwich Meridian Time; Greenwich, England)

• Z = Zulu (UTC without the last 2 zeros)

Military Time• UTC observations recorded in military

time.• 24 hour clock• Examples:

12 midnight = 000012:30 am = 00301:00am12:59pm is “normal”1:00pm = 1:00 + 1200 = 13004:30pm = __________ = _______

US Time zones• Eastern (New York, Florida)=

-5 GMT standard time-6 GMT Daylight Savings Time

EST = Eastern Standard TimeEDT = Eastern Daylight Time

Daylight Savings Time

• Advanced time so afternoons are longer

• Widespread use in 1916 to conserve wartime coal use

Daylight Savings Time

• Advanced time so afternoons are longer

• Widespread use in 1916 to conserve wartime coal use

• Complicates weather observation

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

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

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.

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.

Mr. Hartwell -- F-M Meteorology

Meteorological Organizations

Types of Meteorologists

Public Organizations (Government)

• NOAA—National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration

• NWS—National Weather Service• NCDC—National Climatic Data Center

NOAA

• Conducts ocean & atmosphere research

• Environmental outreach• Regulates use of resources (ie:

fisheries)

NWS

• Collects / collates weather observations• Uses computer models• Issues alerts

– Severe weather

– Flooding

– Tsunamis

• Weather safety

Private Organizations

• AMS—American Meteorological Society• WMO—World Meteorological Society• NASCAS—National Association of

Storm Chasers And Spotters

AMS

• Development & dissemination of education & information

• Atmospheric, oceanic, hydrologic sciences

• For enthusiasts & academics

WMO

• Agency of the United Nations• Authoritative voice on state & behavior

of the Earth’s…– Atmosphere

– Interaction with ocean

– Climate

NASCAS

• World’s first professional storm chasing organization

• Provide accurate safety & educational information

• Safety & responsibility• FREE MEMBERSHIP!

www.chasingstorms.com

Types of Meteorologists

1) TV meteorologists

2) Weather forecasters

3) Consulting meteorologists

4) Climatologists

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.

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

Consulting Meteorologist

• Testify in court

• Paid to provide advice on weather

• B.S. or M.S. in meteorology, and may find a Ph.D. helpful

Climatologist

• Collect weather records and produce summaries of the records

• i.e.: next season's rainfall or temperature

• Most states have a State Climatologist

• Members of college or university faculties and do research