Download How Is math used in Meteorology

How Is math used
in Meteorology?
By: Jane Doe
What exactly is meteorology?

METEOROLOGY:The science that deals
with the phenomena of the
atmosphere, especially weather and
weather conditions
Where Does the math Come in play when
studying meteorology?
Weather
Charts and Graphs
.
Numerical modelling
water, and temperature meters.
It’s All About Equations…

To predict the weather,
meteorologists have sets of
equations based on the
land’s geography and
starting weather conditions.
With this information they
can calculate future forecast
by entering it into a
computer to be processed.

The longer the time
predicted, the less accurate
your prediction will be.
Example of a
7 day week Forecast…
Math helps us Organize
*CHALLENGE*:
What math skills are used in meteorology?
Mathematical equations allows us to
combine, average, and solve
information.
 Using equations, geometry, estimating,
charts, graphs, and scales we can find
answers to weather concerns. Weather
and math go hand in hand….

Numerical Modeling

Numerical Modeling: The process of obtaining an objective forecast of the
future state of the atmosphere by solving a set of equations that describe the
evolution of variables.
 For example:
*Temperature
*Wind Speed
*Humidity
*Pressure
All of which describe the atmosphere.
Still Don’t get numerical
Modeling?
Its OK! Numerical
modeling is done
through a computer.
The equations of
numerical modeling
are extremely
difficult.
 All YOU need to
know
is …..

Numerical modeling
starts with analyzing
the current state of the
atmosphere.
 Conditions are found
under the numerical
models of the
atmosphere which are
all based in the same
set of governing
equations.

Classifying with geometry






Depending on how high a cloud is, classifies it as a certain kind
of cloud.
Altitude:The height of a thing above a reference level,
especially above sea level or above the earth's surface.
Mathematics. The perpendicular distance from the base of a
geometric figure to the opposite vertex, parallel side, or
parallel surface.
Low clouds: Stratus (dull gray,usually overcast, associated with steady
precipitation). Some other species of low clouds include nimbostratus,
cumulus, stratocumulus, mamatocumulus.
Middle clouds: Begin with the prefix alto. Examples include
altocumulus, altostratus.
High clouds: Cirrus, cirrocumulus, cirrostratus. Usually appear
"feathery".
Estimating




One of the most important techniques for making a forecast is to use
weather maps to estimate
You may estimate the speed of movement of air masses, fronts, and
high and low pressure systems
Meteorologists have to adjust the forecast for differences in
*latitude,
* possible acceleration/deceleration
* intensification/deintensification of storm systems,
*and local effects (such as topography, bodies of water, and the urban
heat island effect )
All of these things are measured and located on…………..
Charts and Graphs
Maps are used to locate a place in
which the meteorologist is
going to forecast the weather
for. They also show Highs and
Lows, pressures, Intensities,
and Humidity.
Graphing is used here.
Some maps used in meteorology would
include:
*Geographical Map
*Temperature map

*Pressure map
*Humidity map
*Precipitation map
*Forecast High and Low temperature maps
Scales
Analyzing past and current weather is a
huge part in Making a hypothesis for
the next weather forecast.
 Meteorologists must use past
information and the weather conditions
it took place in, to figure it out.
 An easy way to organize that
information is with Scales.

What kinds of scales are
there?

There are many kinds of scales to
organize weather conditions. Here are a
few….

Synoptic scale:Deals with Air masses, fronts, and
pressure systems
Mesoscale: Deals with effects of topography, bodies
of water, the urban heat island, etc.

Example of a :
Weather Scale
Reading temperatures and Pressures

Being able to read
the temperatures
and pressures is key
to organizing
weather material.

You may have to
measure,
temperature, water,
and air on many
types of scales.
Thermometer

Thermometer:An
instrument for measuring
temperature, especially one
having a graduated glass
tube with a bulb containing a
liquid, typically mercury or
colored alcohol, that
expands and rises in the
tube as the temperature
increases.
Hydrometer

Hydrometer:
An
instrument, (various ways to
construct) used for
measuring the velocity or
discharge of water, as in
rivers, from reservoirs,from
clouds to earth, etc., and
called by various specific
names.
Hydrometry

Hydrometry is
 It is the probability
measuring water. It’s
of clouds, fog, and
the science that
rain.
deals with how
 NO absolute
much water air can
Humidity, just
hold at a given
relative.
temperature and
pressure.
Concluding math and
meteorology…








So that’s the basics!
To refresh your memory…
In meteorology
It starts with analyzing the current conditions…
Then organizing the information with mathematical equations…
Its then put into a computer and processed…
These mathematical equations are solved and put into physical
processes…..
OK. A little confusing but you get the drift… Hope you
learned something…I did! If You have any questions ask
me!
Bibliography
The Weather Companion, Gary
Lockhart, Copyright 1988
 http://atm.geo.nsf.gov/instruction/forec
ast_contest
 http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/weather/
meteormath.html
 http://www.tc.cornell.edu/Services/Edu/
MathSciGateway/meteorology.asp
