How Is math How Is math used in used in Meteorology?Meteorology?

By: Jane DoeBy: Jane Doe

What exactly is What exactly is meteorology?meteorology?

METEOROLOGY:The science that METEOROLOGY:The science that deals with the phenomena of the deals with the phenomena of the atmosphere, especially weather atmosphere, especially weather and weather conditions and weather conditions

Where Does the math Come in play Where Does the math Come in play when studying meteorology?when studying meteorology?

Char ts and Graphs.

Numer i cal model l i ng w ater , and temperature meters.

Weather

It’s All About It’s All About Equations…Equations…

To predict the weather, To predict the weather, meteorologists have sets meteorologists have sets of equations based on the of equations based on the land’s geography and land’s geography and starting weather starting weather conditions. With this conditions. With this information they can information they can calculate future forecast calculate future forecast by entering it into a by entering it into a computer to be processed.computer to be processed.

The longer the time The longer the time predicted, the less predicted, the less accurate your prediction accurate your prediction will be.will be.

Example of aExample of a 7 day week 7 day week Forecast…Forecast…

Math helps us OrganizeMath helps us Organize*CHALLENGE*:*CHALLENGE*: What math skills are used in What math skills are used in meteorology?meteorology?

Mathematical equations allows us Mathematical equations allows us to combine, average, and solve to combine, average, and solve information.information.

Using equations, geometry, Using equations, geometry, estimating, charts, graphs, and estimating, charts, graphs, and scales we can find answers to scales we can find answers to weather concerns. Weather and weather concerns. Weather and math go hand in hand….math go hand in hand….

Numerical ModelingNumerical Modeling Numerical Modeling: Numerical Modeling: The process of obtaining an objective The process of obtaining an objective

forecast of the future state of the atmosphere by solving a set of forecast of the future state of the atmosphere by solving a set of equations that describe the evolution of variables.equations that describe the evolution of variables.

For example:For example:

*Temperature*Temperature

*Wind Speed*Wind Speed

*Humidity*Humidity

*Pressure*Pressure

All of which describe the atmosphere.All of which describe the atmosphere.

Still Don’t get numerical Still Don’t get numerical Modeling?Modeling?

Its OK! Numerical Its OK! Numerical modeling is done modeling is done through a through a computer. The computer. The equations of equations of numerical modeling numerical modeling are extremely are extremely difficult.difficult.

All YOU need to All YOU need to know know is …..is …..

Numerical modeling Numerical modeling starts with analyzing starts with analyzing the current state of the current state of the atmosphere.the atmosphere.

Conditions are found Conditions are found under the numerical under the numerical models of the models of the atmosphere which atmosphere which are all based in the are all based in the same set of same set of governing equations.governing equations.

Classifying with Classifying with geometrygeometry

Depending on how high a cloud is, classifies it as a Depending on how high a cloud is, classifies it as a certain kind of cloud.certain kind of cloud.

Altitude:Altitude:The height of a thing above a reference level, The height of a thing above a reference level, especially above sea level or above the earth's surface. especially above sea level or above the earth's surface.

Mathematics.Mathematics. The perpendicular distance from the base The perpendicular distance from the base of a geometric figure to the opposite vertex, parallel of a geometric figure to the opposite vertex, parallel side, or parallel surface. side, or parallel surface.

Low clouds:Low clouds: Stratus (dull gray,usually overcast, associated with Stratus (dull gray,usually overcast, associated with steady precipitation). Some other species of low clouds include steady precipitation). Some other species of low clouds include nimbostratus, cumulus, stratocumulus, mamatocumulus.nimbostratus, cumulus, stratocumulus, mamatocumulus.

Middle clouds:Middle clouds: Begin with the prefix alto. Examples include Begin with the prefix alto. Examples include altocumulus, altostratus. altocumulus, altostratus.

High clouds:High clouds: Cirrus, cirrocumulus, cirrostratus. Usually appear Cirrus, cirrocumulus, cirrostratus. Usually appear "feathery". "feathery".

EstimatingEstimating One of the most important techniques for making a forecast is One of the most important techniques for making a forecast is

to use weather maps to to use weather maps to estimateestimate You may estimate the speed of movement of air masses, You may estimate the speed of movement of air masses,

fronts, and high and low pressure systems fronts, and high and low pressure systems Meteorologists have to adjust the forecast for differences in Meteorologists have to adjust the forecast for differences in

*latitude,*latitude,* possible acceleration/deceleration * possible acceleration/deceleration * intensification/deintensification of storm systems, * intensification/deintensification of storm systems, *and local effects (such as topography, bodies of water, and *and local effects (such as topography, bodies of water, and the urban heat island effect )the urban heat island effect )

All of these things are measured and located All of these things are measured and located on…………..on…………..

Charts and GraphsCharts and GraphsMaps are used to locate a Maps are used to locate a

place in which the place in which the meteorologist is going to meteorologist is going to forecast the weather for. forecast the weather for. They also show Highs and They also show Highs and Lows, pressures, Lows, pressures, Intensities, and Humidity.Intensities, and Humidity.

Graphing is used here.Graphing is used here.

Some maps used in meteorology Some maps used in meteorology would include:would include:

*Geographical Map*Geographical Map

**Temperature map Temperature map

*Pressure map *Pressure map

*Humidity map *Humidity map

*Precipitation map *Precipitation map

*Forecast High and Low temperature *Forecast High and Low temperature maps maps

ScalesScales

Analyzing past and current weather Analyzing past and current weather is a huge part in Making a hypothesis is a huge part in Making a hypothesis for the next weather forecast.for the next weather forecast.

Meteorologists must use past Meteorologists must use past information and the weather information and the weather conditions it took place in, to figure it conditions it took place in, to figure it out.out.

An easy way to organize that An easy way to organize that information is with information is with Scales.Scales.

What kinds of scales are What kinds of scales are there?there?

There are many kinds of scales to There are many kinds of scales to organize weather conditions. Here organize weather conditions. Here are a few….are a few….

Synoptic scale:Synoptic scale:Deals with Air masses, fronts, Deals with Air masses, fronts, and pressure systemsand pressure systems

Mesoscale:Mesoscale: Deals with effects of topography, Deals with effects of topography, bodies of water, the urban heat island, etc.bodies of water, the urban heat island, etc.

Example of a :Example of a : Weather Scale Weather Scale

Reading temperatures and PressuresReading temperatures and Pressures

Being able to read Being able to read the temperatures the temperatures and pressures is and pressures is key to organizing key to organizing weather material.weather material.

You may have to You may have to measure, measure, temperature, temperature, water, and air on water, and air on many types of many types of scales.scales.

ThermometerThermometer

Thermometer:Thermometer:An An instrument for measuring instrument for measuring temperature, especially temperature, especially one having a graduated one having a graduated glass tube with a bulb glass tube with a bulb containing a liquid, containing a liquid, typically mercury or typically mercury or colored alcohol, that colored alcohol, that expands and rises in the expands and rises in the tube as the temperature tube as the temperature increases. increases.

HydrometerHydrometer

Hydrometer: Hydrometer: An An instrument, (various instrument, (various ways to construct) used ways to construct) used for measuring the for measuring the velocity or discharge of velocity or discharge of water, as in rivers, from water, as in rivers, from reservoirs,from clouds to reservoirs,from clouds to earth, etc., and called by earth, etc., and called by various specific names. various specific names.

HydrometryHydrometry

Hydrometry is Hydrometry is measuring water. measuring water. It’s the science It’s the science that deals with that deals with how much water how much water air can hold at a air can hold at a given given temperature and temperature and pressure.pressure.

It is the It is the probability of probability of clouds, fog, and clouds, fog, and rain.rain.

NO absolute NO absolute Humidity, just Humidity, just relative.relative.

Concluding math and Concluding math and meteorology…meteorology…

So that’s the basics!So that’s the basics! To refresh your memory…To refresh your memory… In meteorologyIn meteorology It starts with analyzing the current conditions…It starts with analyzing the current conditions… Then organizing the information with mathematical Then organizing the information with mathematical

equations…equations… Its then put into a computer and processed…Its then put into a computer and processed… These mathematical equations are solved and put into These mathematical equations are solved and put into

physical processes…..physical processes….. OK. A little confusing but you get the drift… Hope OK. A little confusing but you get the drift… Hope

you learned something…I did! If You have any you learned something…I did! If You have any questions ask me!questions ask me!

BibliographyBibliography

The Weather Companion, Gary The Weather Companion, Gary Lockhart, Copyright 1988Lockhart, Copyright 1988

http://atm.geo.nsf.gov/instruction/fhttp://atm.geo.nsf.gov/instruction/forecast_contestorecast_contest

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/weathttp://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/weather/meteormath.htmlher/meteormath.html

http://www.tc.cornell.edu/http://www.tc.cornell.edu/Services/Edu/MathSciGateway/Services/Edu/MathSciGateway/meteorology.aspmeteorology.asp