Meteorology
is the "science that deals with the phenomena of the atmosphere, especially
weather and weather conditions". Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a
particular time and place with respect to heat or cold, wetness or dryness,
calm or storm, and clearness or cloudiness. Weather is impacted by things we
can’t see like wind, solar radiation, humidity and air pressure. Weather
affects everyone in some way, but it definitely has a big impact on people that
work in or with weather conditions. Pilots, construction workers, farmers and
bus drivers are all really affected by weather. There is a blanket of air that
surrounds the earth that is about 15 miles thick. This blanket is called atmosphere.
All of our weather happens in the bottom layer of the atmosphere, called the
troposphere, which is six to ten miles thick. All of our weather comes from
basically two things: the sun and the moisture in the air. These two works
together to form clouds which make rain and thunderstorms. These weather
conditions cause winds to blow. The wind blows because air has weight. The sun
is the engine that drives the motion of water in our atmosphere. This movement
of water is called the “water cycle”,
which is also known as the “hydro-logic
cycle”. It involves the continuous circulation of water in the atmosphere
through evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation and runoff.
No
one is exactly sure why lightning occurs, but scientists believe water droplets
and ice particles bang together in the cloud, helping to build up positive and
negative electrical charges. Electricity flows between the charges, which
results in a flash of electricity known as lightning, which heats the air
around it. The heat causes the air to expand with an explosive force, resulting
in a loud sonic boom we call thunder. The air in the core of a lightning bolt
is heated to as much as 54,000 degrees Fahrenheit. That temperature is about
six times hotter than the surface of the sun! People once looked to plants and
animals for hints about the weather. Before it rains cows lie down, pine cones
open up, frogs croak at a faster pace, ants form a line, and sheep's wool
uncurls. Before technology, folks also made forecasts by studying the clouds.
A daily weather forecast involves the work of
thousands of observers and meteorologists all over the world, and the work of
thousands of machines. Modern computers make forecasts more accurate than ever,
and weather satellites orbiting the earth take photographs of clouds from
space. Weather forecasts made for 12 and 24 hours are typically quite accurate.
Many devices help to measure the weather. A thermometer measures temperature,
while a barometer measures air pressure. A rain gauge is used to
measure precipitation, and an anemometer measures wind speed. Satellites take
pictures of clouds from space. Radar shows where and how much rain is falling,
while computers import and export data for the meteorologists examine.