"Weather forecasting is the application of science and technology to predict the conditions of the atmosphere for a given location and time."
The study of weather patterns across the world, including the effects of ocean currents, atmospheric pressure, and temperature changes.
Atmospheric Composition: This topic covers the gases present in the Earth’s atmosphere and their distribution.
Weather Elements: The atmospheric elements like temperature, pressure, humidity, wind, and various other measurements that help understand global weather patterns.
Atmospheric Circulation: The various factors that cause air to move and how this movement helps predict weather.
Global Energy Balance: The balance between the energy from the sun and the energy radiated back to space.
Monsoons: The seasonal wind patterns that are a prominent feature in several parts of the world.
Large-Scale Weather Systems: This topic covers weather patterns across continents and the major drivers behind these systems such as cold fronts, high-pressure zones, and more.
Air Masses: The different types of air masses and how they affect weather patterns.
Fronts: The boundaries formed between air masses and the weather patterns that result from their interaction.
Cyclones: The weather patterns created by the low-pressure systems that can bring significant changes in weather.
Anticyclones: The weather patterns created by high-pressure systems and their impact on weather.
Climate Zones: The different climate zones on Earth and the weather patterns associated with each zone.
Weather Forecasting: The techniques used to predict weather patterns, including meteorological models, satellite images, and more.
Climate Change: Climate change is a significant factor in weather patterns and how patterns can change over time.
Global Air Circulation: The complex network of airflows that move air and its impact on weather systems.
El Nino and La Nina: The patterns of ocean currents that can affect weather patterns in various regions.
Polar vortex: A large, swirling mass of extremely cold air that typically resides over the Arctic.
El Niño: A warming of waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean that can cause changes in climate across the globe.
La Niña: A cooling of the same waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean that can also cause changes in climate.
Monsoon: A weather pattern that involves seasonal changes in wind direction, which can bring heavy rainfall and flooding to certain regions.
Arctic Oscillation: A fluctuation in atmospheric pressure that can impact weather patterns in the Northern Hemisphere, including changes in temperature and precipitation.
Madden-Julian Oscillation: A cyclic pattern of atmospheric pressure that causes fluctuations in tropical weather, including thunderstorms and cyclones.
North Atlantic Oscillation: A pattern of atmospheric pressure that can impact weather in Europe, including changes in temperature and precipitation.
Indian Ocean Dipole: A pattern of temperature fluctuations in the Western Indian Ocean that can impact monsoon rainfall and other weather patterns in the region.
Pacific Decadal Oscillation: A long-term pattern of variations in sea surface temperatures that can impact weather patterns across the North Pacific.
Southern Oscillation: A pattern of atmospheric pressure fluctuations in the Southern Hemisphere that can impact weather patterns across the globe, including changes in temperature and precipitation.
"People have attempted to predict the weather informally for millennia and formally since the 19th century."
"Weather forecasts are made by collecting quantitative data about the current state of the atmosphere, land, and ocean and using meteorology to project how the atmosphere will change at a given place."
"Current weather conditions, changes in barometric pressure, sky conditions or cloud cover are some of the factors considered in computer-based weather models."
"Human input is still required to pick the best possible model to base the forecast upon, which involves pattern recognition skills, teleconnections, knowledge of model performance, and knowledge of model biases."
"The inaccuracy of forecasting is due to the chaotic nature of the atmosphere, computational power required, error in measuring initial conditions, and an incomplete understanding of atmospheric and related processes."
"The use of ensembles and model consensus helps narrow the error and provide confidence in the forecast."
"Weather warnings are important to protect lives and property. Temperature and precipitation forecasts are important to agriculture and traders within commodity markets. Temperature forecasts are used by utility companies to estimate demand."
"On an everyday basis, many people use weather forecasts to determine what to wear on a given day and plan outdoor activities around heavy rain, snow, and wind chill events."
"Weather forecasting is a part of the economy, with the US alone spending approximately $5.8 billion on it in 2009, producing benefits estimated at six times as much."
"People have attempted to predict the weather informally for millennia and formally since the 19th century."
"Weather forecasting now relies on computer-based models that take many atmospheric factors into account."
"The inaccuracy of forecasting is due to the chaotic nature of the atmosphere."
"The error involved in measuring the initial conditions" poses a challenge in weather forecasting.
"Forecasts become less accurate as the difference between the current time and the time for which the forecast is being made increases."
"Forecasts can be used to plan activities around heavy rain, snow, and wind chill events, and to plan ahead and survive them."
"Pattern recognition skills, teleconnections, knowledge of model performance, and knowledge of model biases" are factors considered when picking the best weather model.
"Forecasts based on temperature and precipitation are important to agriculture."
"Temperature forecasts are used by utility companies to estimate demand over coming days."
"Producing benefits estimated at six times as much" is a significant benefit of investing in weather forecasting.