24.6 Predicting the Weather

What is a meteorologist? 

• A scientist who studies fossils from ancient times 
• A scientist who studies cells and their function in the human body 
• A scientist who studies meteors in outer space 
• A scientist who studies and tries to predict weather 

What is an isotherm? 

• A line on a weather map that connects points of equal air temperature
•  A line on a weather map that connects points of equal air pressure
• A pattern of weather that shows cloudy skies and precipitation
• A pattern of weather that brings clear skies and warm temperatures 

What is an isobar? 

• A line on a weather map that connects points of equal air temperature
• A line on a map that shows which areas of the United states get more sun 
•  A line on a weather map that connects points of equal air pressure
• A line of latitude on a map that shows the different zones; tropic, temperate and polar

What technologies do meteorologists use to predict the weather?

• Hurricanes, tornadoes, cyclones and thunderstorms 
• Doppler radar, weather stations, satellites and high speed computers
• Isotherms, isobars, weather maps and satellites
• Satellites, computers, barometers and weather vanes

How does Doppler radar work? 

• It measures temperature, precipitation, wind speed and direction
• It  works by bouncing radio waves off particles of precipitation in moving storms and then measuring the frequency of the waves that return
• It collects information about weather, including cloud cover, humidity, temperature, and wind speed.
• It collects and analyzes a large amount of weather data (information) which show patterns and help to predict the weather.

What does a weather station measure? 

• It measures temperature, precipitation, wind speed and direction
• It measures storm cloud density, air pressure, wind speed and lightning strikes 
• It measures the power of earthquakes and the damage they cause 
• It measures the speeds of wind during tornadoes, hurricanes and cyclones 

What information does a weather satellite give meteorologists? 

• It collects information that helps with GPS systems
• It collects information about tornadoes from the past, present and future
• It collects information about weather, including cloud cover, humidity, temperature, and wind speed.
• It collects information on climate change, such as amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere and the size of the hole in the ozone layer 

How do high speed computers help meteorologists predict weather?

• They can accurately show weather patterns for any area a month in advance
• They can collect all the information shown on local weather stations so people around the world can know the weather
• They can help meteorologists by displaying pictures of fronts rather than using numbers to predict weather
• They collect and analyze a large amount of weather data (information) which show patterns and help to predict the weather.

What types of information are shown on a weather map?

• They show states and their capitals and their location in relation to the equator 
• They show predicted temperatures, including sun or clouds and types of expected precipitation (rain, snow, etc…)
• They show where you could expect an earthquake, tsunami or hurricane to happen 
• They show all the different climate types that exist in the United States 

What is the difference between an isotherm and an isobar?

• An isotherm shows air pressure and an isobar shows temperature 
• They both show types of precipitation you can expect in your area 
• An isotherm shows temperature and an isobar shows air pressure
• A high pressure area will bring nice weather while a low pressure area brings storms