Meteorology is the scientific study of weather and the atmosphere.
What does Weather mean?
Weather is the specfic "atmospheric conditions" at a particular time and place.
What are some examples of atmospheric conditions?
Atmospheric conditions are weather factors such as temperature, air pressure, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, etc.
What is Gresham, Oregon's current weather right now?
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What is a weather station, and what are some basic examples of weather instrumentation?
A weather station is any location that measures local atmospheric conditions. At the location, a "thermometer" measures temperature, a "barometer" measures air pressure, a "sling psychrometer" measures relative humidity, an "anemometer" measures wind speed, and a "wind or weather vane" measures wind direction.
What is a weather station model? Click here to find out the answer.
What are the weather station model symbols for present weather?
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What are the weather station model symbols for percent cloud cover? Click here to find out the answer.
What are the weather station model symbols for wind speed? Click here to find out the answer.
What are the most current USA surface observations? click here , and then click "United States" to find out the answer.
What is climate?
Climate is the average weather or atmospheric conditions over a long period of time. For example, the Sahara Desert has a hot, dry climate.
What is the atmosphere?
The atmosphere is the thin ocean of air that surround the earth. The atmosphere is made up of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and other trace gases like carbon dioxide and argon.
What are the five layers of the atmosphere?
Troposhere--weather occurs here.
Stratosphere--contains the ozone layer
Mesosphere--very cold, many meteors burn up here.
Thermosphere--very hot, high levels of radiation absorbed here.
Exosphere--air molecules far apart, satellites orbit here.
What happens to temperature and air pressure when you ascend (or go up) into the atmosphere?
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What is Air Pressure?
Air pressure is the force on objects due the weight of the air. Air pressure can be measured in pounds per square inch, millibars, or inches of mercury.
What is an isobar?
An isobar is a line of equal air pressure on a weather map.
click here, and then click on the "isobars" link to see a current isobar map.
What is an isotherm?
An isotherm is a line of equal temperature on a weather map.
click here ,and then click on "Temperature Contours" to see a current isotherm map.
What is air density?
Air density is the number of air molecules per unit of air space. The lower the air's density, the lower the air's pressure. The higher the air's density, the higher the air pressure.
What does the big red "L" stand for on a weather map?
It stands for "low air pressure."
What does the big blue "H" stand for on a weather map?
It stands for "high air pressure."
What kind of weather is usually associated with low air pressure?
Stormy or rainy weather.
The lowest air pressure ever recorded was 870 mb or 25.69 inches. (Location: Typhoon Tip, Pacific Ocean.)
What kind of weather is usually associated with high air pressure?
Sunny or fair weather.
The highest air pressure ever recorded was 1084mb or 32.01 inches. (Location: A very cold air mass in Siberia, Russia.)
What is wind?
Wind is the movement of air molecules from high to low air pressure.
Which way does air move around high air pressure?
Clockwise.
Which way does the wind move around low pressure?
Counterclockwise.
What is Dew?
Dew is liquid water droplets that have condensed from the air onto surfaces such as blades of grass, car windows, etc.
What is Frost?
Frost is not frozen dew. Frost occurs when water vapor in the air "sublimates" directly onto surfaces, skipping the liquid phase entirely.
What is Dew Point?
Dew Point is the temperature at which water vapor in the air will condense into dew droplets or cloud droplets.
click here , and then click "Dew Point Contours" to see a current USA Dew Point Contour map.
What is a Cloud?
A clould is a visible mass of condensed water vapor that floats in the air. Clouds are made up of millions of water droplets.
What is an air mass?
click here to find out the answer.
What is the energy source driving the earth’s weather?
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What happens in low and high air pressure?
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What is the atonomy of a low pressure system?
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What is a cold front?
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What is a warm front?
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Why is the weather in the Pacific Northwest so wet?
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What are the three phases of water?
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What is evaporation and condensation?
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What is lightning?
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click here to find out the answer.
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What is a thunderstorm?
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How does hail form?
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What is a tornado?
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What is the fujita scale?
click here to find out the answer.
What is a hurricane?
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What is the saffir-simpson scale?
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What is the greenhouse effect?
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What are El Nino and La Nina?
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What are stratus clouds?
click here to find out the answer.
What are cirrus clouds?
click here to find out the answer.
What are cumulus clouds?
click here to find out the answer.
More on clouds?
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What is the coriolis effect? click here to find out the answer.
Links
The Weather Channel
Weather Resources and Weather Basics
UIUC Current Surface Maps
