Exercise 4: My weather forecast
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One of the main reasons we observe the weather is to be able to make a weather forecast. Weather forecasts are very valuable and are used in many different ways. Today meteorologists use all kinds of information and computer models to make the reliable weather forecasts that we see in our daily newspapers or on the television.
The work involved in producing these forecasts is highly professional. However, with a basic knowledge of meteorology, and with observations made by yourself and those found on the internet, you can try to make your own forecast.
Your class can be divided into groups to see who can make the best forecast.
Background for a weather forecast: In order to produce a weather forecast, it is important to describe the current weather situation and the weather during the previous 24 hours or more. In addition, it is important to determine changes in the overall system, especially the frontal zones.
Current weather situation: You have already analysed the current weather using the Meteosat image with the superimposed weather observations.
The weather in the last 24 hours: A Meteosat animation showing the clouds moving over Europe shows the direction of the major weather systems.
Click to download the latest animation:
Western Europe
Central Europe
Eastern Europe
Thermal boundary
The frontal zone shown by the height of the 500 hPa surface
A thermal boundary is found in the atmosphere at the boundary between the colder air masses and the warmer air masses. In this boundary area the wind blows at high speed in the upper atmosphere. The jet stream is associated with this thermal boundary.
Low-pressure systems with accompanying fronts also move along this thermal boundary.
Click here to see the latest map of pressures and temperatures.
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