weather and meteorology presentation

Weather and Meteorology Presentation

Presented by: Tesmond Hurd

LMS Weather Station(La Grande Weather Service)

http://lagrande.weatherchecker.us http://www.weatherchecker.us

The Definition of Weather

Weather is the state of the atmosphere regarding wind, moisture, temperature, cloud coverage, pressure, and other meteorological conditions.

Meteorology is the scientific study of the Earth’s atmosphere, especially its patterns or climate and weather

What’s the difference between weather and climate???

Weather is what is currently going on. When somebody says, “It is 32 degrees…” they are talking about weather.

Climate is weather, in a sense, but as an average. When somebody says, “The average temperature in July for the last 15 years is 80 degrees…” they are talking about the climate. Climate varies from place to place.

What do I do…

I collect data Analyze weather patterns Maintain/Manage a website Predict weather/specifically hazardous

weather (e.g.: snow, thunderstorms, etc.)

About the National Weather Service

Mostly meteorologists work for the NWS. TheNWS’ job is to analyze and monitor weather conditions and issue advisories, watches, and warnings when weather becomes hazardous. The motto for the NWS is: “For the protection

of life and property.” There are several branches of the NWS. Storm Spotters are

important to the NWS because they REPORT hazardous weather.

NOAA Field Map

Storm Prediction Center

Storm Prediction Center National Hurricane Center

National Weather Service

National Hurricane Center

Ocean Prediction Center

HPC NCEP

NOAA

About meteorologists

Starting Pay: $30,000; Top Pay: $146,000EX: Dennis Hull-Warning Coordinator Meteorologist

30 years as meteorologist/10 in PDTHis Pay: $100-105,000

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Meteorology3-year internshipMeteorology, math, and physics

What meteorologists use to help predict the weather…

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Clouds Clouds are formed when water evaporates in the sky and changes

into the gas form, we them as clouds. There are 32 types of clouds

including tornadoes!

Cirro Stratus Cumulus

Stratus Alto Nimbo Fractus

Cumulus Alto Strato

Other Cirrus, Cumulus, Stratus, Cumulonimbus, Shelf ,Wave, & Wall cloud, Mammatus, and tornado

Warm/Cold Fronts

Warm FrontsA transition zonebetween a mass ofwarm air and thecolder air it is replacing.

Cold FrontsA transition zonebetween a mass of coldair and the warm air itis replacing.

Stationary/Occluded FrontsStationary FrontsA front between warm andcold air masses that ismoving very slowly or notat all.

Occluded FrontsA composite front formedwhen a cold air mass meetsand undercuts a warm airmass, and forces the warmair upwards and way fromcontact with the earthssurface.

High/Low Pressures

High PressureAn area of pressurethat is higher thansurrounding, lowerpressures. Highpressures circleclockwise.

Low PressureAn area of pressure thatis lower thansurrounding, higherpressures. Low pressurescircle counter-clockwise.

Terminology…Millibar-A unit of atmospheric pressure equal to 1/1000

bar; one unit that is used to measure air pressure. Isobar-A line on a weather map connecting equal

pressures.Barometric Pressure-The pressure of the atmosphere, as

indicated by a barometer.Radar-A radio device used for locating an object by using

ultrahigh-frequency radio waves reflected from the object and received, observed, and analyzed. In this case, precipitation.

Weather Balloon-a balloon used to carry meteorological instruments.

Weather Station-an observation post where meteorological conditions are (observed and) recorded.

National Weather Service Doppler Radar

United States of America

Canada

Paci

fic O

cean

Gulf of Mexico

Atlantic O

cean

Mixed Surface Analysis

Mixed Surface Analysis

Snow | Snow Level8000 ft.

7000 ft.

6000 ft.

5000 ft.

4000 ft.

3000 ft.

2000 ft.

1000 ft.

0 ft. 0 50 100 150 200 250

miles

Question: Why does the Grande Ronde Valley get so much wind?

Baker City

La Grande

Ladd Canyon

Last Weekend

TornadoesTornadoes are violentlyrotating column of air, usuallysuspended to a Cumulonimbuscloud, with circulation reachingthe ground. It nearly alwaysstarts as a funnel cloud andmay be accompanied by aloud roaring noise. On a localscale, it is the mostdestructive of all atmosphericphenomena. (VIDEO)

SPRING SEASONSPRING SEASON: March-June : March-June FALL SEASONFALL SEASON: August-October: August-October

Types of TornadoesWeak Tornadoes

•88% of all tornadoes

•<5% of tornado deaths

•Lifetime: 1-10+ minutes

•Winds <110 mph

Violent Tornadoes

•<1% of all tornadoes

•70% of all tornado deaths

•Lifetime can exceed 1 hour

•Winds >205 mph

Strong Tornadoes

•11% of all tornadoes

•Nearly 30% of all tornado deaths

•May last 20+ minutes

•Winds 110-205 mphNumber of Deaths

Weak TornadoesStrong TornadoesViolent Tornadoes

STEP #1

How Tornadoes Form…

STEP #2How Tornadoes Form

STEP #3 | Final StepHow Tornadoes Form…

Low – Level Wind = Updraft

[Enhanced] Fujita (Tornado Intensity) Scale

Damage Wind E. Fujita #Light 40-72 E-F0

Moderate 73-112 E-F1

Considerable 113-157 E-F2

Severe 158-206 E-F3

Devastating 207-260 E-F4

Incredible 261-317 E-F5

Inconceivable 318+ E-F6

Tornado: Fact or Fiction? Every state has had at least one tornado.

Tornadoes can’t form anytime during the year.

People caught in the open, should seek shelter under highway overpasses.

Areas near lakes, rivers, and the ocean aren’t safe from tornadoes.

Tornadoes can happen in the mountains or in high elevations.

Tornado Facts

Tornado State Rankings1. Florida2. Kansas3. Illinois4. Iowa5. Alabama48.Oregon

# of Tornadoes 1999-2008

1291 tornadoes123 EF2+ tornadoes

1989-19981165 tornadoes143 EF2+ tornadoes

1979-1988820 tornadoes161 EF2+ tornadoes

UNION COUNTY TORNADO

Begin Date: June 21, 1983; 1415 (2:15) PDTBegin Location: Not KnownBegin LAT/LON: 45°22'N / 118°03'W (LADD CANYON)End Location: Not KnownLength: 0 MileWidth: 17 YardsMagnitude: F0Fatalities: 0Injuries: 0Property Damage: $25,000.00Crop Damage: $0.00

Description:None Reported

Hurricanes

A tropical cyclone in theAtlantic, Caribbean Sea,Gulf of Mexico, oreastern Pacific, whichthe maximum 1-minutesustained surface wind is74 mph greater. Hurricanesare classified on the Saffir-Simpson Scale to describetheir wind speeds. (VIDEO)

Step #1How Hurricanes Form…

Step #2How Hurricanes Form

Step #3 | Final StepHow Hurricanes Form…

Saffir-Simpson (Hurricane Intensity) Scale

Category Central Pressure (mb) Wind Speed (mph) Storm Surge (ft.) Damage 1 980 + 74-95 4-5 Minimal 2 965-979 96-110 6-8 Moderate 3 945-964 111 -130 9-12 Extensive 4 920-944 131-155 13-18 Extreme 5 <920 >155 >18 Catastrophic

NWS Building Entrance

NWS Office

NWS Office

NWS Office

What does RADAR stand for?

RAdio

Detection

And

Ranging

NWS Radar

NOAA Weather RadioNWR

NOAA

Weather

Radio

Thank you for listening to my presentation…I hope you enjoyed

it!

Copyright © 2009 La Grande Weather Service, National Weather Service/NOAA, & Intellicast/WSI.com