What Is Weather Means?

Predicting the future of Earth's weather

The degree to which it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or storm, clear or cloudy, is called the weather. The troposphere is the lowest layer of the planet's atmosphere and is just below the stratosphere. Climate is the term for the average of atmospheric conditions over a longer period of time.

Studying how the weather works on other planets has helped in understanding how weather works on Earth. Jupiter's Great Red Spot is anti-cyclonic storm that has existed for at least 300 years. The weather is not limited to planets.

A star's corona is being lost to space, creating a very thin atmosphere throughout the Solar System. The solar wind is the movement of mass from the Sun. Predicting future conditions is no longer an all-human endeavor, but rather a model used to determine barometric pressure, current weather conditions, and sky condition.

Climate Forecasting

Air pressure changes in the area are what control the weather events. The air pressure is caused by the weight of air. Skies are usually clear and blue when air pressure is high.

The high pressure causes air to flow down and fan out when it is close to the ground. When air pressure is low, air flows together and then upward, where it forms clouds. Local or regional weather forecasts are developed by meteorologyologists.

The weather events that are happening over a broad region are taken into account by the best forecasts. Knowing where storms are now can help predict where storms will be tomorrow and the next day. The process of looking over a large area is aided by the network of weather observations.

The unpredictable nature of the atmosphere means that it will be impossible to predict the weather more than two weeks in advance, but new technologies combined with more traditional methods are allowing forecasters to develop better and more complete forecasts. Climate is the average weather pattern over several decades. Different regions have different climates.

Weather Maps and Sky Cover Symbol

If a weather map has already been analyzed, you won't find much use for the station plot data. Station plot data is the most important information you start with when analyzing a weather map. Having a map of all stations helps you decide where to draw in high- and low-pressure systems, fronts, and the like.

Sky cover symbols have been established by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The percentage that the circle is filled is a good indicator of the amount of sky that's covered with clouds. The sky cover circle has a line that extends out.