Weather Forecasting
Figure 1. Modern weather forecasting technology improves our quality of life.
Students consider how weather forecasting plays an important part in their daily lives. They learn about the history of weather forecasting — from old weather proverbs to modern forecasting equipment — and how improvements in weather technology have saved lives by providing advance warning of natural hazards.
People have forecasted the weather since ancient times; however, thanks to the work of engineers during the past 100 years, we now have advanced weather forecasting equipment such as weather balloons, satellites, Doppler radar and computer simulation programs. Today, people around the world rely on the information provided by these weather forecasting technologies, in the form of weather forecasts broadcast multiple times daily, to help us choose clothes to wear, plant crops at optimal times, and survive natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods and tornadoes.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Describe how weather forecasting has evolved from the observation of patterns to modern forecasting equipment.
- Explain how engineering advancements in weather forecasting improve the quality of people's lives around the world.
- List several examples of technology behind modern forecasting equipment (weather balloons, satellites and weather radars).