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21 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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asos
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automated surface observation system ; official weather service: automated observations mostly with some human assistance
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chilled mirror
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dew point is determined using a chilled mirror
as mirror chills=> moisture condenses=> condensate detected by reflection of infrared light off mirror |
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tipping bucket
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type of rain gauge
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anemometer
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measures wind speed
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radiosonde
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instrument package carried aloft by balloon to measure atmosphere
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wind profliler
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doppler radar measuring vertical profile of wind speed and direction
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doppler radar
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new radar technology emitting both horizontal and vertical pulses
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dual pol radar
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detects motion in atmosphere
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visible satellite image
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images that uses reflected light; no data at night
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infrared satellite image
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image that converts radiation emitted by object into temperature
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water vapor satellite image
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image that detects water vapor in atmosphere
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GOES satellite
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orbits at 36k km
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POES satellite
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orbits at 800 km
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visibility sensor
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determines if anything is in the air between sensors
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what do humans do with asos readings
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– Obtain correct precipitation type
– total sky cloud cover and elevation above 12000 ft – Describe approaching weather, visibility changes – Report hail, severe wx events – Report snow, blowing snow etc. |
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how are upper atmosphere observations often done
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launching a radiosonde device attached to a helium filled balloon
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what do radiosondes measure
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• Temperature
• Humidity (dew point temperature) • Atmospheric pressure • Wind Direction and speed • Elevation at which these are observed -balloon rises at 1000ft/min -bursts at 120000ft |
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important info from rawinsonde soundings
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-determine whether atmosphere is stable or unstable at a station and how unstable air may be
-determines how moist the air is -helps determine cloud base heights adn cloud top heights -evaluate vertical wind shear |
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radar
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returning echoes pinging off of rain, snow, or hail
(1) particle size (2) number of particles (3) whether the particle is liquid or has a liquid coating - echoes are measured in a form of decibels (dBZ) - two consecutive radar pings can be used to determine how fast and in what direction the precipitation is moving |
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we use NEXRAD radar to
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• Determine the size and type of storm
• Examine the horizontal and vertical storm structure • Determine rainfall intensity • Determine the motions occurring inside a storm • Determine the direction of overall storm motion • Determine the severity of the storm and whether warnings need to be issued. |
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what satellites tell us
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• Early detection of hurricanes and severe thunderstorms
• Surface (including oceans) and tropospheric temperatures (in the vertical) • Atmospheric winds, and speed and direction of storms (esp. hurricanes and severe thunderstorms) • Atmospheric moisture variations and dry layers aloft • Circulation features not identifiable by other wx data • Cloud types and temperatures • Tropical rainfall estimates • Arctic sea ice movement and melt |
