Earth:Weather forecasting

From HandWiki
Short description: Science and technology application


Forecast of surface pressures five days into the future for the North Pacific, North America, and the North Atlantic Ocean

Weather forecasting is the application of science and technology to predict the conditions of the atmosphere for a given location and time. People have attempted to predict the weather informally for millennia and formally since the 19th century.

Weather forecasts are made by collecting quantitative data about the current state of the atmosphere, land, and ocean and using meteorology to project how the atmosphere will change at a given place.

Once calculated manually based mainly upon changes in barometric pressure, current weather conditions, and sky conditions or cloud cover, weather forecasting now relies on computer-based models that take many atmospheric factors into account.[1] Human input is still required to pick the best possible model to base the forecast upon, which involves pattern recognition skills, teleconnections, knowledge of model performance, and knowledge of model biases.

The inaccuracy of forecasting is due to the chaotic nature of the atmosphere, the massive computational power required to solve the equations that describe the atmosphere, the land, and the ocean, the error involved in measuring the initial conditions, and an incomplete understanding of atmospheric and related processes. Hence, forecasts become less accurate as the difference between the current time and the time for which the forecast is being made (the range of the forecast) increases. The use of ensembles and model consensus helps narrow the error and provide confidence in the forecast.

There is a vast variety of end uses for weather forecasts. Weather warnings are important because they are used to protect lives and property. Forecasts based on temperature and precipitation are important to agriculture, and therefore to traders within commodity markets. Temperature forecasts are used by utility companies to estimate demand over coming days.

On an everyday basis, many people use weather forecasts to determine what to wear on a given day. Since outdoor activities are severely curtailed by heavy rain, snow and wind chill, forecasts can be used to plan activities around these events, and to plan ahead and survive them.

Weather forecasting is a part of the economy. For example in 2009, the US spent approximately $5.8 billion on it, producing benefits estimated at six times as much.[2]


History

Ancient forecasting

In 650 BC, the Babylonians predicted the weather from cloud patterns as well as astrology. In about 350 BC, Aristotle described weather patterns in Meteorologica.[3] Later, Theophrastus compiled a book on weather forecasting, called the Book of Signs.[4] Chinese weather prediction lore extends at least as far back as 300 BC,[5] which was also around the same time ancient Indian astronomers developed weather-prediction methods.[6] In New Testament times, Jesus himself referred to deciphering and understanding local weather patterns, by saying, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red', and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times."[7]

In 904 AD, Ibn Wahshiyya's Nabatean Agriculture, translated into Arabic from an earlier Aramaic work,[8] discussed the weather forecasting of atmospheric changes and signs from the planetary astral alterations; signs of rain based on observation of the lunar phases; and weather forecasts based on the movement of winds.[9]

Ancient weather forecasting methods usually relied on observed patterns of events, also termed pattern recognition. For example, it was observed that if the sunset was particularly red, the following day often brought fair weather. This experience accumulated over the generations to produce weather lore. However, not all[which?] of these predictions prove reliable, and many of them have since been found not to stand up to rigorous statistical testing.[10]

Modern methods

The Royal Charter sank in an October 1859 storm, stimulating the establishment of modern weather forecasting.

It was not until the invention of the electric telegraph in 1835 that the modern age of weather forecasting began.[11] Before that, the fastest that distant weather reports could travel was around 160 kilometres per day (100 mi/d), but was more typically 60–120 kilometres per day (40–75 mi/day) (whether by land or by sea).[12][13] By the late 1840s, the telegraph allowed reports of weather conditions from a wide area to be received almost instantaneously,[14] allowing forecasts to be made from knowledge of weather conditions further upwind.

The two men credited with the birth of forecasting as a science were an officer of the Royal Navy Francis Beaufort and his protégé Robert FitzRoy. Both were influential men in British naval and governmental circles, and though ridiculed in the press at the time, their work gained scientific credence, was accepted by the Royal Navy, and formed the basis for all of today's weather forecasting knowledge.[15][16]

Beaufort developed the Wind Force Scale and Weather Notation coding, which he was to use in his journals for the remainder of his life. He also promoted the development of reliable tide tables around British shores, and with his friend William Whewell, expanded weather record-keeping at 200 British coast guard stations.

Robert FitzRoy was appointed in 1854 as chief of a new department within the Board of Trade to deal with the collection of weather data at sea as a service to mariners. This was the forerunner of the modern Meteorological Office.[16] All ship captains were tasked with collating data on the weather and computing it, with the use of tested instruments that were loaned for this purpose.[17]

Weather map of Europe, December 10, 1887

A storm in October 1859 that caused the loss of the Royal Charter inspired FitzRoy to develop charts to allow predictions to be made, which he called "forecasting the weather", thus coining the term "weather forecast".[17] Fifteen land stations were established to use the telegraph to transmit to him daily reports of weather at set times leading to the first gale warning service. His warning service for shipping was initiated in February 1861, with the use of telegraph communications. The first daily weather forecasts were published in The Times in 1861.[16] In the following year a system was introduced of hoisting storm warning cones at the principal ports when a gale was expected.[18] The "Weather Book" which FitzRoy published in 1863 was far in advance of the scientific opinion of the time.

As the electric telegraph network expanded, allowing for the more rapid dissemination of warnings, a national observational network was developed, which could then be used to provide synoptic analyses. To shorten detailed weather reports into more affordable telegrams, senders encoded weather information in telegraphic code, such as the one developed by the U.S. Army Signal Corps.[19] Instruments to continuously record variations in meteorological parameters using photography were supplied to the observing stations from Kew Observatory – these cameras had been invented by Francis Ronalds in 1845 and his barograph had earlier been used by FitzRoy.[20][21]

To convey accurate information, it soon became necessary to have a standard vocabulary describing clouds; this was achieved by means of a series of classifications first achieved by Luke Howard in 1802, and standardized in the International Cloud Atlas of 1896.

Numerical prediction

Main page: Earth:History of numerical weather prediction

It was not until the 20th century that advances in the understanding of atmospheric physics led to the foundation of modern numerical weather prediction. In 1922, English scientist Lewis Fry Richardson published "Weather Prediction By Numerical Process",[22] after finding notes and derivations he worked on as an ambulance driver in World War I. He described therein how small terms in the prognostic fluid dynamics equations governing atmospheric flow could be neglected, and a finite differencing scheme in time and space could be devised, to allow numerical prediction solutions to be found.

Richardson envisioned a large auditorium of thousands of people performing the calculations and passing them to others. However, the sheer number of calculations required was too large to be completed without the use of computers, and the size of the grid and time steps led to unrealistic results in deepening systems. It was later found, through numerical analysis, that this was due to numerical instability.[23] The first computerised weather forecast was performed by a team composed of American meteorologists Jule Charney, Philip Duncan Thompson, Larry Gates, and Norwegian meteorologist Ragnar Fjørtoft, applied mathematician John von Neumann, and ENIAC programmer Klara Dan von Neumann.[24][25][26] Practical use of numerical weather prediction began in 1955,[27] spurred by the development of programmable electronic computers.

Broadcasts

The first ever daily weather forecasts were published in The Times on August 1, 1861, and the first weather maps were produced later in the same year.[28] In 1911, the Met Office began issuing the first marine weather forecasts via radio transmission. These included gale and storm warnings for areas around Great Britain.[29] In the United States, the first public radio forecasts were made in 1925 by Edward B. "E.B." Rideout, on WEEI, the Edison Electric Illuminating station in Boston.[30] Rideout came from the U.S. Weather Bureau, as did WBZ weather forecaster G. Harold Noyes in 1931.

BBC television weather chart for November 13, 1936

The world's first televised weather forecasts, including the use of weather maps, were experimentally broadcast by the BBC in November 1936.[31] This was brought into practice in 1949, after World War II.[31] George Cowling gave the first weather forecast while being televised in front of the map in 1954.[32][33] In America, experimental television forecasts were made by James C. Fidler in Cincinnati in either 1940 or 1947[clarification needed] on the DuMont Television Network.[30][34] In the late 1970s and early 1980s, John Coleman, the first weatherman for the American Broadcasting Company (ABC)'s Good Morning America, pioneered the use of on-screen weather satellite data and computer graphics for television forecasts.[35] In 1982, Coleman partnered with Landmark Communications CEO Frank Batten to launch The Weather Channel (TWC), a 24-hour cable network devoted to national and local weather reports. Some weather channels have started broadcasting on live streaming platforms such as YouTube and Periscope to reach more viewers.

Numerical weather prediction

An example of 500 mbar geopotential height and absolute vorticity prediction from a numerical weather prediction model
Main page: Earth:Numerical weather prediction

The basic idea of numerical weather prediction is to sample the state of the fluid at a given time and use the equations of fluid dynamics and thermodynamics to estimate the state of the fluid at some time in the future. The main inputs from country-based weather services are surface observations from automated weather stations at ground level over land and from weather buoys at sea. The World Meteorological Organization acts to standardize the instrumentation, observing practices and timing of these observations worldwide. Stations either report hourly in METAR reports,[36] or every six hours in SYNOP reports.[37] Sites launch radiosondes, which rise through the depth of the troposphere and well into the stratosphere.[38] Data from weather satellites are used in areas where traditional data sources are not available.[39][40][41] Compared with similar data from radiosondes, the satellite data has the advantage of global coverage, but at a lower accuracy and resolution.[42] Meteorological radar provide information on precipitation location and intensity, which can be used to estimate precipitation accumulations over time.[43] Additionally, if a pulse Doppler weather radar is used then wind speed and direction can be determined.[44] These methods, however, leave an in-situ observational gap in the lower atmosphere (from 100 m to 6 km above ground level). To reduce this gap, in the late 1990s weather drones started to be considered for obtaining data from those altitudes. Research has been growing significantly since the 2010s, and weather-drone data may in future be added to numerical weather models.[45][46]

Modern weather predictions aid in timely evacuations and potentially save lives and prevent property damage

Commerce provides pilot reports along aircraft routes,[47] and ship reports along shipping routes. Research flights using reconnaissance aircraft fly in and around weather systems of interest such as tropical cyclones.[48][49] Reconnaissance aircraft are also flown over the open oceans during the cold season into systems that cause significant uncertainty in forecast guidance, or are expected to be of high impact 3–7 days into the future over the downstream continent.[50]

Models are initialized using this observed data. The irregularly spaced observations are processed by data assimilation and objective analysis methods, which perform quality control and obtain values at locations usable by the model's mathematical algorithms (usually an evenly spaced grid). The data are then used in the model as the starting point for a forecast.[51] Commonly, the set of equations used to predict the physics and dynamics of the atmosphere are called primitive equations. These are initialized from the analysis data and rates of change are determined. The rates of change predict the state of the atmosphere a short time into the future. The equations are then applied to this new atmospheric state to find new rates of change, which predict the atmosphere at a yet further time into the future. This time stepping procedure is continually repeated until the solution reaches the desired forecast time.

The length of the time step chosen within the model is related to the distance between the points on the computational grid, and is chosen to maintain numerical stability.[52] Time steps for global models are on the order of tens of minutes,[53] while time steps for regional models are between one and four minutes.[54] The global models are run at varying times into the future. The Met Office's Unified Model is run six days into the future,[55] the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts model is run out to 10 days into the future,[56] while the Global Forecast System model run by the Environmental Modeling Center is run 16 days into the future.[57] The visual output produced by a model solution is known as a prognostic chart, or prog.[58] The raw output is often modified before being presented as the forecast. This can be in the form of statistical techniques to remove known biases in the model, or of adjustment to take into account consensus among other numerical weather forecasts.[59] MOS or model output statistics is a technique used to interpret numerical model output and produce site-specific guidance. This guidance is presented in coded numerical form, and can be obtained for nearly all National Weather Service reporting stations in the United States. As proposed by Edward Lorenz in 1963, long range forecasts, those made at a range of two weeks or more cannot definitively predict the state of the atmosphere, owing to the chaotic nature of the fluid dynamics equations involved. In numerical models, extremely small errors in initial values double roughly every five days for variables such as temperature and wind velocity.[60]

Essentially, a model is a computer program that produces meteorological information for future times at given locations and altitudes. Within any modern model is a set of equations, known as the primitive equations, used to predict the future state of the atmosphere.[61] These equations—along with the ideal gas law—are used to evolve the density, pressure, and potential temperature scalar fields and the velocity vector field of the atmosphere through time. Additional transport equations for pollutants and other aerosols are included in some primitive-equation mesoscale models as well.[62] The equations used are nonlinear partial differential equations, which are impossible to solve exactly through analytical methods,[63] with the exception of a few idealized cases.[64] Therefore, numerical methods obtain approximate solutions. Different models use different solution methods: some global models use spectral methods for the horizontal dimensions and finite difference methods for the vertical dimension, while regional and other global models usually use finite-difference methods in all three dimensions.[63]

Techniques

Persistence

The simplest method of forecasting the weather, persistence, relies upon today's conditions to forecast tomorrow's. This can be a valid way of forecasting the weather when it is in a steady state, such as during the summer season in the tropics. This method strongly depends upon the presence of a stagnant weather pattern. Therefore, when in a fluctuating pattern, it becomes inaccurate. It can be useful in both short- and long-range forecast|long range forecasts.[65]

Use of a barometer

Measurements of barometric pressure and the pressure tendency (the change of pressure over time) have been used in forecasting since the late 19th century.[66] The larger the change in pressure, especially if more than 3.5 hPa (2.6 mmHg), the larger the change in weather can be expected. If the pressure drop is rapid, a low pressure system is approaching, and there is a greater chance of rain. Rapid pressure rises are associated with improving weather conditions, such as clearing skies.[67]

Looking at the sky

Marestail shows moisture at high altitude, signalling the later arrival of wet weather.

Along with pressure tendency, the condition of the sky is one of the more important parameters used to forecast weather in mountainous areas. Thickening of cloud cover or the invasion of a higher cloud deck is indicative of rain in the near future. High thin cirrostratus clouds can create halos around the sun or moon, which indicates an approach of a warm front and its associated rain.[68] Morning fog portends fair conditions, as rainy conditions are preceded by wind or clouds that prevent fog formation. The approach of a line of thunderstorms could indicate the approach of a cold front. Cloud-free skies are indicative of fair weather for the near future.[69] A bar can indicate a coming tropical cyclone. The use of sky cover in weather prediction has led to various weather lore over the centuries.[10]

Nowcasting

Main page: Astronomy:Nowcasting (meteorology)

The forecasting of the weather within the next six hours is often referred to as nowcasting.[70] In this time range it is possible to forecast smaller features such as individual showers and thunderstorms with reasonable accuracy, as well as other features too small to be resolved by a computer model. A human given the latest radar, satellite and observational data will be able to make a better analysis of the small scale features present and so will be able to make a more accurate forecast for the following few hours.[71] However, there are now expert systems using those data and mesoscale numerical model to make better extrapolation, including evolution of those features in time. Accuweather is known for a Minute-Cast, which is a minute-by-minute precipitation forecast for the next two hours.

Use of forecasting models

An example of 500 mbar geopotential height prediction from a numerical weather prediction model

In the past, the human forecaster was responsible for generating the entire weather forecast based upon available observations.[72] Today, human input is generally confined to choosing a model based on various parameters, such as model biases and performance.[73] Using a consensus of forecast models, as well as ensemble members of the various models, can help reduce forecast error.[74] However, regardless how small the average error becomes with any individual system, large errors within any particular piece of guidance are still possible on any given model run.[75] Humans are required to interpret the model data into weather forecasts that are understandable to the end user. Humans can use knowledge of local effects that may be too small in size to be resolved by the model to add information to the forecast. While increasing accuracy of forecasting models implies that humans may no longer be needed in the forecasting process at some point in the future, there is currently still a need for human intervention.[76]

Analog technique

The analog technique is a complex way of making a forecast, requiring the forecaster to remember a previous weather event that is expected to be mimicked by an upcoming event. What makes it a difficult technique to use is that there is rarely a perfect analog for an event in the future.[77] Some call this type of forecasting pattern recognition. It remains a useful method of observing rainfall over data voids such as oceans,[78] as well as the forecasting of precipitation amounts and distribution in the future. A similar technique is used in medium range forecasting, which is known as teleconnections, when systems in other locations are used to help pin down the location of another system within the surrounding regime.[79] An example of teleconnections are by using El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) related phenomena.[80]

Communicating forecasts to the public

An example of a two-day weather forecast in the visual style that an American newspaper might use. Temperatures are given in Fahrenheit.

Most end users of forecasts are members of the general public. Thunderstorms can create strong winds and dangerous lightning strikes that can lead to deaths, power outages,[81] and widespread hail damage. Heavy snow or rain can bring transportation and commerce to a stand-still,[82] as well as cause flooding in low-lying areas.[83] Excessive heat or cold waves can sicken or kill those with inadequate utilities, and droughts can impact water usage and destroy vegetation.

Several countries employ government agencies to provide forecasts and watches/warnings/advisories to the public to protect life and property and maintain commercial interests. Knowledge of what the end user needs from a weather forecast must be taken into account to present the information in a useful and understandable way. Examples include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service (NWS)[84] and Environment Canada's Meteorological Service (MSC).[85] Traditionally, newspaper, television, and radio have been the primary outlets for presenting weather forecast information to the public. In addition, some cities had weather beacons. Increasingly, the internet is being used due to the vast amount of specific information that can be found.[86] In all cases, these outlets update their forecasts on a regular basis.

Severe weather alerts and advisories

A major part of modern weather forecasting is the severe weather alerts and advisories that the national weather services issue in the case that severe or hazardous weather is expected. This is done to protect life and property.[87] Some of the most commonly known of severe weather advisories are the severe thunderstorm and tornado warning, as well as the severe thunderstorm and tornado watch. Other forms of these advisories include winter weather, high wind, flood, tropical cyclone, and fog.[88] Severe weather advisories and alerts are broadcast through the media, including radio, using emergency systems as the Emergency Alert System, which break into regular programming.[89]

Low temperature forecast

The low temperature forecast for the current day is calculated using the lowest temperature found between 7 pm that evening through 7 am the following morning.[90] So, in short, today's forecasted low is most likely tomorrow's low temperature.

Specialist forecasting

There are a number of sectors with their own specific needs for weather forecasts and specialist services are provided to these users as given below:

Air traffic

Ash cloud from the 2008 eruption of Chaitén volcano stretching across Patagonia from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean

Because the aviation industry is especially sensitive to the weather, accurate weather forecasting is essential. Fog or exceptionally low ceilings can prevent many aircraft from landing and taking off.[91] Turbulence and icing are also significant in-flight hazards.[92] Thunderstorms are a problem for all aircraft because of severe turbulence due to their updrafts and outflow boundaries,[93] icing due to the heavy precipitation, as well as large hail, strong winds, and lightning, all of which can cause severe damage to an aircraft in flight.[94] Volcanic ash is also a significant problem for aviation, as aircraft can lose engine power within ash clouds.[95] On a day-to-day basis airliners are routed to take advantage of the jet stream tailwind to improve fuel efficiency.[96] Aircrews are briefed prior to takeoff on the conditions to expect en route and at their destination.[97] Additionally, airports often change which runway is being used to take advantage of a headwind. This reduces the distance required for takeoff, and eliminates potential crosswinds.[98]

Marine

Commercial and recreational use of waterways can be limited significantly by wind direction and speed, wave periodicity and heights, tides, and precipitation. These factors can each influence the safety of marine transit. Consequently, a variety of codes have been established to efficiently transmit detailed marine weather forecasts to vessel pilots via radio, for example the MAFOR (marine forecast).[99] Typical weather forecasts can be received at sea through the use of RTTY, Navtex and Radiofax.

Agriculture

Farmers rely on weather forecasts to decide what work to do on any particular day. For example, drying hay is only feasible in dry weather. Prolonged periods of dryness can ruin cotton, wheat,[100] and corn crops. While corn crops can be ruined by drought, their dried remains can be used as a cattle feed substitute in the form of silage.[101] Frosts and freezes play havoc with crops both during the spring and fall. For example, peach trees in full bloom can have their potential peach crop decimated by a spring freeze.[102] Orange groves can suffer significant damage during frosts and freezes, regardless of their timing.[103]

Forestry

Forecasting of wind, precipitation and humidity is essential for preventing and controlling wildfires. Indices such as the Forest fire weather index and the Haines Index, have been developed to predict the areas more at risk of fire from natural or human causes. Conditions for the development of harmful insects can also be predicted by forecasting the weather.

Utility companies

An air handling unit is used for the heating and cooling of air in a central location (click on image for legend).
Main page: Physics:Degree day

Electricity and gas companies rely on weather forecasts to anticipate demand, which can be strongly affected by the weather. They use the quantity termed the degree day to determine how strong of a use there will be for heating (heating degree day) or cooling (cooling degree day). These quantities are based on a daily average temperature of 65 °F (18 °C). Cooler temperatures force heating degree days (one per degree Fahrenheit), while warmer temperatures force cooling degree days.[104] In winter, severe cold weather can cause a surge in demand as people turn up their heating.[105] Similarly, in summer a surge in demand can be linked with the increased use of air conditioning systems in hot weather.[106] By anticipating a surge in demand, utility companies can purchase additional supplies of power or natural gas before the price increases, or in some circumstances, supplies are restricted through the use of brownouts and blackouts.[107]

Other commercial companies

Increasingly, private companies pay for weather forecasts tailored to their needs so that they can increase their profits or avoid large losses.[108] For example, supermarket chains may change the stocks on their shelves in anticipation of different consumer spending habits in different weather conditions. Weather forecasts can be used to invest in the commodity market, such as futures in oranges, corn, soybeans, and oil.[109]

Military applications

United Kingdom Armed Forces

Royal Navy

The UK Royal Navy, working with the UK Met Office, has its own specialist branch of weather observers and forecasters, as part of the Hydrographic and Meteorological (HM) specialisation, who monitor and forecast operational conditions across the globe, to provide accurate and timely weather and oceanographic information to submarines, ships and Fleet Air Arm aircraft.

Royal Air Force

A mobile unit in the RAF, working with the UK Met Office, forecasts the weather for regions in which British, allied servicemen and women are deployed. A group based at Camp Bastion provides forecasts for the British armed forces in Afghanistan.[110]

United States Armed Forces

US Navy

Emblem of JTWC Joint Typhoon Warning Center

Similar to the private sector, military weather forecasters present weather conditions to the war fighter community. Military weather forecasters provide pre-flight and in-flight weather briefs to pilots and provide real time resource protection services for military installations. Naval forecasters cover the waters and ship weather forecasts. The United States Navy provides a special service to both themselves and the rest of the federal government by issuing forecasts for tropical cyclones across the Pacific and Indian Oceans through their Joint Typhoon Warning Center.[111]

US Air Force

Within the United States, Air Force Weather provides weather forecasting for the Air Force and the Army. United States Air Force forecasters cover air operations in both wartime and peacetime operations and provide Army support;[112] United States Coast Guard marine science technicians provide ship forecasts for ice breakers and other various operations within their realm;[113] and Marine forecasters provide support for ground- and air-based United States Marine Corps operations.[114] All four military branches take their initial enlisted meteorology technical training at Keesler Air Force Base .[115] Military and civilian forecasters actively cooperate in analyzing, creating and critiquing weather forecast products.

See also

References

  1. Dirmeyer, Paul A.; Schlosser, C. Adam; Brubaker, Kaye L. (February 1, 2009). "Precipitation, Recycling, and Land Memory: An Integrated Analysis". Journal of Hydrometeorology 10 (1): 278–288. doi:10.1175/2008JHM1016.1. Bibcode2009JHyMe..10..278D. https://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/1721.1/52326/1/Dirmeyer-2009-Precipitation%2c%20Recyc.pdf. 
  2. Fostering Innovation, Creating Jobs, Driving Better Decisions: The Value of Government Data. Economics and Statistics Administration Office of the Chief Economist. July 2014. p. 15. http://www.esa.doc.gov/Reports/fostering-innovation-creating-jobs-driving-better-decisions-value-government-data. Retrieved December 30, 2018. 
  3. "94.05.01: Meteorology". http://teachersinstitute.yale.edu/curriculum/units/1994/5/94.05.01.x.html. 
  4. "Weather: Forecasting from the Beginning". https://www.infoplease.com/math-science/weather/weather-forecasting-from-the-beginning. 
  5. University of California Museum of Paleontology. "Aristotle (384-322 B.C.E.) ". Retrieved January 12, 2008.
  6. David Pingree (December 14, 2017). "The Indian and Pseudo-indian Passages in Greek and Latin Astronomical and Astrological Texts". pp. 141–195 [143–4]. http://brepols.metapress.com/content/6861608670636388/fulltext.pdf. [yes|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
  7. "Bible Gateway passage: Matthew 16:2–3 – English Standard Version". https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+16:2-3&version=ESV. 
  8. Carrara, A.A (2006). "Geoponica and Nabatean Agriculture: A New Approach into Their Sources and Authorship". Arabic Sciences and Philosophy 16 (1): 123–130. doi:10.1017/s0957423906000245. 
  9. Fahd, Toufic. Encyclopedia of the History of Arabic Science. p. 842. , in Rashed, Roshdi; Morelon, Régis (1996). Encyclopedia of the History of Arabic Science. 3. Routledge. pp. 813–852. ISBN 978-0-415-12410-2. 
  10. 10.0 10.1 Jerry Wilson. "Skywatch: Signs of the Weather". http://wilstar.com/skywatch.htm#indicators. 
  11. David Hochfelder (1998). "Joseph Henry: Inventor of the Telegraph?". Smithsonian Institution. http://www.si.edu/archives/ihd/jhp/joseph20.htm. 
  12. Ausman, Megaera. "USPS Historian". About the United States Postal Service. USPS. http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/overland-mail.htm. 
  13. Mail, Royal. "(UK)". British Postal Museum. Postal Heritage Trust. http://postalheritage.org.uk/page/Mail-Coaches. 
  14. Encyclopædia Britannica. "Telegraph". Retrieved May 5, 2007.
  15. Eric D. Craft (2003). "An Economic History of Weather Forecasting". https://eh.net/encyclopedia/an-economic-history-of-weather-forecasting/. 
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 "The birth of the weather forecast". BBC News. April 30, 2015. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-32483678. 
  17. 17.0 17.1 Mellersh, H. E. L. (1968). FitzRoy of the Beagle. Hart-Davis. ISBN:0-246-97452-4
  18. Kington, John (1997). Mike Hulme and Elaine Barrow. ed. Climates of the British Isles: Present, Past and Future. Routledge. p. 147. 
  19. Karimi, Faith (January 15, 2024). "A woman bought a vintage dress at an antique store. It had a secret pocket with a mysterious note". CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/15/us/antique-dress-maine-encrypted-message-cec/index.html. 
  20. Ronalds, B. F. (2016). Sir Francis Ronalds: Father of the Electric Telegraph. London: Imperial College Press. ISBN 978-1-78326-917-4. 
  21. Ronalds, B. F. (June 2016). "Sir Francis Ronalds and the Early Years of the Kew Observatory". Weather 71 (6): 131–134. doi:10.1002/wea.2739. Bibcode2016Wthr...71..131R. 
  22. Richardson, Lewis Fry, Weather Prediction by Numerical Process (Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1922). Available on-line at: Internet Archive.org.
  23. Lynch, Peter (2006). The Emergence of Numerical Weather Prediction. Cambridge University Press
  24. Charney, J. G.; Fjörtoft, R.; von Neumann, J. (1950). "Numerical Integration of the Barotropic Vorticity Equation". Tellus 2 (4): 237–254. doi:10.3402/tellusa.v2i4.8607. Bibcode1950Tell....2..237C. 
  25. Witman, Sarah (June 16, 2017). "Meet the Computer Scientist You Should Thank For Your Smartphone's Weather App". Smithsonian. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/meet-computer-scientist-you-should-thank-your-phone-weather-app-180963716/. Retrieved July 22, 2017. 
  26. Edwards, Paul N. (2010). A Vast Machine: Computer Models, Climate Data, and the Politics of Global Warming. The MIT Press. ISBN 978-0262013925. http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?ttype=2&tid=12080. 
  27. Paul N. Edwards. "Atmospheric General Circulation Modeling". Retrieved February 16, 2007.
  28. Helen Czerski (August 1, 2011). "Orbit: Earth's Extraordinary Journey: 150 years since the first UK weather "forecast"". BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/23degrees/2011/08/150_years_since_the_first_uk_w.html. 
  29. Met Office (2012). "National Meteorological Library and Fact Sheet 8 – The Shipping Forecast". pp. 3–5. http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/media/pdf/1/f/Fact_sheet_No._8.pdf. 
  30. 30.0 30.1 "meteorology Facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles about meteorology". Encyclopedia.com. http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3401802621.html. Retrieved February 21, 2014. 
  31. 31.0 31.1 "BBC Centenary: BBC Weather's most memorable moments - BBC Weather". https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/60154358. 
  32. "BBC – Weather – A history of TV weather forecasts". http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/hi/about/newsid_7833000/7833282.stm. 
  33. Hunt, Roger (2007). "The end of weather forecasting at Met Office London". Weather 62 (6): 143–146. doi:10.1002/wea.81. Bibcode2007Wthr...62..143H. 
  34. "Answers: Understanding weather forecasts". USA Today. February 8, 2006. https://www.usatoday.com/weather/wforund.htm. 
  35. CJR Rewind: Hot Air, Columbia Journalism Review, reprint, first published in the January/February 2010 issue.
  36. National Climatic Data Center. "Key to METAR Surface Weather Observations" . Retrieved March 9, 2008.
  37. UNISYS. "SYNOP Data Format (FM-12): Surface Synoptic Observations". Retrieved May 25, 2008.
  38. Gaffen, Dian J. (June 7, 2007). "Radiosonde Observations and Their Use in SPARC-Related Investigations". Retrieved May 25, 2008.
  39. NASA. "Interactive Global Composite Weather Satellite Images" . Retrieved May 25, 2008.
  40. NOAA. Goes Eastern US Sector Infrared Image. Retrieved May 25, 2008.
  41. Met Office. "Satellite applications". Retrieved May 25, 2008.
  42. Tony Reale. "ATOVS Sounding Products (ITSVC-12)". Retrieved May 25, 2008.
  43. Andrew Treloar and Peter Brookhouse (July 1999). "The use of accumulated rainfall maps from weather radar systems to assist wildfire detection reconnaissance". http://www.csu.edu.au/special/bushfire99/papers/treloar/. 
  44. University of Washington. "An improving forecast". Retrieved April 15, 2007
  45. Pinto, James O.; O’Sullivan, Debbie; Taylor, Stewart; Elston, Jack; Baker, C. B.; Hotz, David; Marshall, Curtis; Jacob, Jamey et al. (November 1, 2021). "The Status and Future of Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) in Operational Meteorology" (in EN). Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 102 (11): E2121–E2136. doi:10.1175/BAMS-D-20-0138.1. ISSN 0003-0007. Bibcode2021BAMS..102E2121P. 
  46. "Workshop on Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) for Operational Meteorology". November 14, 2022. https://library.wmo.int/doc_num.php?explnum_id=9951. 
  47. Ballish, Bradley A. and V. Krishna Kumar (May 23, 2008). "Investigation of Systematic Differences in Aircraft and Radiosonde Temperatures with Implications for NWP and Climate Studies" . Retrieved May 25, 2008.
  48. 403rd Wing (2011). "The Hurricane Hunters". 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron. http://www.hurricanehunters.com. 
  49. Lee, Christopher (October 8, 2007). "Drone, Sensors May Open Path Into Eye of Storm". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/07/AR2007100700971_pf.html. 
  50. "NOAA Dispatches High-Tech Research Plane to Improve Winter Storm Forecasts". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. January 12, 2010. http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20100112_plane.html. 
  51. University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (August 14, 2007). "The WRF Variational Data Assimilation System (WRF-Var)". Retrieved May 25, 2008.
  52. Pielke, Roger A. (2002). Mesoscale Meteorological Modeling. Academic Press. pp. 285–287. ISBN 978-0-12-554766-6. 
  53. Sunderam, V. S.; van Albada, G. Dick; Peter, M. A.; Sloot, J. J. Dongarra (2005). Computational Science – ICCS 2005: 5th International Conference, Atlanta, GA, USA, May 22–25, 2005, Proceedings, Part 1. Springer. p. 132. ISBN 978-3-540-26032-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=JZikIbXzipwC&pg=PA131. 
  54. Zwieflhofer, Walter; Kreitz, Norbert; European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (2001). Developments in teracomputing: proceedings of the ninth ECMWF Workshop on the Use of High Performance Computing in Meteorology. World Scientific. p. 276. ISBN 978-981-02-4761-4. https://books.google.com/books?id=UV6PnF2z5_wC&pg=PA276. 
  55. Chan, Johnny C. L.; Jeffrey D. Kepert (2010). Global Perspectives on Tropical Cyclones: From Science to Mitigation. World Scientific. pp. 295–296. ISBN 978-981-4293-47-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=6gFiunmKWWAC&pg=PA297. 
  56. Holton, James R. (2004). An introduction to dynamic meteorology, Volume 1. Academic Press. p. 480. ISBN 978-0-12-354015-7. https://books.google.com/books?id=fhW5oDv3EPsC&pg=PA474. 
  57. Brown, Molly E. (2008). Famine early warning systems and remote sensing data. Springer. p. 121. ISBN 978-3-540-75367-4. Bibcode2008fews.book.....B. https://books.google.com/books?id=mTZvR3R6YdkC&pg=PA121. 
  58. Ahrens, C. Donald (2008). Essentials of meteorology: an invitation to the atmosphere. Cengage Learning. p. 244. ISBN 978-0-495-11558-8. https://books.google.com/books?id=2Yn29IFukbgC&pg=PA244. 
  59. Daniel Andersson (2007). "Improved accuracy of surrogate models using output postprocessing". Retrieved May 25, 2008.
  60. Cox, John D. (2002). Storm Watchers. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.. pp. 222–224. ISBN 978-0-471-38108-2. https://archive.org/details/stormwatcherstur00cox_df1/page/222. 
  61. Pielke, Roger A. (2002). Mesoscale Meteorological Modeling. Academic Press. pp. 48–49. ISBN 978-0-12-554766-6. 
  62. Pielke, Roger A. (2002). Mesoscale Meteorological Modeling. Academic Press. pp. 18–19. ISBN 978-0-12-554766-6. 
  63. 63.0 63.1 Strikwerda, John C. (2004). Finite difference schemes and partial differential equations. SIAM. pp. 165–170. ISBN 978-0-89871-567-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=SH8R_flZBGIC&pg=PA165. 
  64. Pielke, Roger A. (2002). Mesoscale Meteorological Modeling. Academic Press. p. 65. ISBN 978-0-12-554766-6. 
  65. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. "Persistence Forecasting: Today equals Tomorrow". Retrieved February 16, 2007.
  66. USA Today. "Understanding air pressure" . Retrieved May 25, 2008.
  67. Weather Doctor. "Applying The Barometer To Weather Watching". Retrieved May 25, 2008.
  68. Dennis Eskow (March 1983). "Make Your Own Weather Forecasts". Popular Mechanics 159 (3): 148. https://books.google.com/books?id=KtkDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA148. Retrieved April 2, 2011. 
  69. Mark Moore (March 25, 2009). "Field Forecasting – A Short Summary". Retrieved February 15, 2012.
  70. Glossary of Meteorology. [1] Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  71. E-notes.com. Weather and Climate | What Is Nowcasting? Retrieved September 8, 2011.
  72. NASA. "Weather Forecasting Through the Ages" . Retrieved May 25, 2008.
  73. Klaus Weickmann, Jeff Whitaker, Andres Roubicek and Catherine Smith (December 1, 2001). "The Use of Ensemble Forecasts to Produce Improved Medium Range (3–15 days) Weather Forecasts". Climate Diagnostics Center. Retrieved February 16, 2007.
  74. Todd Kimberlain (June 2007). "TC Genesis, Track, and Intensity Forecating". PowerPoint. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
  75. Richard J. Pasch, Mike Fiorino, and Chris Landsea. "TPC/NHC'S Review of the NCEP Production Suite for 2006". Retrieved May 5, 2008.[|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
  76. Roebber, P. J.; Bosart, L. F. (1996). "The complex relationship between forecasting skill and forecast value : A real-world analysis". Weather and Forecasting 11 (4): 544–559. doi:10.1175/1520-0434(1996)011<0544:TCRBFS>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0882-8156. Bibcode1996WtFor..11..544R. http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=2512901. Retrieved May 25, 2008. 
  77. "Other Forecasting Methods: climatology, analogue and numerical weather prediction". Retrieved February 16, 2006.
  78. Kenneth C. Allen. "Pattern Recognition Techniques Applied to the NASA-ACTS Order-Wire Problem". Retrieved February 16, 2007.
  79. Weather Associates, Inc. "The Role of Teleconnections & Ensemble Forecasting in Extended- to Medium-Range Forecasting". Retrieved February 16, 2007.
  80. Thinkquest.org. "Teleconnections: Linking El Niño with Other Places". Retrieved February 16, 2007.
  81. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. "Lightning". Retrieved February 16, 2007.
  82. Associated Press (February 10, 2007). "Upstate N.Y. residents dig out from heavy snow". NBC News. Retrieved May 25, 2008.
  83. National Flood Insurance Program. "Flood Risk Scenarios: Flash Flood". Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  84. National Weather Service. About "NOAA's National Weather Service". Retrieved February 16, 2007.
  85. Environment Canada. "Canadian Weather". Retrieved February 16, 2007.
  86. Canadian Heritage. "Primary Sources of Local Information". Retrieved May 26, 2008.
  87. National Weather Service. National Weather Service Mission Statement. Retrieved May 25, 2008.
  88. Environment Canada. "Weather watches, warnings and advisories". Retrieved May 26, 2008.
  89. Federal Communications Commission. "Emergency Alert System". Retrieved May 26, 2008.
  90. Weather Channel – Calculation of Low Temperature Forecast
  91. Government Printing Office. Title 14: "Aeronautics and Space". Retrieved May 26, 2008.
  92. Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. "Aircraft Icing". Retrieved May 26, 2008.
  93. National Weather Service Forecast Office Dodge City, Kansas. "Aviation Hazards They Didn't Tell You About". Retrieved May 26, 2008.
  94. Bureau of Meteorology (2006). "Aviation Hazards: Thunderstorms and Deep Convection" . Retrieved May 26, 2008.
  95. "Volcanic Ash Aviation Hazard". Retrieved May 26, 2008.
  96. Ned Rozell. "Amazing flying machines allow time travel". Retrieved May 8, 2008.
  97. National Weather Service. "A Pilot's Guide to Aviation Weather Services". Retrieved May 26, 2008.
  98. Eric C. King. "Takeoff Tools Crosswind Calculator Instructions". Retrieved May 26, 2008.
  99. Great Lakes and Seaway Shipping. "MAFOR Weather Code" . Retrieved May 27, 2008.
  100. Blair Fannin. "Dry weather conditions continue for Texas". Retrieved May 26, 2008.
  101. Dr. Terry Mader. "Drought Corn Silage". Retrieved May 26, 2008.
  102. Kathryn C. Taylor. "Peach Orchard Establishment and Young Tree Care". Retrieved May 26, 2008.
  103. "After Freeze, Counting Losses to Orange Crop". The New York Times. Associated Press. January 14, 1991. https://www.nytimes.com/1991/01/14/us/after-freeze-counting-losses-to-orange-crop.html. 
  104. Climate Prediction Center. "Degree Day Explanation" . Retrieved May 25, 2008.
  105. "Futures/Options; Cold Weather Brings Surge in Prices of Heating Fuels". The New York Times. February 26, 1993. https://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/26/business/futures-options-cold-weather-brings-surge-in-prices-of-heating-fuels.html. 
  106. BBC News (July 25, 2006) "Heatwave causes electricity surge". Retrieved May 25, 2008.
  107. Toronto Catholic Schools. "The Seven Key Messages of the Energy Drill Program". Retrieved May 25, 2008.
  108. CSIRO. "Providing specialized weather forecasts". Retrieved May 25, 2008.
  109. Stephen Jewson and Rodrigo Caballero. "The Use of Weather Forecasts in the Pricing of Weather Derivatives". Retrieved May 25, 2008.
  110. Met Office. "Weather forecasting for military operations" . Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  111. Joint Typhoon Warning Center. "Joint Typhoon Warning Center Mission Statement". Retrieved May 27, 2008.
  112. United States Air Force ."Air Force Weather Agency". Retrieved May 26, 2008.
  113. United States Military. "US Coast Guard Jobs – Enlisted Occupations" . Retrieved May 26, 2008.
  114. Rod Powers. "United States Marine Corps Enlisted Job Descriptions and Qualification Factors: Field 68 – Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC)". Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  115. Keesler Air Force Base . Military officers usually received their education from a civilian institution. "Keesler News: March 9, 2006" . United States Air Force Retrieved May 26, 2008.

Further reading

External links

      Please be cautious adding more external links.

Wikipedia is not a collection of links and should not be used for advertising.

    Excessive or inappropriate links will be removed.
See Wikipedia:External links and Wikipedia:Spam for details.

If there are already suitable links, propose additions or replacements on the article's talk page, or submit your link to the relevant category at the Open Directory Project (dmoz.org) and link there using forecasting Weather forecasting at Curlie. -->

Meteorological agencies

These are academic or governmental meteorology organizations. Most provide at least a limited forecast for their area of interest on their website.

Other external links