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