How do we use technology to predict the weather?

1 Answer
Dec 4, 2015

We use instruments to measure variables of the atmosphere at specific locations, and then we use computers to run models to determine the conditions between those sites.

Explanation:

Measure temperature, dewpoint and pressure allows us to determine what is occurring at a location. We then use a computer to determine what will happen if the air gets warmer or colder or has an increase or decrease in humidity. It is pretty easy to determine how the temperature and humidity are going to change, the result on the weather is a little more difficult.

After we have all the weather data from our observation sites we use a computer model to interpolate the conditions between the sites. We then use satellite photos and radar data to determine the accuracy of that prediction (called "ground truthing").