Weather Forecasting

Modern weather forecasting is based on collecting a huge amount of data and then quickly processing this information so that predictions can be made. The sources of weather information are
  • Ground Weather Stations - both staffed and automatic
  • Radiosonde Balloons - gathers information from the upper atmosphere
  • Satellites - shows cloud patterns and snow cover
  • Radar - precipitation patterns
  • Aircraft
  • Weather Ships
  • Automatic Weather Buoys
The data is sent to the Meteorological Office in Bracknell where powerful computers process it into more useable and understandable synoptic charts. These are interpreted by the meteorologists who provide the forecasts for the public. Weather information is available from a wide range of sources, for example
  • Newspapers
  • Television, including teletext
  • Radio
  • Telephone
  • Internet e.g. The BBC or the Met Office

Clouds