Science Common Sense
107 - How do scientists predict the weather?
Scientists use many tools and methods to predict the weather. Here's a simplified explanation:
- Weather Stations: There are thousands of weather stations on the ground, on mountains, and even in space. They collect data like temperature, humidity, wind speed, and air pressure.
- Radar and Satellites: Radar machines use radio waves to detect rain and storms. Satellites in space take pictures of clouds and storms from above.
- Computer Models: Scientists use supercomputers to analyze all the data from weather stations, radar, and satellites. These computers run special programs (like weather forecasting apps) to predict what the weather will be like tomorrow, next week, or even next month.
- Patterns: Scientists also look for patterns in the weather, like how the wind usually blows or how storms move. This helps them make better predictions.
All this data and information are combined to create a forecast, which is like a prediction of what the weather will be like. It's like solving a big puzzle, and scientists use science and math to make the puzzle pieces fit together!