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  • General

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  • 收集天气资料

    A meteorologist analyzing weather data on dual computer screens in an office setting.

     

    What does a meteorologist need before he or she can forecast the weather?
    ::气象学家需要什么才能预测天气?

    Data! A  meteorologist  needs  data  about the current conditions. There are many types of instruments available for collecting that data. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a 5- day    forecast today is as reliable as a 2-day forecast was 20 years ago.
    ::数据!气象学家需要关于当前状况的数据。 有很多类型的仪器可用于收集这些数据。 根据世界气象组织(气象组织)的数据,今天的五天预测与20年前的两天预测一样可靠。

    Predicting the Weather
    ::预测天气

    Weather is very difficult to predict. That’s because it’s very complex, and many factors are involved. Slight changes in even one factor can cause a big change in the weather. Still, certain “rules of thumb” generally apply. These “rules” help meteorologists forecast the weather. For example, low pressure is likely to bring stormy weather. So if a center of low pressure is moving your way, you can expect a  storm .
    ::天气是很难预测的。 这是因为天气非常复杂,而且涉及许多因素。 即使是一个因素的轻微变化都可能导致天气的重大变化。 尽管如此,某些“拇指规则”还是适用。 这些“规则”有助于气象学家预测天气。 比如,低压可能会带来暴风雨。 因此,如果低压中心在移动,你可以期待暴风雨。

    People often complain when the weather forecast is wrong. Weather forecasts today, however, are much more accurate than they were just 20 years ago. Scientists who study and forecast the weather are called meteorologists. How do they predict the weather?
    ::人们常常在天气预报错误时抱怨。 然而,今天的天气预报比20年前更准确。 研究和预报天气的科学家被称为气象学家。 他们如何预测天气?

    The first thing they need is data. Their data comes from various instruments.
    ::他们首先需要的是数据。他们的数据来自各种仪器。

    Weather Instruments
    ::气象仪器

    Weather instruments measure weather conditions. One of the most important conditions is  air pressure , which is measured with a  barometer  ( Figure   ). There are also a number of other commonly used weather instruments ( Figure   ):
    ::最重要的条件之一是气压,气压用气压计测量(图)。

    • A  thermometer  measures  .
      ::温度计测量
    • An  anemometer  measures  wind  speed.
      ::电磁计测量风速。
    • A  rain gauge  measures the amount of  rain .
      ::雨量计量雨量。
    • A  hygrometer  measures  .
      ::湿度计措施
    • A  wind vane  shows wind direction.
      ::风箱显示风向
    • A  snow gauge  measures the amount of  snow .
      ::积雪量量的积雪量

    Barometer showing mercury levels in response to air pressure changes.

     

    The greater the air pressure outside the tube, the higher the mercury rises inside the tube. Mercury can rise in the tube, because there’s no air pressing down on it.
    ::气管外的空气压力越大,汞在气管内上升越高。 汞可以在气管内上升,因为没有气压压压在气管上。

    Various weather instruments: rain gauge, snow gauge, thermometer, anemometer, wind vane.

     

    Some of the most commonly used weather instruments.
    ::一些最常用的气象仪器。

    Collecting Data
    ::收集数据

    Weather instruments collect data from all over the world at thousands of  weather stations  ( Figure   ). Many are on land, but some float in the oceans on buoys. There’s probably at least one weather station near you.
    ::气象仪器在数千个气象站收集来自世界各地的数据(图 ) 。 许多气象站在陆地上,但有些浮在浮标上的海洋中。 在你们附近可能至少有一个气象站。

    Other weather devices are needed to collect weather data in the  atmosphere . They include  weather balloons ,  satellites , and  radar  ( Figure   ).
    ::需要其他天气装置来收集大气中的天气数据,其中包括气象气球、卫星和雷达(图)。

    Four types of weather instruments: weather station, weather balloon, satellite, and radar.

     

    Weather stations collect data on land and sea. Weather balloons, satellites, and radar collect data in the atmosphere.
    ::气象站收集陆地和海洋数据,气象气球、卫星和雷达在大气中收集数据。

    Weather stations  contain many instruments for measuring weather conditions. The  weather balloon  ( Figure   ) will rise into the atmosphere until it bursts. As it rises, it will gather weather data and send it to the surface. Many  weather satellites   orbit  Earth. They constantly collect and transmit weather data from high above the surface. A radar device sends out  radio waves  in all directions. The waves bounce off  water  in the atmosphere and then return to the sender. The radar data shows where   is falling. It’s raining in the orange-shaded area shown above.
    ::气象站中有许多测量天气状况的仪器。 天气气球( Figure ) 将升入大气, 直至暴发。 当气球升起时, 它会收集天气数据并将其送至地表。 许多气象卫星都在地球轨道上运行。 它们不断从地表高处收集和传送天气数据。 雷达设备会向各个方向发出无线电波。 海浪会从大气中喷出水,然后返回发送者。 雷达数据显示哪里正在坠落。 上面显示的橘色阴影地区正在下雨 。

    Using Computers
    ::使用计算机

    What do meteorologists do with all that weather data? They use it in weather models. The models analyze the data and predict the weather. The models require computers. That’s because so many measurements and calculations are involved.
    ::气象学家对天气数据有什么用?他们用气象模型来分析这些数据并预测天气。模型需要计算机。这是因为涉及到了如此多的测量和计算。

    Summary
    ::摘要

    • Various instruments measure weather conditions: thermometers measure air temperature, and barometers measure air pressure.
      ::各种仪器测量天气条件:温度计测量空气温度,气压计测量空气压力。
    • Satellites monitor weather from above.
      ::卫星从上面监测天气。
    • Radar is used to monitor precipitation.
      ::雷达用于监测降水情况。

    Review
    ::回顾

    1. What can a barometer tell you about the coming weather?
      ::气压计能告诉你什么即将到来的天气?
    1. Why is weather prediction better than it used to be?
      ::为什么天气预测比过去好?
    1. What is the purpose of a weather satellite?
      ::气象卫星的目的是什么?

    Explore More
    ::探索更多

    Use the resource below to answer the questions that follow.
    ::利用以下资源回答以下问题。

    1. Why is weather difficult to predict?
      ::为什么天气难以预测?
    1. What is the Afternoon Constellation? What does it do?
      ::下午星座是什么?
    1. What are the three important characteristics of clouds?
      ::云层的三个重要特征是什么?
    1. What are the basic shapes of clouds?
      ::什么是云的基本形状?
    1. What is fog?
      ::什么是雾?
    1. Why is it important to study clouds?
      ::为什么必须研究云层?
    1. What will Cloudsat do?
      ::云卫星会怎么做?