Course 1 topics are below. After this topic list are links to each of the 40 lessons. Weather School Topics: 1. Unit conversions 2. Z time 3. Isopleths 4. High and low pressure system types 5. Air mass classifications 6. Common current conditions 7. Cloud Types and Forecasting Clouds 8. Planetary Boundary Layer 9. Common Analysis Charts 10. Mid-latitude Cyclones 11. Surface Analysis Chart 12. Climatological Factors 13. Surface Pressure, Thickness, Precipitation Prog 14. 850-mb Analysis Chart and Thermal Advection 15. 850-mb model prog 16. 700-mb chart 17. 700-mb model prog 18. 500-mb chart 19. 500-mb model 20. 300/200-mb chart 21. 300/200-mb progs 22. Jargon 23. Common Analysis Charts 24. Latent Heat 25. Tips 26. Atmospheric Blocking 27. Upslope and Downslope Flow 28. Fronts 29. Important Equations 30. Tropospheric Moisture 31. Precipitation Types 32. Weather and Ball Flight 33. Surface and Upper Air Observations 34. Contour Lines 35. Lake-Effect Snow 36. The Sea Breeze Circulation 37. Introduction to Skew-T Log-P diagram 38. Satellite Meteorology 39. Seasons 40. Moisture, Lift, Instability, Wind shear Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 1 Topic:Unit conversions A request I often get is to explain in what order the http://www.theweatherprediction.com/ site should be studied to learn more about weather analysis and weather forecasting since there is an enormous amount of information given throughout the website. I'll be giving a series of postings this semester called "Haby's Weather School". Each day a new topic of study will be given that will help build the foundation for understanding more about weather analysis and weather forecasting. This page from the website covers unit conversions including temperature conversions and wind conversions. Since weather analysis and forecasting charts can be in Celsius or Fahrenheit for temperature and knots, miles per hour, kilometers per hour and meters per second for wind speed it is important to be able to convert between units in order to have a sense of what the wind speed is in the unit you are most comfortable with. Today's lecture can be accessed at the link below: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/basic/conversions/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 2 Topic: Z time Today's topic is Z-time. This time is used to coordinate time world wide. While local time varies with all the time zones and time changes, Z-time is the same time for everyone. Thus, if a meteorologist states that observations will be made at 6Z, anyone that knows how to convert Z time to their local time will know when the observations will be made. Today's lecture can be found at the link below. Your goal for this lecture if you do not know it yet is to find out how to convert your local time for the location that you live to the Z-time value. You may do a little research to figure out this time. If you find out when 0Z and 12Z are for your local time, post to this message what local time that 0Z and 12Z are for the location that you live and the name of the time zone that you live under. http://www.theweatherprediction.com/basic/ztime/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 3 Topic: Isopleths Today’s topic is isopleths. These are lines and curves of a constant value. Two common isopleths on analysis charts and models are isotherms (constant temperature lines) and height contours (aka isohypse) which are basically lines of equal height above sea level. There are several others also which can have somewhat comical names. How fun it is to say “isodrosotherm”, which is a contour of constant dewpoint. "iso" means a constant value of parameter. The lesson for today is located at the link below. Don’t worry about understanding the links to the charts at this point and exactly what the definition of each type of isopleths means. Interpretation of charts and specific types of isopleths will be covered later in the semester. At this point, just focus on learning the names of the different types of isopleths and a basic definition for the contours that are shown on weather charts (i.e. isotherm is a line of constant temperature, isotach is a line of constant wind speed, etc). http://www.theweatherprediction.com/basic/isopleths/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 4 Topic: High and Low Pressure System Types Today's weather school topic is high and low pressure system types. The pressure systems that will be covered are cold core lows, the two types of warm core lows, cold core highs and warm core highs. Today's presentation can be found at the link below. This link shows a vertical cross section of each pressure system type and important characteristics of each: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/basic/pressuretypes/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 5 Topic: Air mass classifications Air masses are large regions of air (such as ranging over 100s or 1000s of kilometers) that have similar moisture and temperature characteristics. Air masses develop over a source region and over time can move away from the source region causing significant weather changes over the areas the air mass moves into. When a surface front passes, one air mass overtakes another air mass at the surface. Thus the temperature and dewpoint can vary significantly across a frontal passage. Some locations are dominated by a similar air mass most of the year while other places can experience of wide range of air masses throughout the year. Many weather events take place at the boundaries between air masses. Today’s lecture can be found at the link below. This link goes over each of the major air mass classifications and gives characteristics of each: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/basic/airmass/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 6 Topic: Common Current Conditions The topic for today is the common current conditions that are given to describe and quantify the weather. The lesson is at the link below. These are terms that are used every day by a weatherperson for weather analysis and weather forecasting (i.e. pressure, dewpoint, temperature, wind info, weather, visibility, and several more). Each term is defined in the link below: http://theweatherprediction.com/habyhints2/649/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 7 Topic: Cloud Types and Forecasting Clouds Today's topic includes definitions of the various cloud types and also a lesson on forecasting clouds. This lesson is covered in the following two links below: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/clouds/ http://www.theweatherprediction.com/basic/clouds/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 8 Topic: Planetary Boundary Layer The Planetary Boundary Layer (abbreviated PBL) is the layer of the atmosphere adjacent to the Earth's surface. Its importance to weather can not be overstated. A significant amount of coursework in meteorology programs is devoted to studying the PBL. Today's lesson offers an introduction to understanding this layer of the atmosphere. It can be found at the link below: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/basic/pbl/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 9 Topic: Common Analysis Charts Today’s lesson focuses on many of the common analysis charts used when analyzing the weather. This presentation covers 21 analysis charts, what to look for on each chart (analysis and forecasting purposes) and a link to each chart showing an example of what the currently analysis chart for that parameter looks like. The link for today’s lesson can be found at the link below: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/wxanalysis/commoncharts/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 10 Topic: Mid-latitude Cyclones Mid-latitudes cyclones are the low pressure systems that greatly influence weather in the middle latitudes between the equatorial and polar regions. They are sometimes generically referred to as storm systems. They can stay organized for several days and move over 1000s of kilometers. Frontal systems (cold, warm, occluded fronts) often emerge from the development of a low pressure system. An explanation of mid-latitude cyclones can be found at the link below: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints2/578/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 11 Topic: Surface Analysis Chart The surface analysis chart depicts weather, fronts, wind information, temperature/dewpoint information, pressure systems, isobars and other data. Today’s lesson focuses on the features that a weather forecaster looks for on a surface analysis chart. Two links will be needed for the presentation. The first link below is to the lesson and the second link below is to a current surface analysis chart. It will help to study the current surface chart while going through the lesson. http://www.theweatherprediction.com/charts/surface/ http://weather.unisys.com/surface/sfc_map.gif Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 12 Topic: Climatological Factors When forecasting, there are several general climatological factors that are important to consider for a forecast area. These include altitude, latitude, proximity to an ocean body, topography, prevailing wind, ocean currents and relative position to seasonal highs and lows. Today’s lesson focuses on these climatological factors and can be found at the link below: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/20/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 13 Topic: Surface Pressure, Thickness, Precipitation Prog Along with the surface analysis chart discussed in a previous lesson, weather forecasters also examine the model prog known as the surface model prog. Three main features it shows are air pressure standardized to sea level, 1000-500 mb Thickness and predicted Precipitation. If thickness and sea level pressure are unfamiliar terms then it would be good to first look over these two links below before continuing with the lesson. Thickness: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/148/ Sea Level Pressure: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints2/410/ To interpret the numbers and increments of pressure and thickness on the prog it is a good idea to look over the following interpretation guide and look over “sea level pressure forecast” which includes information on sea level pressure field, quantitative precipitation field and 1000-500 mb thickness field: http://weather.unisys.com/model/details.php For this lesson it is a good idea to use the two links below. The first link is to the current prog for surface pressure, thickness and precipitation while the second link is to the lesson. http://weather.unisys.com/nam/nam.php?plot=pres&inv=0&t=4p http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/107/ Two terms that come up in the lesson what will be expanded on in a future lesson are cold air advection and warm air advection. Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 14 Topic: 850-mb Analysis Chart and Thermal Advection Thermal advection is one of the most important processes that a forecaster in the middle latitudes needs to understand and be aware of. Thermal advection (warm air advection and cold air advection) are two processes that a forecaster looks for on the 850-mb analysis chart (for locations relatively close to sea level). The 700-mb chart can be used for higher elevation regions for this same type of analysis. The importance of these thermal advection mechanisms is that warm air advection within the low levels contributes to a forced lifting of air and cold air advection contributes to a forced sinking of air. This has important implications for precipitation generation and thus has direct implications for precipitation and storm forecasting. The lesson is located at the two links below: 850 chart and thermal advection: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/charts/850/ Thermal advection Omega: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/254/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 15 Topic: 850-mb model prog The previous lesson looked at the 850-mb chart and thermal advection. This lesson expands on that by focusing on the 850-mb forecast model prog. Knowledge of the Celsius temperature scale certainty comes in handy on all of the pressure surface charts since Celsius is commonly used. This lesson will expand upon the concepts learned in the last lecture. Several implications of forecasting using this prog are covered. When going through the lesson, it will help to refer to both the current 850 model prog and the lesson material at the two links below: 850-prog model: http://weather.unisys.com/nam/850.php Lesson on uses of 850-mb prog for forecasting: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/103/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 16 Topic: 700-mb chart As our journey up higher into the atmosphere continues, we reach the 700-mb level. Since sea level pressure is approximately 1000 mbs, we are about 300 millibars lower than sea level pressure. The 700-mb pressure level is about 3,000 meters (around 10,000 feet) above sea level. At 700 mbs, there are additional processes we can examine including short waves and the longwave trough/ridge pattern. The lesson can be found at the link below: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/charts/700/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 17 Topic: 700-mb model prog When it comes to the graphical forecast models, besides shortwaves and longwaves, at 700 millibars forecasters examine the 700-mb upward vertical velocity. Today’s lesson goes over the features to look for on the 700 mb model progs with an in-depth explanation of dynamic upward vertical velocity (UVV). The lesson can be found at the link below. It will help to also look at the current 700-mb model prog while going through the lesson: Lesson: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/101/ Current 700-mb model prog: http://weather.unisys.com/nam/700.php Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 18 Topic: 500-mb chart Continuing our journey into the vertical we reach the 500 millibar layer. At this layer about half of the mass of the atmosphere is above this layer and half is below. Weather forecasters use this level to analyze the trough/ridge pattern and vorticity. Today’s lesson will focus on these topics and can be found at the link below: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/charts/500/basics/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 19 Topic: 500-mb model Today’s lesson is similar to the last lesson but there will be more emphasize on analyzing vorticity on 500 mb progs. What makes the study of vorticity more complicated is that it is not only important to notice the magnitude of vorticity (higher number = higher vorticity) but to also to understand the process of vorticity advection, positive and negative vorticity advection and differential positive and negative vorticity advection. It is differential positive vorticity advection that contributes to rising vertical motions. Along with jet streak divergence, differential positive vorticity advection is an upper level support mechanism (contributes to a lifting of air). Since positive vorticity advection is analyzed relatively high above the surface it is termed an upper level lifting mechanism (upper level support). Today’s lesson has two parts. Part one goes over the meaning of the phrase “Differential Positive Vorticity Advection (DPVA)” by breaking these 4 words into the meaning of each word and when put together what the meaning of DPVA is: Part 1 of lesson, THE SIMPLIFIED OMEGA EQUATION (VORTICITY ADVECTION TERM): http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/255/ more on DPVA: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/65/ The second part of the lesson offers more explanation of positive vorticity advection and interpreting the 500 mb prog. For this part of the lesson it will help to look at the current 500-mb prog along with the lesson: 500 mb prog: http://weather.unisys.com/nam/nam.php?plot=500&inv=0&t=4p Part 2 of lesson: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/104/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 20 Topic: 300/200-mb chart This lesson marks the halfway point of the lessons this semester. A total of 40 lessons will be posted this semester. Continuing our journey in the vertical we reach the pressure surfaces that are the highest above sea level that we will discuss. They are the 300 and 200 millibar charts. The main feature that forecasters look for is the jet stream. Today’s lesson focuses on the jet stream, jet streaks, trough-ridge pattern, development of the polar jet stream, and quadranting a jet streak. The lesson can be found at the link below: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/charts/300/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 21 Topic: 300/200-mb progs This lesson is an extension of the previous lesson on the 300 and 200 millibar charts. The graphical models are used to note the change in the trough-ridge pattern, jet stream and jet streak positions over time. This lesson will explain how to analyze for jet streaks on a model prog and how jet streaks change the overall structure of the jet stream over time (amplification and intensity of troughs and ridges). The two links below are the lesson and the current 300-mb model prog. It will help to look at the current 300-mb prog while going through the lesson: Lesson: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/108/ Current 300-mb prog: http://weather.unisys.com/nam/nam.php?plot=300&inv=0&t=4p Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 22 Topic: Jargon Just like any field, meteorology has its jargon! The lesson today focuses on forecasting jargon. This is a good list to go through a few terms each day. The lesson is at link below: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/jargon/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 23 Topic: Common Analysis Charts This lesson covers 21 commonly used analysis charts that are viewed to help monitor and forecast the weather. Each type of chart is defined and notes are given on how each chart is used for weather analysis and forecasting. Today’s lesson can be found at the link below: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/wxanalysis/commoncharts/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 24 Topic: Latent Heat Today’s topic is important in weather analysis and forecasting. It is understanding latent heat and how it influences the air temperature. It is important for thermodynamic forecasts, surface temperature forecasting as well as many other areas in meteorology. Today’s lesson can be found at the link below: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/19/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 25 Topic: Tips Today’s lesson synthesizes several concepts together. Many of these have been covered this semester but it is worthwhile to review and expand on previous knowledge. The lesson will include the following topics: 1) Immediate temperature Interpretation 2) Seeing the atmosphere is 4-D 3) Indice values and interpretation 4) Understanding how the polar jet develops and builds troughs and ridges 5) Understanding vorticity 6) Understanding how moisture and thermal advection causes rising or sinking of air Today’s lesson can be found at the following link: http://theweatherprediction.com/8_tips/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 26 Topic: Atmospheric Blocking Weather can repeat itself for many days. One reason this can happen is due to blocking patterns in the atmosphere. Today’s lecture on atmospheric blocking can be found at the link below: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/blocking/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 27 Topic: Upslope and Downslope Flow Vertical motions of air can rapidly warm or cool the air. Rising air cools and sinking air warms. Like fronts, this is another way the air temperature can dramatically change over a short period of time. The moisture capacity of air depends on temperature. Warm air has the capacity to have much more moisture than cold air. Today’s lesson focuses on upslope and downslope wind and how it impacts the temperature and moisture capacity of the air. Today’s lesson can be found below: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints2/614/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 28 Topic: Fronts Fronts are the boundaries between air masses. Three fronts or boundaries that will be discussed in this lesson including cold fronts, warm fronts and dry lines. Links for today’s lesson are below: Cold front: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints2/570/ Warm front: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints2/571/ Dry line: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints2/572/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 29 Topic: Important Equations Meteorological analysis and forecast models are based on solutions to math and physics equations and data. This lesson investigates the algebraic version of several thermodynamic equations that are important to meteorology, weather analysis and weather forecasting. Meteorology courses such as thermodynamics will spend a great deal of time breaking down, using and manipulating each of these equations. Several equations are highlighted in this lesson with a focus on understanding all the terms in each equation. A physical description and example calculation for each equation is also given to help make it more relatable and meaningful. Today’s lesson can be found at the link below: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/basic/equations/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 30 Topic: TROPOSPHERIC MOISTURE Examples of ways moisture is analyzed is through the dewpoint, relative humidity, column layer relative humidity, the wet bulb, Precipitable Water, soil moisture, moisture advection and the dewpoint depression. This three part lesson covers these moisture variables at the links below: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/113/ http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/114/ http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/170/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 31 Topic: Precipitation Types Today’s lesson examines precipitation types. Rain and Snow are common precipitation types but there are several other types and fine tuned classifications that can be observed also. This lesson covers about a dozen different precipitation classifications. The lesson can be found at link below: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/preciptypes/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 32 Topic: Weather and Ball Flight Today’s lesson covers the topic of weather and how far a baseball will travel depending on the weather conditions. This is also going to apply to golf balls, footballs, soccer balls, etc. There are several weather variables that are discussed that influence ball flight distance. Also, additional information is given on why more humid air is less dense than less humid air when all else is equal (temperature same, elevation same, etc.). Today’s lesson can be found at the links below: Baseball flight: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/285/ More humid air less dense than less humid air: http://theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/260/index.html Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 33 Topic: Surface and Upper Air Observations Information that is ascertained from analysis charts include temperature, dewpoint, pressure/height, wind information, and weather. This lesson includes surface observations and upper air observations. Many of these values are coded on a weather map to save space. This lesson goes over how to decode the observations and includes examples. The lesson can be found at the link below: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/basic/obs/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 34 Topic: Drawing Contour Lines (Isopleths) Contour lines (isopleths) are common on weather analysis charts. Examples include isotherms (temperature lines), isodrosotherms (dewpoint lines), isobars (pressure lines), height contours and thickness lines, isotachs (wind lines), etc. Today’s lesson goes over the rules that are involved with the drawing of contour lines. The lesson can be found at the link below: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints2/664/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 35 Topic: Lake-Effect Snow With lake-effect snow season starting up, this is a good time to review the ingredients for lake-effect snow and factors that create heavier or lighter lake-effect events. Today’s lecture is below: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/winterwx/lesnow/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 36 Topic: The Sea Breeze Circulation Today’s topic is the sea breeze. This topic is important since it is a good introduction into how the atmosphere tries to even out regions of excess and regions of deficit, such as pressure and temperature. The lesson can be found at the link below: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/11/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 37 Topic: Introduction to Skew-T Log-P diagram Today’s lesson introduces the Skew-T Log-P diagram including the lines that make up the diagram and advantages of its use. The lesson can be found below: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/thermo/skewt/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 38 Topic: Satellite Meteorology Satellite technology helped significantly advance the science of meteorology. Satellites can be used to study clouds, water vapor and energy emission. The data obtained is used as a critical supplement to weather data obtained by surface weather stations and rawinsondes. Today’s lesson includes 30 Haby Hints that are relevant to the study of weather as it relates to weather satellites and can be found below: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/satelliteed/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 39 Topic: Seasons Today’s lesson focuses on the seasons, both from a yearly perspective and a seasonality perspective over many 1000s of years. The links to the lessons are below: Reason for the Seasons: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints2/673/ More on Seasons: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/145/ Geological Seasonality: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints2/608/ Haby's Weather School METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY Lesson 40 Topic: Moisture, Lift, Instability, Wind shear Today’s lesson focuses on 4 factors that are important to severe weather which are moisture, lift, instability and wind shear. How each of these is analyzed on an analysis chart/prog is discussed below: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints2/582/ |