History of forecasting the weather

Nayab N.

Order the writing of a tailor-made Ecology & environment Term papers

Free quote online

Thesis Format .doc

History of forecasting the weather

Download

Read an extract

Reader
Abstract
Contents
Extract

Abstract

Weather refers to the state of air on earth at a given place and time, and climate is the pattern of weather that forms and one expects at a particular place at a given time. The weather or climate of a place usually identifies as warm or cold, wet or dry, cloudy or clear, or windy.The weather of a place always has a considerable impact on the way of life, the culture, and the mores of the populace of the place. The impact of weather on the civilizations of the ancient world was even greater for their livelihood, prosperity and often their very existence depended on favorable weather conditions that would give them access to freshwater, enable them to grow their crops and set out for voyages of commerce. For this reason, humanity has tried to forecast the weather since ancient times, and people held in high esteem those who could apparently control the weather

Introduction
The ancient world
1. Greece
2. China
The medieval period
1. Europe
2. West Asia
3. Far east
The modern world
1. European renaissance
2. United States of America
Developments in the 20th Century
Conclusion
References

Get this table of contents for free after login.

Extract

[...] CONCLUSION The science of weather forecasting is still not foolproof in spite of all the technological strides achieved by man. However, scientists have made marked improvements in forecast over the years. In the 1970's, three-day forecasts of Atlantic storm positions erred by an average of 440 miles (130 kilometers), which reduced to 173 miles (280 kilometers) by 2005 C.E . However, predicting storm intensity, especially sudden intensity changes is still difficult. Forecasts of three-day wind-speed has remained in error by an average of 23 miles an hour (37 kilometers an hour) since the early 1990s, with no marked improvements till date. [...]

[...] The development of aviation however necessitated more information of weather on the upper altitudes. In 1924 C.E., Colonel William Blaire in the U.S. Signal Corps did primitive experiments with weather measurements from a balloon. He tried to ascertain the temperatures using radio circuits. The invention of the Radiosonde by Robert Bureau of France in 1929 C.E. was a landmark achievement because this made available precise knowledge of weather conditions at higher altitudes. Radiosondes are small lightweight boxes equipped with weather instruments and a radio transmitter. [...]

[...] The inventions and further refinements of the thermometer, hygrometer, barometer, and other weather related instruments was a breakthrough in the science of weather forecasting, for people could now monitor the changes occurring in the atmosphere and thereby predict the weather more accurately instead of relying on natural signs and occurrences. This also facilitated further breakthroughs in the science of weather forecasting. Sir Isaac Newton derived the physics and mathematics to describe the atmosphere. His work replaced Theophrastus' Book of Signs” as the ultimate authority on weather, and formed the basis of all modern day computer analyses and predictions. [...]

[...] The invention of telegraph and the emergence of telegraph networks was a watershed event in the history of weather forecasting for it facilitated routine transmission and exchange of measurements taken at different places. People could now compiling data from different places to decipher surface wind patterns and storm systems, and draw weather maps. Soon weather reports started appearing in newspapers on a regular basis. The first telegraphic daily weather report in British started in 1848 C.E. by the British Daily News. [...]

[...] Matters culminated with the United States Congress entrusting the Secretary of War to organize the collection of meteorological observations and forecasting of storms on the Great Lakes and Atlantic Seaboard, and establishing a national weather organization in 1870 C.E. The consolidation of most telegraphic service in the United States into Western Union in 1866 C.E. facilitated this move. These weather bureaus established by the National Weather Organization took recourse to numerous mechanical devices to measure and record any and every weather parameter conceivable: The rain gauge recorded rainfall and the mechanical anemometer indicated the wind speed. [...]

doc