I know we have our own resident meteorologists in the group, and I'd like to begin to start learning more about the how's and why's of our weather and hopefully get a little better at reading and interpreting weather models etc. Can any of you recommend any good reads on the subject or other resources to begin to give me at least a basic knowledge (if not more)? Thanks in advance for any recommendations.
Radar images can been found through each local NWS website. Satellite images are fun (especially during hurricane season) and can be seen here- http://wwwghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/GOES/
Also, many National Weather Service offices offer storm spotter classes that can give you a better understanding of severe weather. Classes are free and usually happen in the spring. Look up your local NWS office here by clicking on your state, then local area- http://www.nws.noaa.gov/
Having spent a lot of years in college learning this, I can tell you it can be pretty complicated. Meteorologists have 1 word that can mean 3 things or 3 words that can mean the same thing! It's how we make ourselves sound smart.
Jared, if i were you id pick up a copy of D. Ahrens textbook on Meteorology, it s the one used in many 101 courses on the subject and it has minimal if no math, so its a pretty easy read and its comprehensive. I dont know of any good sources off the top of my head for interpreting model daya, but you could always just dive in and ask questions as they come up, or get on one of the dozens of weather forums onthe web.
Wow, thank you both. Amy, all of those sites look terrific and the Jetstream/Meted/usatoday look like great online resources (and the other sites are exactly what I was looking for as well).
Stan, looks like the '06 version of Meteorology Today is selling used on Amazon for $9. I was looking at a few textbooks but wasn't sure which one to go with, so I'm glad you recommended one. I'm sure once I start getting into this I will have questions, but for now these are excellent starting points.
Thank you both, I know this can be complicated and there are a lot of factors involved. I guess I could always just add "chance of afternoon showers" to any prediction just to be safe Thanks again for the info
Oh, and speaking of websites, everyone has there personal favs, but i would recommend looking at ucar's site: www.rap.ucar.edu/weather
IMO, its one of the best one-stop shopping places for weather forecasting, and it has a "help for page" link at the top which will help you decipher some of the jargon/graphics.
I would agree with Stan on the ucar site. it is one of, if not the number 1, my fave sites. it explains things in more layman's terms than most other sites. also, the college of dupage (cod) has some great resources, but is for the more advanced meteorologists.
I am glad Amy and Stan gave the suggestions. I would have gone with basics like Holton's "Dynamic Meteorology", Haltiner and Williams "Numerical Weather Prediction", etc. Clearly I am out of touch when it comes to explaining the basics to non meteorologists. Having taught from "Meteorology Today" years ago, I do agree that it is a good general survey text for the beginner.
What I have noticed from my looking at sites like UCAR, NWS, etc. and working on the RUC model development team is that the forecast models have such a hard time forecasting clouds. As summer approaches and convection dominates it gets harder to believe model clouds and precip. So what I find myself doing more and more is looking at the models for a general idea of what the winds aloft will be doing and extrapolating cloud patterns in the satellite images ahead in time. And then, like Eric would say, 50-50 chance of being right. So set the alarm and get out there.
Discussion
9 repliesThanks as well!
If you want something a bit more intense, try http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lmk/soo/soo.php
For forecasting convective potential (aka severe thunderstorms, in layman's terms) check out http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/
Radar images can been found through each local NWS website. Satellite images are fun (especially during hurricane season) and can be seen here- http://wwwghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/GOES/
To see storms reports, check out http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/today.html
Also, many National Weather Service offices offer storm spotter classes that can give you a better understanding of severe weather. Classes are free and usually happen in the spring. Look up your local NWS office here by clicking on your state, then local area- http://www.nws.noaa.gov/
Having spent a lot of years in college learning this, I can tell you it can be pretty complicated. Meteorologists have 1 word that can mean 3 things or 3 words that can mean the same thing! It's how we make ourselves sound smart.
Stan, looks like the '06 version of Meteorology Today is selling used on Amazon for $9. I was looking at a few textbooks but wasn't sure which one to go with, so I'm glad you recommended one. I'm sure once I start getting into this I will have questions, but for now these are excellent starting points.
Thank you both, I know this can be complicated and there are a lot of factors involved. I guess I could always just add "chance of afternoon showers" to any prediction just to be safe
www.rap.ucar.edu/weather
IMO, its one of the best one-stop shopping places for weather forecasting, and it has a "help for page" link at the top which will help you decipher some of the jargon/graphics.
I am glad Amy and Stan gave the suggestions. I would have gone with basics like Holton's "Dynamic Meteorology", Haltiner and Williams "Numerical Weather Prediction", etc. Clearly I am out of touch when it comes to explaining the basics to non meteorologists. Having taught from "Meteorology Today" years ago, I do agree that it is a good general survey text for the beginner.
What I have noticed from my looking at sites like UCAR, NWS, etc. and working on the RUC model development team is that the forecast models have such a hard time forecasting clouds. As summer approaches and convection dominates it gets harder to believe model clouds and precip. So what I find myself doing more and more is looking at the models for a general idea of what the winds aloft will be doing and extrapolating cloud patterns in the satellite images ahead in time. And then, like Eric would say, 50-50 chance of being right. So set the alarm and get out there.
Didn't know you were on the RUC team- great product!