Advancement of Weather Forecasting Using the Framework of the Scientific Method

Weather Forecasting

Major Advancements in Weather Forecasting

Predicting the weather has always been of utmost importance to our ancestors, who had to focus upon weather patterns in order to predict the weather and prepare themselves for various phenomena, especially since they had to take into account the fact that agriculture was their only means of sustenance often times. However, recently, our ability to predict the weather has increased substantially, due to various technological innovations. Today, with a simple click, one can know if it will be sunny or rainy in a few seconds, as well as what weather the next 10 to 15 days will bring, for instance. This paper will thus describe the advancements in weather forecasting in order to better understand how humans are now able to predict the weather.

According to NASA, modern technology, and especially weather satellites and the computers they connect to, are vital in providing weather-related data to us. Thus, we now have accuracy, in addition to multi-day predictions of weather. According to reports, forecasters can not only see data available for the U.S. At any given time, but also data available for remote areas on all parts of the globe. Satellite sensor technology in particular has advanced tremendously over the past few decades, especially in providing us with images of such remote areas as mentioned above, and also with providing data that, according to the same research, "allow calculation of atmospheric temperature and moisture profiles and other environmental variables [done] by using a variety of instruments, among them atmospheric sounders which measure quantities at various levels in atmospheric columns."[footnoteRef:1] [1: References in this paragraph taken from: NASA Facts (n.a.). (2011). Earth Observing System Aqua Series. Retrieved October 30, 2011, from . ]

Further according to NASA, in 2002, the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unite (AMSU), as well as the Humidity Sounder for Brazil (HSB) were laughed, and carried a Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), which will aid with measuring atmospheric temperature and moisture more accurately than ever before.[footnoteRef:2] Though such measures have been highly costly, the benefits of such predictions far outweigh the costs, according to NASA. For this reason, the organization states, [2: References in this paragraph taken from: NASA Facts (n.a.). (2011). Earth Observing System Aqua Series. Retrieved October 30, 2011, from . ]

"a more accurate 24-hour forecast of heavy rain and thunderstorms along a cold front could allow airline dispatchers enough time to reroute their airplanes appropriately and thereby help alleviate costly delays. Being able to pinpoint a wintertime low temperature in Florida could be the deciding factor in whether orange grove farmers make the correct decision regarding deployment or non-deployment of freeze prevention methods to save their crops."[footnoteRef:3] [3: References in this paragraph taken from: NASA Facts (n.a.). (2011). Earth Observing System Aqua Series. Retrieved October 30, 2011, from . ]

As one can see from these statements, it is very important to predict the weather, as it has always been, but not, one has the benefit and the aid of technology, which can certainly help.