Weather Forecast People and Their Tools

Modified excursion plan at the Czech Meteorological Institute: Clear explanation of each tool in the context of weather observation and forecasting:

Synoptic Station
•A synoptic station is a ground-based weather station that measures and records meteorological data at regular intervals (usually every 3 or 6 hours) to provide a synoptic (overall) picture of weather conditions across a wide area.
•The data is used for weather maps, forecasting, and climate monitoring.

Sounding Measurements / Radiosonde Observations
•This refers to vertical atmospheric measurements taken using weather balloons equipped with radiosondes.
•These balloons can rise up to 30 km or more, providing a vertical profile of the atmosphere.
•Used to:
oAnalyze atmospheric stability
oPredict severe weather (storms, turbulence)
oFeed data into numerical weather models

Satellite Meteorology
•Involves the use of meteorological satellites orbiting Earth to observe the atmosphere and surface from space.
•Types of satellites:
•Crucial for global weather forecasting, especially over oceans and remote areas.

Radar Meteorology
•Uses weather radars (usually Doppler radar) to detect and monitor precipitation and storm structures.
•Radar sends out pulses of radio waves, which bounce off rain, snow, or hail particles and return to the radar.
•Key tool for short-term forecasting (nowcasting) and storm warnings (e.g., for thunderstorms, tornadoes).