Introduction to

Meteorology
WMSU

WESTERN MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY

Meteorology
- Is the interdisciplinary scientific study of
the atmosphere.
- Meteorology is the study and forecasting
of weather changes resulting from large
scale atmospheric circulation.
- A science of the atmosphere and its
phenomena .
- Otherwise known as “Atmospheric
Science”.
Atmosphere
- comes from the Greek word which
means “a sphere of vapor” and so it can be
defined as nearly transparent envelop of
gases and suspended particles that
surrounds the earth.

Phenomena
- are events with scientific description
and explanation.
Layer nomenclature in the atmosphere
Importance of studying meteorology

1. It affects man and his environment.

2. It affects our daily activities.
3. It affects industries and agricultural activities.
4. It affects the kind of plants and animals that can be
grown/raised over an area.
5. It affects man’s way of life.
 History of meteorology
Growth of meteorology as a science has been chronologically the
outcome of the following:
1. Invention of accurate instruments for observing the weather;
2. Collection of data over the world for long periods;
3. Improved methods of communication for the purpose of weather
forecasting; and
4. Development of high speed computers for processing and
analyzing weather data.
 History…
4th Century BC – the prehistoric men in India used the first crude rain
gauges to measure rainfall. It was followed by the invention of wind
vane.

1593 – Galileo Galilee invented the Thermometer.

1643 – the barometer was introduced by Evangelista Torricelli.

15th Century – a number of instruments were already constructed

including one by Leonardo da Vinci.
 History…
1783 – Hair hygrometer used to measure humidity was invented by
Horace Benedict de Saussure.

1790 – Reinhard Woltmann developed the first practical

anemometer to measure wind speed.

18th and 19th Century – many individuals kept diaries on weather

(daily observation) like Thomas Jefferson.
 History…
1820 – Heinrich Wilhelm Brandes constructed the first weather
map by collecting observations made in Europe on March 6,
1783.

1848 – Telegraph was invented by Claude Chappe to solve the

problem on communication.

1900 – Charts were constructed showing the prevailing wind

systems of the lower atmosphere and the major storm tracks.
HISTORY…
World War 2
- beginning of the productive era of meteorology.
Meteorology was important in military operations.

1. RADAR – used to detect enemy aircraft and later it turned

out to be an excellent means of observing clouds and
precipitation far beyond the limits of the naked eye.
2. ROCKETS – intended for destructive purposes and later
provide information conditions in the high atmosphere.
3. SATELLITES – are now placed into orbits to read the
existing conditions in higher atmosphere.
HISTORY…
April 1 – November 23, 1960
- TIROS I & II – satellites placed in outer space to transmit
pictures of cloud systems. Incoming radiation from the sun and
outgoing radiation from the earth was observed by satellites.

TIROS – Television Infrared Rays Observational Satellites

Computer Age
- Provides the meteorologist with:
1. The rapid analysis of weather data; and
2. Forecasting of weather through mathematical methods.
PAGASA
- Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and
Astronomical Service Administration
- Member of the World Meteorological Organization
(WMO)
- Provides data for international, regional, and national
exchange.
Why study meteorology?
• Warning of severe weather

• Agriculture
– Timing of planting, harvesting, etc. to avoid bad
weather, hazards to livestock
• Transport & services
– Shipping, aviation, road gritting, flood warnings,…
• Commerce
– Should a supermarket order BBQs and ice cream, or
umbrellas?
What do we want to know?
• Temperature • Visibility
• Wind speed • Fog, Haze
•
•
Wind direction
Clouds
• Humidity
– Type, extent, altitude • Trends In All Of These
• Precipitation? • Timing Of Significant Changes
– Type, amount, location • Occurrence Of Extreme Events
How far ahead?
• Ideally:
– as far ahead as possible!
• In practice
– 3-5 days is the limit of reasonable quantitative
forecasts.
– Medium-range forecasts (5-10) days are made,
but limited to large-scale pressure field and
winds, NOT detailed conditions.
 Types of Meteors
• Hydrometeors – clouds that contain water
(Water)(high in the air)
• Lithometeors – smoke, haze, dust, and
condensation nuclei
(Rock)(high in the air)

• Electrometeors- thunder and lightning visible or

audible electricity
(electricity)(high in the air)
Meteorologist
•A meteorologist is a person who uses scientific principles to explain,
understand, observe, or forecast earth’s weather.
Meteorologist
• Many meteorologists have college degrees in physics,
chemistry, or mathematics.
Meteorologist
• Meteorologists use satellite and computer technology
to inform people about the weather.
DIVISIONS OF METEOROLOGY
A. Theoretical Meteorology
1. Synoptic Meteorology – deals on the study of the state of
the atmosphere over a wide area. It involves simultaneous
observations of weather elements.

2. Dynamic Meteorology – study on the forces that create

and maintain motion together with the heat transformation.
Three (3) Subdivisions of Dynamic Meteorology

a. Hydrodynamics – study of fluids and its processes.

b. Thermodynamics – study of heat and its processes.
c. Aerodynamics – study of the interactions between air
currents and objects.

3. Climatology – study of the statistical relations, averages,

frequencies, variations and other data of the
weather elements.

4. Physical Meteorology – study of physical processes such as

radiation, absorption, reflection, evaporation, precipitation, and
others.
B. Application

1. Marine Meteorology – the application of meteorology to

marine navigation.

2. Aeronautical Meteorology – the application of

meteorology to the problems and needs of aviation.

3. Agricultural Meteorology – the study of weather and

climate in relation to plants and animals.
4. Hydrometeorology – study of the relations of meteorology to
irrigation, water supply, flood control and even the study of
hydrologic cycle.

5. Medical Meteorology – study of the effects of

weather/climate to the life and health of man.

6. Phenology – agro meteorological science dealing with the

relationship between weather or climate and the periodic
biological phenomena such as development phases of plants or
migration of birds.

7. Micrometeorology – study of the atmospheric phenomena

that are observed in small areas.
Thank you for listening…

“Climate is w h a t y o u
expect, w e at he r is
what y ou ge t . ”