13. Measuring and Forecasting Weather Managing information and thinking
1. Which layer of the atmosphere is the highest, according to figure 2? 2. Between which layers is the ozone layer located?
3. In your opinion, why might satellites work best in the outermost layer, the exosphere? (Hint: think about what they are used for.)
Why Is Forecasting the Weather Important?
Many people rely on weather forecasts for the jobs they do. For example, farmers need to know if it is going to rain before they fertilise land, because rain can wash fertilisers off, which then flow into nearby rivers and pollute them.
Measuring and recording the weather in a region over a long period of time identifies the climate of the region.
Weather Stations and Gathering Weather Data
Weather Stations A weather station is a facility that uses equipment and instruments to measure and observe the weather. Irish weather stations all around the country use technology to gather, measure and record weather conditions on a daily basis.
Malin Head Finner Mount Dillon Markree
Knock Airport Belmullet
Newport Claremorris
Mace Head Athenry
Gurteen Agri College
Shannon Airport
Valentia Sherkin Island Cork Airport 3. Weather stations around Ireland 191 Roches Point
Dublin Airport Dunsany
Phoenix Park
Carlow Oakpark Casement
Aerodrome Johnstown Castle Fermoy Moorepark
Managing information and thinking
Locate your nearest weather station. Go to www.met.ie and search for ‘Weather observing stations’ to investigate when the station was set up and what it measures.
Mullingar Ballyhaise
Can you think of any other reasons why forecasting the weather might be important? (Hint: think about the social and economic benefits.)