| MadSci Network: Other |
There are many different types of tools available to meteorologists, and like any other job, the ones they use depend on the job that needs to be done. Tools used in taking meteorological observations include wet and dry bulb thermometers, hygrometers, barometers, and anemometers. Upper air observations use radiosondes and remote sensing from satellites to gather measurements of winds, temperaures, and moisture. Other remote sensing observations are taken with radars and wind profilers (think of an upward pointing radar). And these just gather physical data. Meteorologists also use computer numerical models to simulate the future (make a forecast) based on the observational data. They use computer visualization tools to display the model output in two and three dimensions both for forecasts and for research.
There are many many web sites with information about these tools. Try a search engine for a specific one, or check out some of these to start:
USATODAY's
weather observations page
Texas A&M
University's Meteorological Instruments and Observations Class
National Severe Storms
Wind Profiler page
USATODAY's Doppler
Radar Page
Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Other.