Predicting Weather

Meteorologists are scientists who study and predict weather. They use charts, images, computers and weather instrument data to prepare weather forecasts. In the United States, most weather information comes from the National Weather Service.

Advances in technology have improved the accuracy of weather forecasting. Doppler radar allows meteorologists to track the location, movement and intensity of precipitation in a region. Weather balloons and satellites provide large amounts of information that is quickly processed by sophisticated computers.

Meteorologists use symbols on maps to indicate weather fronts, air pressure, precipitation, and more. Fronts are indicated with a line that has a triangle or half circle pattern. Areas of equal atmospheric pressure are shown using isobar lines and the symbol H or L.