WHAT IS METEOROLOGY?
Meteorology is the science of
weather. It is essentially an inter-disciplinary science because the
atmosphere, land and ocean constitute an integrated system. The three basic
aspects of meteorology are observation, understanding and prediction of
weather. There are many kinds of routine meteorological observations. Some of
them are made with simple instruments like the thermometer for measuring
temperature or the anemometer for recording wind speed. The observing
techniques have become increasingly complex in recent years and satellites have
now made it possible to monitor the weather globally. Countries around the
world exchange the weather observations through fast telecommunications
channels. These are plotted on weather charts and analysed by professional
meteorologists at forecasting centres. Weather forecasts are then made with the
help of modern computers and supercomputers. Weather information and forecasts
are of vital importance to many activities like agriculture, aviation, shipping,
fisheries, tourism, defence, industrial projects, water management and disaster
mitigation. Recent advances in satellite and computer technology have led to
significant progress in meteorology. Our knowledge of the weather is, however,
still incomplete.
Weather
observations, taken on the ground or on ships, and in the upper atmosphere with
the help of balloon soundings, represent the state of the atmosphere at a given
time. When the data are plotted on a weather map, we get a synoptic view of the
world’s weather. Hence day-to-day analysis and forecasting of weather has come
to be known as synoptic meteorology. It is the study of the movement of low
pressure areas, air masses, fronts, and other weather systems like depressions
and tropical cyclones.
CLIMATOLOGY
Climatology
is a study of the climate of a place or region on the basis of weather records
accumulated over long periods of time. The average values of meteorological
parameters derived from a data base that extends over several decades are
called climatological normal. Different regions of the world have different
characteristic climates. However, it is now recognized that climate is not
static and issues such as climate change and global warming are receiving increasing
attention.
DYNAMIC
METEOROLOGY
This
particular branch of meteorology attempts to describe the atmospheric processes
through mathematical equations which together are called a numerical model.
After defining the initial state of the atmosphere and ocean, the equations are
solved to derive a final state, thus enabling a weather prediction to be made.
A dynamic meteorology deal with a wide range of hydro-dynamical equations from
a global scale to small turbulent eddies. The process of solving the equations
is very complicated and requires powerful computers to accomplish.
PHYSICAL
METEOROLOGY
In
physical meteorology we study the physical processes of the atmosphere, such as
solar radiation, its absorption and scattering in the earth-atmosphere system,
the radiation back to space and the transformation of solar energy into kinetic
energy of air. Cloud physics and the study of rain processes are a part of
physical meteorology.
AGRICULTURE
METEOROLOGY
In
simple terms, agricultural meteorology is the application of meteorological
information and data for the enhancement of crop yields and reduction of crop
losses because of adverse weather. This has linkages with forestry,
horticulture and animal husbandry. The agro-meteorologist requires not only a
sound knowledge of meteorology, but also of agronomy, plant physiology and
plant and animal pathology, in addition to common agricultural practices. This
branch of meteorology is of particular relevance to India because of the high
dependence of our agriculture on monsoon rainfall which has its own vagaries.
APPLIED
METEOROLOGY
Like
agriculture, there are many human activities which are affected by weather and
for which meteorologists can provide valuable inputs. Applied meteorologists
use weather information and adopt the findings of theoretical research to suit
a specific application; for example, design of aircraft, control of air
pollution, architectural design, urban planning, exploitation of solar and wind
energy, air-conditioning, development of tourism, etc.