The weather seems clear, but we still check the weather forecast one last time before leaving the house and take an umbrella with us just in case, since we learned that it will rain that day. Weather forecasts have now become an integral part of our daily life routine. Weather forecasting, which has been made for many years, became a science called meteorology only recently.
Many scientists around the world make weather forecasts with many different tools and methods. The fact that these predictions, which have been made for thousands of years, were taken into the framework of certain rules with the science of meteorology, however, was only possible with the development of technology. So why did weather forecasts become so important to us? Let’s take a closer look at the historical journey of weather forecasts through the question of what meteorology is and what it does.
What is meteorology, what does it do? History and importance:
Let’s start with the basics; What is meteorology?
Meteorology, which can be translated into Turkish as weather knowledge or weather science, has passed into our language from the French word météorologie. Meteorology; It is a science in which the lower and upper layers of the Earth’s atmosphere are examined using many different methods in order to determine the weather conditions and climate changes by creating weather models.
Even if we are talking about the weather forecast in daily life, if you notice, the word detection is used in the definition, not forecast. Because meteorology can determine the weather situation in a pinpoint manner most of the time as a result of detailed examinations, even if there are many different variables. Even if there are local changes, the weather forecast, which is determined especially for military needs, shows accuracy even on a minute basis.
What does meteorology do?
The natural events we call weather are experienced in the lowest layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. In this layer, which is 10 kilometers above the earth, it rains, snows, hails, the sun shines, the wind comes out as a result of events that vary according to many different factors such as wind, cloud and water vapor; In other words, the events we call the weather occur.
The job of meteorology is to follow exactly these factors. Even when we look at the sky, we realize that there is a cloud ahead, the wind is directing it towards us and it will rain in a few minutes. Scientists called meteorologists make observations with exactly similar but much more advanced methods.
Daily weather events are experienced in the layer located in the lowest layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. Events in the upper layers cause changes that we call climate change today and that will probably bring the end of humanity. Meteorology monitors both these daily weather events and climate changes that will have a wide and long-term impact.
When did the history of meteorology begin?
Not surprisingly, the foundations of meteorology were also laid in Ancient Greece. By someone quite familiar; Aristotle Considered one of the most important philosophers of history, Aristotle, who lived in Ancient Greece, has a work called Meteorologica, which is thought to have been penned in 430 BC.
In Aristotle’s Meteorologica, weather events and climate conditions of that period are mentioned in detail. The title of the work is derived from the Greek word meteoron, which means something above. Although today’s meteorology has a very basic narrative, it is possible to say that the history of meteorology began with Aristotle’s Meteorologica.
For hundreds of years, humanity did not develop much and continued to make weather forecasts as described in Meteorologica. Until the barometer and thermometer were invented in the 17th century. With these two inventions, scientists are now able to make much more detailed examinations and observations. With the development of modern technology, the studies have become much more detailed and precise.
Why is meteorology so important to our lives?
Of course, governments and private companies don’t invest trillions of dollars in meteorology just so we don’t get wet on the way to work or forget to wear underwear. Weather was extremely important for agriculture in the period when meteorological forecasts were made with simple observations. But not surprisingly, wars are the reason why meteorology has become a science and invested in studies.
With the production of powerful warplanes and ships capable of crossing the oceans, the need to monitor the navigational routes of these vehicles emerged. Since no one wants these vehicles, which are produced as a result of large investments, to be in the middle of an unexpected storm or not to kill enough people by coinciding with foggy weather, studies on weather conditions have been increased.
The modernization of meteorology started with the use of computers in the 1950s. Thanks to the satellites sent to the atmosphere in the 1990s, weather forecasts ceased to be predictions and became detections. The reason why weather is so important today is because of commercial flights, sea voyages and space studies.
As always, today’s weather forecasts, of course, follow a study focused on people and agriculture. However, much more important than that is the routes of the planes that take off every minute. A similar situation applies to commercial or other cruises and, of course, space studies. The importance of meteorology for military operations is still the same.
How does meteorology make weather forecasts?
As we have explained in detail in our previous article, weather forecasts; It is done by instantaneously monitoring atmospheric movements and climate effects such as temperature, pressure, humidity and wind speed. There are countless ground radars, weather balloons, satellites, and ocean buoys that detect these movements.
Devices that monitor all these atmospheric movements and climate effects instantly send countless data. These data are collected at national and international meteorological stations. Special software of computers in universities, private companies and government institutions analyzes all the data and draws a conclusion.
At this point, it is necessary to open a parenthesis and give the meteorologists their due. Because although detailed analyzes and data processing are done by computers, a meteorologist prepares the whole system and a specialist meteorologist makes the final decision. The models required for the processing of countless data obtained from many different devices are also prepared by these experts.
We talked about the historical journey of meteorology through the questions of what is meteorology and what does it do? You can share your thoughts about the relationship between nature and technology in the comments.
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