| "Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody | | | | the conditions last a long time, large groups of |
| does anything about it." Mark Twain's famous | | | | people can die of starvation and thirst. |
| saying is true in some respects, but we actually | | | | That's why an accurate weather forecast is so |
| are doing a lot about the weather. | | | | important. By studying temperature, air pressure, |
| While we cannot do much to change weather | | | | precipitation, the terrain and other factors, we can |
| patterns or prevent catastrophic weather from | | | | predict climate change and help people adjust |
| occurring, the science of meteorology has | | | | practices accordingly. |
| advanced in many respects. We can now predict | | | | Meteorology mainly studies two factors: the sun's |
| what weather patterns will occur and also be | | | | heat and the Earth's atmosphere. The sun's heat |
| prepared for weather emergencies. For example, | | | | reaches the Earth unevenly. The Earth's tilt has a |
| we can build structures that withstand hurricanes | | | | large effect on weather conditions and its rotation |
| and earthquakes and alert people to approaching | | | | plays a role in wind speed and direction. The winds |
| storms in plenty of time to evacuate an area. | | | | affect how air and high- and low-pressure |
| These developments are a long way from the | | | | systems move about the planet. Geographic |
| days when shamans and priests muttered | | | | factors also play an important part: mountains and |
| incantations or made sacrifices to appease the | | | | oceans deflect many weather systems. Land |
| various weather gods. It is understandable why | | | | masses heat and cool more rapidly than bodies of |
| they did this because weather is so important to | | | | water. |
| our daily lives. | | | | Each of these factors is just a tiny peace of the |
| Did you ever think about how much weather | | | | weather and climate puzzle of our earth. By |
| affects us? We wonder what clothes to wear | | | | changing a small factor, the entire earth's weather |
| and if the weather will affect a family picnic. More | | | | pattern can be affected. That's why global |
| profoundly, the weather affects what type of | | | | warming is such a concern. Some scientists |
| home we live in, what type of food we grow and | | | | believe a temperature change of a few degrees |
| eat and what type of animals and plants we have. | | | | can affect how well the planet sustains life. Little |
| Leaf shapes and animal hides are affected by local | | | | things really do mean a lot when it comes to the |
| climate. | | | | weather. |
| Stop to think about it: Why do famines happen? | | | | Talking about the weather is a euphemism for |
| Because weather conditions are such that local | | | | mundane chit-chat. But really the subject is much |
| farmers can no longer depend on traditional crops | | | | more important than you may realize. Find out |
| and they do not have any alternatives to plant. If | | | | more about the weather - today. |