Meteorology B

[gyourkoshaven]

On Stuve diagrams, why are there multiple dotted green and solid yellow lines, if each color represents one statistic?

[robotman]

On Stuve diagrams, why are there multiple dotted green and solid yellow lines, if each color represents one statistic?

You are wondering about the 10 or so green lines etc ?

These show the different saturation mixing ration at different temperatures. So each colored line represents the staring temperature

[bubblebrian]

On Stuve diagrams, why are there multiple dotted green and solid yellow lines, if each color represents one statistic?

Look at this stuve diagram for a sec. You see the two black lines (temp and dewpoint), and also the green line, the bluish dashed line, and the yellow dashed line.

The yellow dashed line is the saturation mixing ratio (the dew point needed for the current humidity of the air for the air to be saturated). the green one is the dry adiabat rate (the rate dry air will cool down as it rises through the atmoshpere without any change in wind or tempreture (when air expands, it cools, even though it's the "same" tempreture (since the total kinetic energy per unit gets lower), so that what adaibat means). The bluish line is the saturated adiabat rate, which is the same thing as the dry adiabat rate except the air is saturated. (find more at the wiki at http://scioly.org/wiki/Everyday_Weather).

The rates are different for every level. If the rate was the same, there will be a single line that goes across the board (and will be less cluttered). However, the rates are different. For example, the dry adaibat lapse rate. Go to anywhere on the line, and it will show you the dalr rate for the same ratio. The lines other than the black ones are all just references based on the current conditions. The lines don't tell you the actual condition, but it compares it to what would happen if there was just a single, unmoving, uniform air mass
Hope this explains it a little bit (I myself am not very good at meteorology, though)

In nationals, there might be activities that you have to identify the front (if there is one), what ther corrent conditions are, what types of clouds there are where the rawinsode flew to, and other things.
The data is measured by a radioinsonde, rawindsode, or dropinsode.

[bubblebrian]

Do we have to know about different weather instruments? (it wasn't on the topic list)
Also, do we have to know about lightning? (also not in topic list)
Do we need to do calculations? (other than simple arithmitic)

[brobo]

Do we have to know about different weather instruments? (it wasn't on the topic list)

Yes, several times I found questions pertaining to different weather instruments, but for the most part it was just identifying them.

Also, do we have to know about lightning? (also not in topic list)

No, this years topic is everyday weather. Next year is severe storms, so you don't need to know about lightning until next year.
However, it might not be a bad idea to know the basics of lightning, but you don't need to spend a lot of time on it.

Do we need to do calculations? (other than simple arithmitic)

I think the most you will need to know is conversions from Fahrenheit to Celsius to Kalvin and back, and also millibars to In.Hg., etc.

[zyzzyva980]

In the midwest, lightning IS everyday weather. Weather instruments are almost always there- but yeah, robodude has it right.

[FueL]

Do we have to know about different weather instruments? (it wasn't on the topic list)
Also, do we have to know about lightning? (also not in topic list)
Do we need to do calculations? (other than simple arithmitic)

Weather instruments - yes, definitely. Your classic weather instruments (anemometer, psychrometer, barometer, etc.), and don't forget rawinsondes, dropsondes, and radiosondes.

Lightning - as far as I know, yes. There was a question on it at New York states.

Calculations - like robodude said, temperature conversions are good. Knowing time conversion is VERY important, especially to UTC and back.

[bubblebrian]

What did you get at meteorology last year (at nationals)?
I just want to see what I'm up against at

[FueL]

What did you get at meteorology last year (at nationals)?
I just want to see what I'm up against at

If you're asking me, I'm not going to Nats this year. ;(

[bubblebrian]

well,

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE DOING METEOROLOGY AT NATIONALS!!!
I HOPE YOU DO WELL!!!