ICT 0417 IGCSE CH6 Applications Weather Forecasting

Weather forecasting

Weather is measured automatically using sensors

» rainfall

» temperature

» wind speed

» wind direction

» barometric pressure (air pressure)

» humidity.

Multiple Choice

When should the data from the sensors be collected?

• Daily

• Every 2 hours

• Every 30 min

• Every 1 hour

Multiple Choice

When should data be recorded/collected?

• Daily

• Every 2 hours

• Every 30 min

• Every 1 hour

​How does the computer predict?

» Data is input into the model and a prediction of the weather for the next few

days is made.

» At the end of the weather forecast period, the model compares its weather

forecast with the actual weather that occurred.

» The model ‘learns’ from previous weather situations; improvements to how it

predicts weather are constantly made.

» The new data is then input into the model, and a weather forecast for the

next few days is made.

» A very powerful computer is needed to run this model, since it has to ‘number

crunch’ vast amounts of data.

Multiple Choice

Why does weather modeling require a powerful computer?

• Because it processes vast amounts of data

• Because it's connected to weather stations

• Because it generates random weather patterns

• Because it simulates weather in real time

Fill in the Blanks