Weather Forecasting is Still an Imperfect Science

Weather Forecasting is Still an Imperfect Science

Despite the increase in meteorological technology combined with the

advanced skills of well-educated humans, weather forecasting is

nevertheless inaccurate at times. However it is not solely due to

factors such as inadequate technology or expert negligence towards

observation and data interpretation. The weather is a phenomenally

active and unpredictable, often astounding even the most knowledgeable

of meteorologists for example when El Nino occurs; yet the

significance of weather forecasting is imperative for industry,

agriculture and commerce.

The fact that weather forecasting can be regarded as an imperfect

science is a most controversial statement, as it is inevitable that

with three key areas that must be accounted for in order to make a

sound prediction the misinterpretation of one section may cause the

entire accuracy of the prediction is jeopardised. These three main

processes attributed to weather forecasting are; observation, analysis

of data, and preparation for the forecast provided by the computers.

It is proven that the weather patterns during different minor weather

events are fairly repetitive yet not completely identical.

Modern day advances in the global weather predictions, have proven to

be able to collect information to the remotest of places through use

of satellites,, ships, land stations, drifting buoys etc. This has

undoubtedly saved a number of lives, and is undeniably the most

advanced in history, therefore it is unfair to claim that weather

forecasting is an imperfect science.

In cases of extreme weather such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and

tsunamis, the degree of accuracy is far more reliable. The Doppler

Radar enables meteorologists to follow the pathways of hazardous

weather conditions including tornadoes (particularly in America) and

warn the inhabitants of a particular danger zone, which gives people a

better chance of evacuating and more importantly surviving. In this

sense accusing weather forecasting as being deficient is a

misconception, yet predicting recent weather e.g. next day is often

difficult due to sudden changes.

One significant event that occurred in Southeast England was the

October hurricane of 1987.