Pre-Reading Questions.

Look at the picture 2.1-2.8 and answer these questions.

1. What are the advantages of living in the countryside? Give
me 4 examples please.
Suggested answer :Fresh air, less traffic, open space, less
noise.
Reading Passage
Now read the passage below. You can look up the meaning
of the words in bold in the Vocabulary Study Section that
follows.

3.1 Radar
As well as the Windprofiler radars, there is a network of
weather radars that provides a picture of the distribution of
rainfall. From the radar it is possible to work out where it is
raining and how heavy the rain is. The network includes sites
provided by the Republic of Ireland and the States of Jersey
and covers the whole of the British Isles. Extensive radar
information from the continent is also available.

3.2 Satellites
Since the first meteorological satellite was placed in
orbit in 1960, satellites have become essential tools for
weather forecasters. The satellites used by meteorologists fall
into two categories.
Polar-orbiting satellites pass around the earth from pole
to pole at a height of about 870 km. It takes approximately 1
hour 42 minutes for the satellite to complete its orbit, by
which time the earth has rotated by about 25 degrees.
Geostationary satellites remain over the equator,
stationary with respect to the earth. This is achieved by
having the satellite in orbit at a height of about 36,000 km.
At this height it takes exactly 24 hours to complete one orbit,
so it always views the same part of the globe.
Meteosat , the name given to the European geostationary
satellites, like their US, Japanese and Indian counterparts, give
sequences of cloud images. From these, the development and
movement of weather systems can be followed and, of
particular importance, tropical storms can be tracked.

3.3 Analysis
The Global Telecommunication System (GTS) has been set up
to transfer weather observations (and forecasts) around the
world. The Telecommunications Centre at Met Office
Headquarters in Exeter has the role of passing data between
Washington and continental Europe via Paris and Offenbach.
It also collects observations from the UK and transmits them
around the world via the GTS. A complete set of observations
from the UK is available about ten minutes past the hour of
observation.
The observations at a specific time are plotted on a chart
and an analysis is produced by the computer. This involves
isobars (lines of constant pressure) being drawn, which allows
depressions and anticyclones to be identified. The analysis
may be modified by the forecasters and fronts are added (with
the aid of satellite and radar information) in order to
understand what is going on in the atmosphere.
3.4 Forecast
The use of computers has played a key role in
improving the accuracy and detail of weather forecasts, and in
lengthening the period for which useful guidance can be
given. The calculations involved are both numerous and
complex and must be performed quickly so that forecasts are
available in good time. Consequently, some of the most
powerful computers in the world are needed.
3.5 The computer model
Weather forecasts are based on the solution of a set of
mathematical equations describing certain physical processes
in the atmosphere. To solve these complex equations it is first
necessary to divide the atmosphere up into boxes, with a grid
point in the centre of each box. The properties of the
atmosphere are then represented by what is happening at each
of the grid points.
The array of grid points, the system of equations and the
method of solving the equations is referred to as the model.
In the present global model used by the Met Office, there is a
spacing of roughly 40 km between each grid point in the
horizontal. The grid points are also arranged in 50 vertical
levels through the atmosphere.

The computer model produces a global forecast twice a

day using the midnight and midday observations as starting
conditions. In order to provide more-detailed forecast charts
out to 48 hours for the UK and parts of the Atlantic and
Europe, the model is run again at 0600 and 1800 daily.
3.6 Role of the forecaster
Despite greater computer power, improvements to the
computer models, and other technological advances, there is
still an important role for the forecaster . For the general
development of weather systems, the model provides insight
into how the atmosphere is behaving and developing, but it is
only a guide. Good as it is, forecasters have to make
allowances for the model's known problem areas - the
handling of small-scale features, for example. The chief
forecaster on duty modifies the computer output to correct for
likely errors in the model output, such as removing spurious
areas of rainfall. Forecasters also have to take into account
any late observations and consult the latest satellite and radar
pictures.
Vocabulary Study
radar a piece of equipment that uses อุปกรณ์ตรวจจับวัตถุ
ที่อยู่ไกลโดยใช้วิธีสูง
radio waves to find the position วิทยุคลื่นสัน
้
of things and watch their
movement
satellite a machine that has been sent ดาวเทียม

into space and goes around the

Earth, moon etc, used for radio,
television, and other electronic
communication
pole the most northern or most ขัว้ โลก

southern point on a planet,

especially the Earth
sequence the order that something ลำาดับเหตุการณ์

happens or exists in, or the

 order it is supposed to happen
or exist in
transfer to move from one place to โยกย้าย เปลี่ยน

another
plot to mark, calculate, or follow the การกำาหนด จุด เส้น
และวัดมุม
path of an aircraft or ship, for
example on a map
equation a statement in mathematics that สมการ

shows that two amounts or

totals are equal
array a set of numbers or signs, or of กลูุม ลำาดับ

computer memory units,

arranged in lines across or down
insight a sudden clear understanding of การเข้าใจอยูาง
ถูองแท้
something or part of something,
especially a complicated
situation or idea
chief the most important person, or หัวหน้ า

one of the most important

people, in a company or
organization
spurious not based on facts or good ปลอม หลอกลวง
 thinking and is likely to be
incorrect

Recalling Information
1.Based from the first paragraph the countryside is one of
most important ………..of the country?
Suggested answer : Treasure.