ANSWER: Scientists predict weather by studying how wind moves, from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. A region’s air pressure is shown on weather maps which include isobars, measured in millibars, to show places with equal air pressure. A low pressure system is illustrated by an (L) and has isobar readings that decrease towards the center.
Polar-orbiting satellites provide the information most useful for long-term weather forecasting. These satellites use instruments to measure energy, called radiation, emitted by the Earth and atmosphere. This information is incorporated into weather models, which in turn leads to more accurate weather forecasts.
