• Question: Is accurate long-range weather forecasting possible?

    Asked by to Amelia, Izzy, Sarah on 19 Mar 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Isabel Webb

      Isabel Webb answered on 19 Mar 2014:

      Only to a limit. We use many different factors to predict weather including air currents and water movement around the world. Scientists are constantly trying to perfect our prediction methods, but they aren’t perfect yet. Although we can make relatively good predictions for the next week or so, it wouldn’t be accurate at all to predict what will happen in 6 months time.

      The same methods are being used to predict the effects of climate change, which is turn is leading to many new problems in our prediction methods.

    • Photo: Amelia Frizell-Armitage

      Amelia Frizell-Armitage answered on 19 Mar 2014:

      I really wish long range forecasting was possible. I work out in the field a lot for my work, and sometimes it is really annoying when I get to the field and then can’t work because there is rain that wasn’t forecast. If we could predict the weather more accurately I could plan my work better!

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