(Wetterinfos)
On May 11, 1998, a nice gentleman from the Flight Weather
Service of Vienna Airport visited us.
He explained us some things about the weather:
Temperature: unit for measuring
the warmth of the air
Atmospheric pressure: measurable
weight of the air. The measurement unit for pressure is mbar.
Atmospheric humidity: percentage
of steam in the air, given in %.
High atmospheric humidity with
rain, snow, dew and fog.
He told us also some things
about the sun:
it gives us warmth and energy.
He showed us a diagram about
sun radiation.
Only half of all sun rays reach the earth.
The rays can have short wave length or long wave length.
The sun does not radiate everywhere with the same intensity.
In the polar zone, for example, during 6 months there is
daylight and 6 months darkness.
On our latitude the longest day per year is June 21st
and the shortest December 21st (winter/ summer solstice).
Then he told us about weather radar. It sends a signal to
other weather observatories, and if this signal is reflected, there is
somewhere rainfall, hail etc. If it is not reflected, it sends data.
Finally, he told us about flying by sight and flying by
instruments (blind flight). Flying by sight means that the pilot does
not rely on his instruments but on his sight. Flying by instruments means
that the pilot relies exclusively on his instruments. For blind flight
the airplanes and the airports have to be especially equipped.
Weather observation has been used for about one hundred
years. Weather satellites have been existing since the sixties. Finally
the earth could be seen from above with the first satellite pictures.
(By Steffi Koch and Jennifer Dubkowitsch)
Airport Report
There are tailwinds, headwinds, and crosswinds.
The tower controls the taking off and landing of the planes.
The weather is very important for planning the flight.
The pilot measures the altitude with a barometer.
Terminology:
Geostationary satellite - it flies 36 000 km above the earth,
always at the same angle speed as the rotation of the earth, always over
the same spot (used by telephone companies, TV programs, ...).
Pole-rotating satellite - lies lower and transmits sharper
and less distorted images. It rotates around the earth, always in the
same circular course (used especially for espionage)
Low, counter-clockwise, means bad weather (low pressure
system), cyclones
High, clockwise, means good weather (high pressure system),
anticyclones
Infrared-image. It is an image based on heat: the lighter
the color, the colder it is in the area. Deduction: The colder the higher.
As fog has the same temperature as the surface of the earth, it is not
visible on the infrared image.
English terminology: Hail /Rain /Water vapor /Thunderstorm
Our opinion:
The screens were really great, but also the rest of the
excursion was not bad at all. However, it was a little hot. People over
there were really nice and they explained many things to us.
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