Scientists and meteorologists use meteorology's data gathering, specifically temperature data to measure the Earth's temperature and use it to help them understand the dynamics of climate change and global warming.

Chapter List

The Earth's Atmosphere

This chapter examines the many layers of the Earth's atmosphere, including the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and the tropopaus.

History of Temperature Data Collection

The history of meteorology and the collection of meteorological data is discussed in this chapter.

How the Earth's Temperature is Measured

This chapter shows how weather forecasters and meteorologists use weather stations as well as weather radar, weather satellites, weather balloons, and the radiosonde to make atmospheric observations and gather data used to create, weather models.

Super Weather Stations

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, has built a network of super weather stations known as the U.S. Climate Reference Network, which sends meteorological data that can be used to help understand Earth's climate to the National Climatic Data Center.

Graphing the Earth's Temperature over Time

Temperature data comes from Hadley Center in Great Britain, NOAA and NASA, and is used to track temperature trends and show temperature anomalies - a particular year's temperature difference from the average of many years - that can be used to help understand . Climate Change and Global Warming.

Regional Temperature Differences

Regional temperatures vary but all regions show the effects of global warming and climate change, from the Mid-latitudes loss of glaciers to the Arctic's loss of sea ice and melting permafrost.

The Role of Temperature Data in Climate Change Models

Scientists use the temperature data in climate models to see what impact global warming and climate change will have on extreme weather, sea level rise, climates and ecosystems.