Many of the most damaging and life-threaling types of weather-torrential rains, severe thunderstorms, and tornadoes-begin quickly, strike suddenly, and dissipate rapidly, devastating small regions while leaving neighboring areas untouched. One such event, a tornado, struck the northeastern section of Edmonton, Alberta, in July 1987. Total damages from the tornado exceeded $250 million, the highest ever for any Canadian storm. Conventional computer models of the atmosphere have limited value in predicting short-live local storms like the Edmonton tornado, because the available weather data are generally not detailed enough to allow computers to discern the subtle atmospheric changes that precede these storms. In most nations, for example, weather balloon observations are taken just once every twelve hours at locations typically separated by hundreds of miles. With such limited data, conventional forecasting models do a much better job predicting general weather conditions over large regions than they do forecasting specific local events.
Until recently, the observation-intensive approach needed for accurate, very short range forecasts, or “Nowcasts”, was not feasible. The cost of equipping and operating many thousands of conventional weather stations was prohibitively high, and the difficulties involved in rapidly collecting and processing the raw weather data from such a network were insurmountable. Fortunately, scientific and technological advances have overcome most of these problems. Radar systems, automated weather instruments, and satellites are all capable of making detailed, nearly continuous observation over large regions at a relatively low cost. Communications satellites can transmit data around the world cheaply and instantaneously, and modern computers can quickly compile and analyzing this large volume of weather information. Meteorologists and computer scientists now work together to design computer programs and video equipment capable of transforming raw weather data into words, symbols, and vivid graphic displays that forecasters can interpret easily and quickly. As meteorologists have begun using these new technologies in weather forecasting offices, Nowcasting is becoming a reality.
Which of the following is NOT mentioned as an advance in short-range weather forecasting?
Hãy suy nghĩ và trả lời câu hỏi trước khi xem đáp án
Lời giải:
Báo saiĐáp án A
Dịch nghĩa: Cái nào trong những cái sau KHÔNG được nói đến như một tiến bộ trong dự báo thời tiết ngắn hạn?
A. Khinh khí cầu thời tiết
B. Hệ thống ra-đa
C. Công cụ tự động hóa
D. Vệ tinh nhân tạo
Giái thích: Ta thấy các đáp án còn lại đều được đề cập như tiến bộ về dự báo thời tiết ngắn ngày: “Fortunately, scientific and technological advances have overcome most of these problems. Radar systems, automated weather instruments, and satellites are all capable of making detailed, nearly continuous observation over large regions at a relatively low cost.” - “May mắn thay, tiến bộ khoa học và công nghệ đã vượt qua hầu hết những vấn đề này. Hệ thống ra-đa, công cụ thời tiết tự động hóa, và vệ tinh nhân tạo đều có khả năng thực hiện những quan sát chi tiết, liên tục trên những khu vực rộng lớn với chi phí thấp.”