Weather Lesson 6 - Creating A Weather Forecast From Weather Patterns
Objectives
Materials
Background Information
Key Questions
Vocabulary
Procedure
Evaluation
Objectives
- What is a weather forecast.
- Create a weather forecast from a weather map.
- List and explain the three prediction guidelines.
Materials
- outline map of the US
- major guidelines handout
Background Information
Students will use the skills they have learned to become a junior meteorologist and prepare a 24 hour weather forecast.
Weather forecasting is the science of predicting the state of the atmosphere for a future time and location. Accurate weather forecasts help save lives, crops and property. The National Weather Service regularly collects weather data from satellites and radar networks so that 48 hour forecasts can be made for every US location.
Today's weather forecasting requires computer models, visual observations, and a thorough knowledge of patterns and trends. Short term forecasts for the next day are generally quite accurate, but the accuracy of weather forecasts decrease significantly for extended forecasts. The accuracy rate for extended forecasts is improving, but they are still not as accurate as a 24-hour forecast.
Although your school may not have access to massive satellites, expensive radar, and high-speed computers, your students can use these guidelines to make an accurate 24 hour weather forecast. Here are the guidelines:
Wind Direction: We have learned that wind direction affects the temperature. We also know that winds around a high or low pressure system rotate in opposite directions and produce winds of different temperatures. A low pressure system produces warm, southerly winds ahead of the low and cooler, northerly winds behind it. The presence of a low pressure system on a weather map can help you determine what type of weather to expect in your area. Have your students check back through their journals to find the weather trends for a high pressure system.
Pressure Trend: Knowing what the barometric pressure is for a given time isn't very useful in predicting weather. But, if the pressure readings over a given time period are rising, then a high pressure system is approaching which will bring fair, dry weather. If the barometric pressure is dropping over a given time period, then a low pressure system is approaching which will bring clouds and precipitation.
Cloud Cover: Growing cumulus clouds are an indicator for thunderstorms. You can also interpret satellite images to locate areas of dense cloud cover.
Key Questions
- How do weather trends help in making an accurate weather forecast?
- What are three prediction guidelines you can use to forecast the weather?
Vocabulary
- forecast
- trends
- prediction
Procedure
1. Give your students a copy of the guidelines for weather forecasting. Discuss the guidelines with your students.
Students will create a 24 hour weather forecast for each of the 13 weather stations. By this point, your students should be familiar with the live weather data site and should be able to collect all of their data in one class period.
Students should record the following data on their weather map for the 24 hour forecast.
- wind speed and direction
- daily temperature and sky data
- high and low pressure areas
- satellite images for cloud cover and radar images for precipitation
- precipitation
- areas of warm or cold air
- warm or cold fronts
2. Have your students record their data in a spreadsheet.
3. Inform your students that they will be presenting their weather forecast in the same manner as meteorologists do on television. Have your students watch the evening news or the weather channel to prepare for their weather broadcast. They should be watching to see how the meteorologist uses weather maps and satellite and radar images.
Evaluation
Students should be proficient in gathering and interpreting weather data.
