Factors Used to Predict the Weather

Tools to Predict the Weather

How do meteorologists predict the weather?

I am a meteorologist.

Scientists who predict the weather based on scientific data.

Meteoron

Comes from the Greek word meaning, "thing in the heavens above."

Open Ended

If I gave you a tape measure, what are some measurements you could take on your body that would help describe you?

In weather prediction, there are five (5) important measurements:

• Temperature

• Precipitation

• Air pressure

• Humidity

• Wind

Multiple Choice

What is temperature?

• The amount of water vapor in the air

• The measure of how hot or cold something is

• Air that moves horizontally or parallel to the ground

• Evaporation

Multiple Choice

What tool is used to measure temperature?

• Rain gauge

• Wind vane

• Barometer

• Thermometer

Poll

Would you rather have a snow day or have one less day of school before summer break?

• Snow day

• Get out of school a day early

• Doesn't matter to me

Multiple Choice

True or False. If you don't have a thermometer in the summer, you can estimate the temperature by listening to a cricket.

• True

• False

Yes, crickets can give an estimate of temperature!

Th number of times a cricket chirps depends on the temperature! Count the number of chirps that occur in 13 seconds. Add 40. This will give an rough estimate of the air temperature in degrees F.

How would I find the average of this number set of temperatures?

• Step 1: ?

• Step 2: ?

How would I find the average of this number set of temperatures?

• Step 1: Add all of the numbers together

• 33 + 40 + 46 + 50 + 53 + 55 + 55 + 54 =

How would I find the average of this number set of temperatures?

• Step 1: Add all of them together

• Total = 386

• Step 2: ??????

How would I find the average of this number set of temperatures?

• Step 2 Divide by the number of numbers

How would I find the average of this number set of temperatures?

• Step 2 Divide by the number of numbers

• (8 numbers in total)

How would I find the average of this number set of temperatures?

Multiple Choice

What is precipitation?

• Force of air molecules pushing down on an area.

• Wind speed

• Any form of water that falls to Earth's surface from the clouds.

• Amount of water vapor in the air.

Multiple Select

What processes must occur BEFORE precipitation falls?

• run-off

• evaporation

• infiltration

• condensation

Multiple Select

What processes occur immediately AFTER precipitation falls?

• run-off

• evaporation

• infiltration

• erosion

• sublimation

Fill in the Blanks

In what form of precipitation does crystallization occur?

Multiple Choice

Which of these tools are used to measure rain?

The atmosphere

The atmosphere is like an ocean of air rising up from the surface of Planet Earth to the very end of the atmosphere.

Multiple Choice

Can you guess how much the amount of air in the column weighs?

• 10 pounds

• 17,000 pounds

• 350 pounds

• 1, 293 pounds

Atmospheric pressure is

exerted on the surface of the Earth and well as all the objects on Earth. Remember: Atmospheric pressure is about 15 pounds per square inch.

Atmospheric pressure in

outer space would equal 0.

Atmospheric pressure in

in the bottom of the seven (7) mile Mariana Trench would be 1000 times greater than on the surface of Earth. The air pressure combined with the water pressure would be like having 50 jumbo jets pressing down on your body!

Why don't we feel like 1,293 pounds of weight is pressing down on us?

Our bodies are designed to handle the pressure of air.

The pressure on the inside of your body (pushing out) adjusts to the pressure on the outside (pushing in) so they are equal!

The atmosphere presses down on our bodies

while the pressure inside our body, presses outward with equal force.

Your ears pop in airplanes because the air pressure above Earth is less than the air pressure at the surface.

Your inner ear has air trapped in it and as the atmospheric pressure changes, it causes pressure on your ear drum.

Meteorologists use a barometer to measure changes in air pressure.

The gauge in the barometer moves as the air pressure outside the container increases and decreases.

You can predict the weather by looking at the barometer.

If Rising (going up) = clear, sunny weather

If Falling (going down) = wet, stormy weather

Use "Thumbs Up" to help you remember!

• When the barometer (and the air pressure) is going up, give a "thumbs up" meaning its going to be a great day to be outside!

• When the barometer (and the air pressure) is going down, give a "thumbs down" meaning wet or stormy weather is on the way!

Multiple Choice

Memory hook: Point your thumb in the direction that the air pressure (barometer) is changing. When air pressure rises, use "Thumbs _____" to mean ____________

• up; its a great day to be outside!

• down; stormy weather is on its way

Multiple Choice

Memory hook: Point your thumb in the direction that the air pressure (barometer) is changing. When air pressure falls, use "Thumbs _____" to mean ____________

• up; its a great day to be outside!

• down; stormy weather is on its way