Water in the Air

Water in the Air

Middle School

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Learning Objectives

• Learn how weather balloons and radiosondes gather data from the upper atmosphere.

• Identify the atmospheric data that radiosondes collect and its specific uses.

• Explain the waterspout hypothesis for the strange phenomenon of animal rains.

• Analyze evidence that supports and challenges the waterspout hypothesis for animal rains.

Key Vocabulary

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Radiosonde

A small, instrument-filled package that measures atmospheric conditions and transmits data while being carried upward.

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Weather Balloon

A large balloon filled with hydrogen or helium, used to carry a radiosonde into the atmosphere.

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Waterspout

A spinning column of air and water mist that forms over bodies of water, similar to a tornado.

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Troposphere

The lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere, where most weather, including clouds and storms, occurs.

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Updraft

A strong upward current of air that is capable of lifting objects from the ground.

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Stratosphere

The layer of Earth's atmosphere above the troposphere, which weather balloons can sometimes reach before bursting.

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Weather Balloons & Radiosondes

Weather Balloon

• ​Weather balloons are made of thin rubber and filled with hydrogen or helium.

• ​​Their purpose is to carry a radiosonde high into the atmosphere to gather weather data.

• ​The balloon expands as it rises, and it bursts upon reaching the stratosphere.

Radiosonde

• ​This is a small package with sensors to measure temperature, humidity, and air pressure.

• ​​It uses a radio transmitter to send real-time weather data to a ground receiver.

• ​Tracking its location allows meteorologists to calculate wind speed and direction.

Multiple Choice

What is the main purpose of a weather balloon?

• To carry a radiosonde high into the atmosphere to gather weather data

• To expand and burst upon reaching the stratosphere

• To measure temperature, humidity, and air pressure directly

• To calculate wind speed and direction by itself

Multiple Choice

Once a weather balloon has carried it into the atmosphere, how does a radiosonde work?

• The radiosonde measures conditions with sensors and sends this data via a radio transmitter.

• The balloon changes color based on the humidity and the radiosonde reports it.

• The radiosonde takes photographs of the clouds for analysis on the ground.

• The balloon sends signals to the ground that are converted into weather data.

Multiple Choice

A meteorologist observes that a weather balloon and its radiosonde are moving quickly to the south. What conclusion is best supported by this information?

• The wind speed and direction can be calculated by tracking the radiosonde's movement.

• The balloon must be made of thin rubber to allow it to move with the wind.

• The radiosonde's transmitter is powerful enough to send data from that distance.

• The temperature is causing the balloon to expand as it is carried by the wind.

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The Science of Animal Rain

• Animal rain is a rare event where animals like fish fall from the sky.

• The main cause is believed to be strong winds called waterspouts.

• A waterspout’s vortex can suck up water and small animals from a lake.

• When the winds slow, the waterspout releases the animals back to the ground.

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Multiple Choice

What is the main cause of animal rain?

• Large storm clouds forming over land

• Strong winds from a waterspout

• Fish jumping very high out of the water

• Birds dropping their prey from the sky

Multiple Choice

How does a waterspout cause animals to fall from the sky?

• The vortex picks up animals from the water and releases them when the winds slow down.

• The wind freezes the water around the fish, which then fall as hail.

• The waterspout launches the animals into the upper atmosphere.

• The animals are attracted to the light and sound of the storm.

Multiple Choice

What would most likely happen to the animals inside a waterspout if its winds did not slow down?

• The animals would fall to the ground immediately.

• The animals would be returned safely to the lake they came from.

• The animals would likely be carried a longer distance before being released.

• The waterspout would get weaker and disappear over the water.

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Evidence for the Waterspout Hypothesis

Supporting Evidence

• ​Most animal rains involve small, light animals like fish and frogs.

• ​​A strong storm, which can create a waterspout, often comes before these events.

• ​A waterspout could realistically be strong enough to lift these small animals.

Challenging Evidence

• ​Waterspouts are rarely seen in the area before an animal rain event occurs.

• ​​Rains often consist of only one species, but a waterspout should scoop up everything.

• ​An alternative idea is that frogs simply emerge in large numbers during heavy rains.

Multiple Choice

What is the waterspout hypothesis?

• The idea that strong spinning storms can lift and carry small animals.

• The idea that frogs and fish can fall from the sky like rain.

• The idea that all storms are capable of creating animal rain.

• The idea that animals can swim up into the clouds during a flood.

Multiple Choice

Which piece of information provides evidence to support the waterspout hypothesis?

• Animal rains usually involve only a single species of animal.

• Strong storms, which can form waterspouts, often happen before animal rains.

• Frogs naturally come out in large numbers when it rains heavily.

• Waterspouts are not often seen in the area before an animal rain.

Multiple Choice

A rain of only frogs is reported after a storm. Why does this observation present a challenge to the waterspout hypothesis?

• A waterspout is a powerful storm that should pick up various species, not just one.

• A waterspout is not strong enough to lift animals like fish and frogs.

• Animal rains only happen in places where waterspouts have never been seen.

• Frogs coming out during heavy rain is a more complicated explanation.

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Common Misconceptions

Misconception	Correction
Weather balloons are lost forever.	The instrument package is recovered by parachute and reused.
Any storm can cause it to rain animals.	It requires a rare, powerful waterspout over water.
Animal rain is a modern internet hoax.	It has been documented throughout history since the 19th century.
Animals are carried inside clouds and fall with rain.	Animals are carried in the spinning vortex of the waterspout.

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Summary

• Radiosondes on weather balloons gather crucial data like temperature and humidity.

• This data is essential for weather forecasting and climate research.

• Animal rain is a rare phenomenon explained by waterspouts lifting small animals.

• Some evidence, like single-species rains, challenges the current explanation for animal rain.

Poll

On a scale of 1-4, how confident are you about the concepts covered in today's review?

• 1 (Not confident at all)

• 2 (A little confident)

• 3 (Mostly confident)

• 4 (Very confident)