A Look into America’s A Look into America’s WeatherWeather

NSF NSF

North Mississippi GK-8 ProjectNorth Mississippi GK-8 ProjectCreated By: Leah CraftCreated By: Leah Craft

Grade Level: 7th Grade Level: 7th

What is weather?What is weather?

TornadoTornado HurricaneHurricane SnowSnow

RainRain IceIce ThunderThunder

Where does weather occur?Where does weather occur?

• MeteorologyMeteorology is the study of weather and is the study of weather and meteorologists are scientists who study and predict meteorologists are scientists who study and predict weather.weather.

• WeatherWeather is the state of the atmosphere at any given is the state of the atmosphere at any given time and place. time and place.

• Most weather takes place in the lower atmosphere Most weather takes place in the lower atmosphere which is the which is the tropospheretroposphere. .

• Weather occurs because our atmosphere is in constant Weather occurs because our atmosphere is in constant motionmotion..

The Science of WeatherThe Science of Weather

Troposphere

What makes weather?What makes weather?

• The Sun

• Water

(in the air)

What does rain look like?What does rain look like?

What does rain look like?What does rain look like?1.1. This remarkable evolution results from a tug-of-This remarkable evolution results from a tug-of-

war between two forces: the surface tension of war between two forces: the surface tension of the water and the pressure of the air pushing up the water and the pressure of the air pushing up against the bottom of the drop as it falls. against the bottom of the drop as it falls.

2.2. When the drop is small, surface tension wins and When the drop is small, surface tension wins and pulls the drop into a spherical shape. pulls the drop into a spherical shape.

3.3. With increasing size, the fall velocity increases With increasing size, the fall velocity increases and the pressure on the bottom increases and the pressure on the bottom increases causing the raindrop to flatten and even develop causing the raindrop to flatten and even develop a depression. a depression.

4.4. Finally, when the radius exceeds about 4 mm or Finally, when the radius exceeds about 4 mm or so, the depression grows almost explosively to so, the depression grows almost explosively to form a bag with an annular ring of water and form a bag with an annular ring of water and then it breaks up into smaller drops then it breaks up into smaller drops

How does water get into the How does water get into the air?air?

Add HeatAdd Heat

Remove Heat

Remove Heat

Liquid Water Vapor (It’s invisible!)Ice

TemperatureTemperature

• The measure of the average speed of The measure of the average speed of air molecules.air molecules.

• The temperature of the air depends The temperature of the air depends on the surface below.on the surface below.

The Earth’s water circulating The Earth’s water circulating

TornadoTornado• Form from Thunderstorms or HurricanesForm from Thunderstorms or Hurricanes

• High Energy Density – effect small areaHigh Energy Density – effect small area

• 75% United States75% United States

The Fujita scale, shown in red, measures the strength of a tornado based on the amount of The Fujita scale, shown in red, measures the strength of a tornado based on the amount of damage it caused. This scale is used after the storm has passed and combines wind speed damage it caused. This scale is used after the storm has passed and combines wind speed

with the speed of sound. with the speed of sound. Dr. T. T. Fujita, University of ChicagoDr. T. T. Fujita, University of Chicago

HurricaneHurricane

• 40,000 time more 40,000 time more powerful than tornadopowerful than tornado

• 340 miles in diameter340 miles in diameter

• June 1June 1st st - November - November 3131stst

• August and SeptemberAugust and September

• Damage caused by Damage caused by wind, rain, and storm wind, rain, and storm surge.surge.

Hurricane Andrew 1992Hurricane Andrew 1992

The SunThe Sun

Thunder StormsThunder Storms

• 40,000 occur each day throughout 40,000 occur each day throughout the worldthe world

• Winds, tornadoes, flash flooding, and Winds, tornadoes, flash flooding, and hail cause most damage.hail cause most damage.

Can we explain how the position of Can we explain how the position of the earth in relation to the sun has the earth in relation to the sun has

an effect on seasonal weather an effect on seasonal weather changes?changes?

Weather changes every season Weather changes every season because of the Earth’s tilt when because of the Earth’s tilt when

it revolves around the sun.it revolves around the sun.

How can we measure How can we measure weather?weather?

• Thermometer (temperature)

• Barometer (air pressure)

• Rain Gauge and Snow Board (precipitation)

• Anemometer (wind speed)

• Satellite (clouds)

WS2310 La Crosse Wireless WS2310 La Crosse Wireless Weather StationWeather Station

• Includes (1) wind-gauge, (1) rainfall sensor, (1) outdoor temp & humidity sensor, Includes (1) wind-gauge, (1) rainfall sensor, (1) outdoor temp & humidity sensor, indoor measurement temperature/ humidity/ barometric pressure WWVB time indoor measurement temperature/ humidity/ barometric pressure WWVB time display with manual setting display with manual setting

• WWVB controlled calendar WWVB controlled calendar • Display of extensive weather data, in all cases with programmable alarm functions for Display of extensive weather data, in all cases with programmable alarm functions for

certain weather conditions as well as records of all minimum and maximum values certain weather conditions as well as records of all minimum and maximum values along with time and date of their recordings along with time and date of their recordings

• Indoor and outdoor temperature and relative humidity display in degrees Fahrenheit Indoor and outdoor temperature and relative humidity display in degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius Indoor and outdoor relative humidity displays or Celsius Indoor and outdoor relative humidity displays

• Air pressure reading in inHg or hPa, absolute or relative Air pressure reading in inHg or hPa, absolute or relative • Detailed display of rainfall data in 1 hour, 24 hours, total since last reset in inch or Detailed display of rainfall data in 1 hour, 24 hours, total since last reset in inch or

mm mm • Wind speed in mph, km/h, m/s, knots or Beaufort Wind speed in mph, km/h, m/s, knots or Beaufort • Wind direction display with LCD compass as well as numerical(e.g. 225 degrees) and Wind direction display with LCD compass as well as numerical(e.g. 225 degrees) and

abbreviated characters (e.g. SW) abbreviated characters (e.g. SW) • Wind chill temperature display Wind chill temperature display • Dew point temperature display Dew point temperature display • Weather forecast display by weather icons (sunny, cloudy, rainy) Weather forecast display by weather icons (sunny, cloudy, rainy) • Weather tendency indicator Weather tendency indicator • Storm warning alarm Storm warning alarm • LED back light LED back light • COM port for easy connection to your PC COM port for easy connection to your PC • All the weather data from the base station and up to 175 sets of weather history data All the weather data from the base station and up to 175 sets of weather history data

with user adjustable measuring intervals can be recorded and uploaded to your PC with user adjustable measuring intervals can be recorded and uploaded to your PC • Actual Size: 6.1 x 1.2 x 6.3inActual Size: 6.1 x 1.2 x 6.3in