Activities

1. Define meteorology.
   
   
2. Define one of the following weather instruments: thermometer, barometer, and anemometer.

3. Compare and contrast cold fronts and warm fronts.
   
   
4. What is the difference between high and low-pressure systems?
   
   
5. How is Doppler radar used in predicting weather?

6. Locate a weather map online. Create a weather forecast for the US, including temperature, high/low pressure, fronts, and prediction of precipitation for the next three days. You can use today’s map, or a previous date.

Answer Key/Rubric

1. Meteorology is the scientific study of the atmosphere, focusing on weather processes and forecasting.
2. Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:

• Thermometer- an instrument that measures temperature.  Thermometers usually contain a sealed glass tube with mercury, which rises and falls as temperature changes.
• Barometer- an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure, measured in millibars.
• Anemometer- an instrument used for measuring the speed of wind.

3. Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:

Cold Front

• Cold air mass moves towards a warmer mass of air
• Warm air is forced upward
• Causes warm air to cool down
• Shown on a weather map as a blue line with blue arrows

Warm Front

• Warm air mass moves towards a cooler mass of air.
• As air moves in, it moves above the cool air
• Causes cool air to warm up
• Shown on a weather map as a red line with red semi-circles

Both

• Bring in air masses that contrast the existing air’s temperature
• Cause cloud formation
• Usually produce precipitation
• Involve warm air rising above cooler air

4. Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:

High Pressure System

• Generally produce fair weather, sunshine, or non-precipitating clouds
• May produce light winds
• Involves sinking air
• Air flows clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere
• Air flows counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere

Low Pressure System

• Can bring clouds, precipitation, stormy conditions
• Can produce high or damaging winds
• Involves air that rises, cools and condenses
• Air flows counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere
• Air flows clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere

5. Sample response: Doppler radar is able to detect the location and strength of precipitation. In addition, Doppler can detect wind direction, wind speed, and boundaries between fronts.  Given this data, meteorologists are able to track storms and make predictions about how the storm may travel, or gain or lose intensity.

6. Acceptable responses must include, but are not limited to:

• Indication of date of weather map
• Prediction of upcoming weather, they may include but is not limited to:
  
  • Temperature- indication of patterns of hot/cold weather throughout the US. May include reference to terms such as a potential jet stream
  • High/Low Pressure- Location of these systems, and prediction of the locations they may affect in the next three days. Indication of proper potential weather (high- fair, sunny/low-stormy, cloudy, potential precipitation)
  • Cold/Warm Fronts- Location and prediction of how front will travel.  Indication of potential clouds/precipitation and how it will affect temperature
  • Precipitation- any rain, snow, etc. that may be caused by fronts or low pressure systems