Backyard Weather Station
Students use their senses to describe what the weather is doing and predict what it might do next. After gaining a basic understanding of weather patterns, students act as state park engineers and design/build backyard weather stations to gather data and make weather forecasts.
Figure 1. A backyard weather station made by students.
Who cares about the weather? A lot of people do, including engineers! Engineers have designed modern weather forecasting equipment, including weather balloons, satellites, Doppler radar, and computer simulation programs to help meteorologists make accurate weather forecasts. Engineers have also designed the automatic weather station (AWS), which collects weather data automatically in remote areas such as the mountains or Antarctica. Engineers design and build the high-tech equipment that is used for weather forecasting. They test the equipment to make sure that it is safe to use and can withstand severe atmospheric conditions. Other engineers contribute to weather forecasting equipment by designing the electronics, circuitry and software so the equipment can sense, measure and relay weather data accurately.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Observe and make predictions about the weather using their senses and the clouds.
- Describe the relation between weather patterns and wind speed, air pressure, temperature and precipitation.
- Make a weather forecast based on sensory observations, cloud characteristics and collected weather data.
- Develop a model that describes how unequal heating of the Earth causes patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.