Stormy Skies
Students investigate the different types of weather frontsCopyright NASA http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/105020main_thunderstorm_night_lg.jpg
Students learn that wind and storms can form at the boundaries of interacting high and low pressure air masses. They learn the distinguishing features of the four main types of weather fronts (warm fronts, cold fronts, stationary fronts and occluded fronts) and how these fronts are depicted on a surface weather analysis, or weather map. Students also learn several different ways that engineers help with storm prediction, analysis and protection.
Engineers not only design weather forecasting instruments and software to predict a future storm, but they help protect people during a storm. Engineering is essential to our safety during a storm, through the design of sturdy buildings and structures, the development of processes for flying or driving through a storm, and the design of storm warning systems to alert people to oncoming threats. Engineers work on ways to develop and incorporate new technologies for more accurate predictions of the weather, and extreme weather, so we can make informed decisions about how we interact with our world.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Describe several weather fronts caused by colliding air masses.
- Explain the symbols that are used on a surface weather analysis.
- List different ways that engineers are involved in storm prediction, analysis and protection.