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The Scout Meteorologist Badge
Your guide to meeting the requirements
www.scouts.org.uk
www.metoffice.gov.uk
The weather is a fascinating subject, not least
because we are affected by such changeable
weather in the British Isles. It’s a great idea for
Scouts to learn more about this vast subject
— so many Scout activities are outdoors and
prone to disruption due to adverse weather
conditions.
Gaining the Meteorologist Badge will also help the Scouts
with their schoolwork, by using practical experience to
reinforce the meteorological elements of the National
Curriculum syllabus.
By learning more about the weather, Scouts will be able
to recognise which clouds could produce rain, guess
how cold it is likely to be at night, learn where best to
pitch tents so they are sheltered from the wind, etc.
These skills will not only put the Scouts in touch with
nature, but may also be used to avoid potentially lifethreatening situations.
01 The Scout Meteorologist Badge
To gain the Meteorologist Badge, Scouts should satisfy
the six requirements detailed to the right. With each
requirement are suggested activities which will enable
the Scout to understand and complete that task. These
are only suggested activities (described in full later in
this booklet), you may think of others which will fit in
with other troop activities you are planning.
The Meteorologist Badge,
in conjunction with the Met Office
TASK 1
Explain and demonstrate how the following are measured:
• Temperature
• Wind force and direction
• Pressure
• Rainfall
TASK 2
Keep a daily record of these weather conditions from your own
observations for at least two weeks:
• Wind force and direction
• Weather type
• Temperature
• Rainfall
TASK 3
Understand three different ways in which clouds are formed.
TASK 4
Know the typical weather produced in your own area by ‘warm’ and
‘cold’ air masses in summer and winter, noting the effects of land and sea.
Understand the weather associated with a change of air mass at a ‘front’.
TASK 5
Understand a simple weather map, with fronts and isobars, similar to
those shown on television and printed in some newspapers. Relate the
observations you made in task 2 to the corresponding weather maps.
TASK 6
Understand the effects of temperature, wind and water on the human body
in cases of hypothermia and exhaustion.
Everybody at Met Office wishes all Scouts the best of luck in trying to gain
the Meteorologist Badge.
We are the UK’s national weather service with a worldwide reputation
in the fields of forecasting, climate research, and other meteorological
subjects. As part of our commitment to educating young people about
the weather, we are working closely with the Department for Education
to provide teachers and students with weather and climate related
learning resources.
Through working with the Scouts on the Meteorology badge we aim to
inspire more young people to learn about weather and climate.
For more information, please contact Customer Centre,
Met Office, FitzRoy Road, Exeter EXP1 3PB. Tel: 0870 900 0100
or visit our website at www.metoffice.gov.uk
The Scout Meteorologist Badge 02
TASK 1
Be able to explain and demonstrate how the following are measured:
• Temperature
• Wind force and direction
• Pressure
• Rainfall
TEMPERATURE
Thermometer
The basic type of thermometer is the liquid-in-glass thermometer. It depends upon
the fact that a liquid expands by an amount depending upon the temperature.
Consequently, as the temperature increases the liquid (usually alcohol) in the
bulb of the thermometer expands and pushes a column of liquid up a tube.
Thermometers should be placed in the shade; ideally, they should be in a slatted
box (thermometer screen) facing north. They should not be placed on the side of a
house, as walls retain heat which spoils the readings. The temperature is given by
the length of the liquid on the scale by the side of the tube.
WIND FORCE AND DIRECTION
Anemometer
Wind speeds can be estimated with the aid of the Beaufort wind scale. Some
amateur observers make cup anemometers using four ice cream or margarine
cartons mounted on a metal, plastic or wooden cross, which rotates horizontally
about a vertical spindle at the top of a mast. One of the cups should be a different
colour from the rest. By rotating the anemometer at a known speed and counting
the number of revolutions per minute for various speeds, the equipment can be
calibrated. Simple hand-held anemometers can also be purchased. Meteorologists
measure the wind speed using an anemometer located 10 m above the ground.
Force
Description
Wind speed (knots)
Typical effect over land
0
Calm
Less than 1
Smoke rises vertically
1-3
Light
1-10
Smoke drifts or leaves rustle
4
Moderate
11-16
Small branches move
5
Fresh
17-21
Small trees in leaf begin to sway
6-7
Strong
22-33
Large branches or whole trees in motion
8-9
Gale
34-47
Chimney pots and tiles removed
10-11
Storm
48-63
Trees uprooted, widespread damage
12
Hurricane
More than 63
Devastation
03 The Scout Meteorologist Badge
PRESSURE
Barometer
Many barometers allow pressure to be measured in terms of millibars, hectopascals,
or inches of mercury. The easiest way to measure the pressure is to use an aneroid
barometer – this is the type of instrument found in many homes. Inside the
barometer there are corrugated capsules which have no air inside. As the pressure
changes the capsule changes shape and the resulting very small movement is
magnified so that a pointer shows the pressure on a circular scale.
Pressure is dependent upon height above mean sea level (msl) and the weather
situation, so a barometer needs to be set so that it shows the pressure at msl. The
actual msl pressure can be obtained by telephoning the Weathercall service for
your area. See www.weathercall.co.uk. However, if a correction for msl cannot be
obtained an indication of whether the pressure is rising or falling is a very useful
thing to note.
A barometer does not have to be located in the open air or in a thermometer screen.
It can be located in a house or building nearby.
RAINFALL
Rain-gauge
A simple rain-gauge consists of a tin can with the depth of water in the can giving
the amount of rain. A more accurate rain-gauge can be made with a plastic funnel
placed in a collecting bottle, and some form of measuring cylinder. The rain-gauge
should be firmly fixed so that it remains upright with the funnel about 300 mm
above the ground.
The Scout Meteorologist Badge 04
ACTIVITY
Construct a simple version of a weather instrument that will help
with some of the daily observations required in task 2.
• Rain gauge
• Wind vane
• Anemometer
RAIN-GAUGE
WIND VANE
What you will need
What you will need
•
•
•
•
•
•
An empty plastic bottle
(2 litre fizzy drink bottle
would be ideal)
Scissors
Sticky tape
Ruler
Paper
Pencil
What to do
• Ruler
• A pen top
• A plastic fizzy drink bottle
• Card
• A knitting needle
• Matchsticks
• A cork
• Sand
• Blu-Tack (or similar)
What to do
1.Cut around the plastic bottle about two thirds of
the way up.
1.Draw an arrow 25 cm long on the card and cut
it out.
2.Turn the top part of the bottle upside down and
place it inside the bottom part – fix it in place
using the tape.
2.Make another arrow by drawing around the first
arrow and cutting it out.
3.Make a scale in centimetres on a piece of tape,
using a ruler, and fix it to the side of your bottle.
4.Find a place outside to put your rain gauge. It
must be open and away from trees.
5.Dig a hole and bury your rain gauge so that the
top is sticking out about 5 cm out of the ground.
This will stop the wind gauge from blowing
down on windy days.
6.Check the rain gauge every day at the same
time, measure the amount of rain collected, and
empty the bottle.
3.Place the pen top between the arrows, in the
centre, and glue together.
4.Push four matchsticks into the long edge of the
cork at right angles to each other.
5.Cut out four small squares of card and label with
the four main points of the compass; N, E, S, W.
Attach these to the end of each matchstick with
Blu-Tack.
6.Fill the bottle with sand.
7. Push the knitting needle into the cork and push
the cork in the top of the bottle. Now balance
the wind vane on top of the needle.
8.Choose an open area, perhaps near your rain
gauge, to place your wind vane. Ask an adult or
use a compass to point the N label on the bottle
towards North.
The arrow always shows the direction the wind is
blowing from.
05 The Scout Meteorologist Badge
ANEMOMETER
What you will need
• A table tennis ball
• Fishing line or similar
• A protractor
What to do
1.Thread the ball onto the fishing line.
2.Suspend this from the centre of the protractor
so it can swing freely.
3.The fishing line should hang down the 90
degree line on the protractor.
An indication of the wind speed will be given by the
angle shown on the protractor when the instrument
is held in the air.
Gaining the Meteorologist Badge will also
help the Scouts with their schoolwork, by
using practical experience to reinforce
the meteorological elements of the
National Curriculum syllabus.
The Scout Meteorologist Badge 06
TASK 2
Keep a daily record of these weather conditions from your own
observations for at least two weeks:
•
•
•
•
Wind force and direction
Weather type
Temperature
Rainfall
Encourage the Scouts to make their daily observations at the same time each
day. They should stand in the same spot to record the wind and weather
type so the observations can be compared. Use the table on page 15. The
log has enough fields to cover two weeks of observations.
To measure wind force, use the Beaufort scale as a guide. To measure the
wind direction use a compass to determine which way is north and then
estimate which direction the wind is blowing from.
Weather should be described in words.
Suggested descriptions are listed below:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sunny
Bright
Rain
Drizzle
Snow
Hail
Thunderstorm
Fog
Fine
Cloudy
Partly cloudy
Temperature can be measured using a thermometer as described in task 1.
If the Scout can’t access any of this equipment then a figure may be taken
from the local paper or TV news programmes.
Rainfall can easily be measured using the rain gauge as described in task 1.
07 The Scout Meteorologist Badge
TASK 3
Understand three different ways in which clouds are formed.
A classification of clouds was introduced by Luke Howard (1772-1864)
who used Latin words to describe their characteristics:
•
•
•
•
Cirrus – a tuft or filament (e.g. of hair)
Cumulus – a heap or pile
Stratus – a layer
Nimbus – rain bearing
There are now ten basic cloud types with names derived from combinations
of these words (the word ‘alto’ meaning high is now also used to denote
medium-level cloud).
Clouds form when moist air is cooled to such an extent that it becomes
saturated. The main mechanism for cooling air is to force it to rise. As air rises
it expands, because the pressure decreases through the atmosphere, and
therefore cools. Eventually it may become saturated and the water vapour
then condenses into tiny water droplets, similar in size to those found in
fog, to form cloud. If the temperature reaches below about –20 °C many of
the cloud droplets will have frozen so the cloud is mainly composed of ice
crystals.
1.
1000 m
hot earth
2.
1. Rapid local ascent when heated air at the earth’s surface rises in the
form of thermal currents (convection)
• This tends to produce cumulus type clouds
8000 m
There are three main ways in which air rises to form cloud:
warm,
moist air
2. Slow widespread mass ascent where warm moist air is undercut by
cold air (the barrier between the warm and cold air is called a ‘front’)
• This usually produces layered clouds
cool,
dry air
3.
3. Air forced to rise over a barrier of mountains or hills
The range of ways in which clouds can be formed and the variable nature
of the atmosphere give rise to the enormous variety of shapes, sizes and
textures of clouds.
500 m
• This can produce layered or cumulus-type cloud depending on the state of the atmosphere
ACTIVITY
To demonstrate convection, simply boil a kettle and watch the steam plume out of the lip. Right at the
entrance the steam will be invisible but as the steam rises the water vapour condenses in to visible steam.
Also note that as the steam rises, it cools and begins to sink down to the ground allowing the water to
evaporate and the steam to disappear.
To make the Scout more aware of cloud formation due to forced ascent, get a local Ordnance Survey map and ask
the Scout to highlight areas of high ground, hills and mountains. These are the local areas where ‘upslope’ cloud is
most likely to form. Try to watch for cloud formation on these features.
The Scout Meteorologist Badge 08
TASK 4
Know the typical weather produced in your own area by ‘warm’ and
‘cold’ air masses in summer and winter, noting the effects of land and
sea. Understand the weather associated with a change of air mass at a
‘front’.
AIR MASSES
An air mass is a large body of air and has the same temperature and humidity throughout. It is separated from
differing air masses by fronts. The notion that northerly winds (i.e. winds from the north) are cold and southerly
winds (those from the south) are warm (at least in the northern hemisphere) is quite common. Similarly, air that has
travelled over the sea picks up moisture, while air travelling over the land is relatively dry. These simple concepts
help in the understanding of air masses.
In polar and subtropical regions there are large semi-permanent anticyclones (high pressure areas). The air resides
in these systems for a long time and is gradually influenced by the underlying surface — air at the poles is cooled
and air in the tropics is warmed. The result is a large body of air with little horizontal variation in temperature and
moisture content.
Sometimes there is a large outflow of air from the anticyclones, and these air masses may approach the British Isles.
However, on their journey they may be modified by contact with the underlying surface. Air which travels over the
sea (maritime air) is moistened, whereas there is little change in moisture content of air which travels over the land
(continental air). The boundary between two different types of air mass is called a front. It is common for the British
Isles to be affected by sequences of fronts, which usually separate polar maritime and tropical maritime air.
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ntal air
Air masses
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ca
pi
tro
09 The Scout Meteorologist Badge
on
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time air
tin
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air
TROPICAL CONTINENTAL
Tropical continental air masses originate in North Africa and often travel over
the Mediterranean, Spain and France before reaching the British Isles. The
air picks up some moisture over the Mediterranean (and perhaps the Bay of
Biscay), but overall the air tends to be quite dry and the skies are typically
cloudless.
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trop
The majority of tropical continental airstreams give a marvellous heatwave
(in summer). However where the air has picked up moisture which then
has made its way to medium levels in the atmosphere, tremendous
thunderstorms develop. Another noticeable feature of this air mass is haze,
and poor air quality.
tin
en
tal
air
POLAR CONTINENTAL
ntal air
Polar continental air masses originate in Scandinavia or Russia and mainly
affect the British Isles during winter.
la
r
The moisture content is low in these air masses, especially when they take the
short sea track in the Calais/Dover region. This leads to clouds being generally
well broken, and so the weather is fine and sunny. Air that has crossed the
North Sea between Denmark and Scotland is said to have taken a long sea
track. It therefore collects more moisture, and clouds tend to form during
its journey over the sea. Consequently, it is mainly cloudy in eastern districts
(with perhaps drizzle or snow flurries.)
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nti
ne
Temperatures in polar continental air masses are below average in winter,
except perhaps downwind of the mountains. In summer, however, the
temperatures tend to be above average.
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TROPICAL MARITIME
In a tropical maritime air mass the nights are mild and damp, especially in
mid-winter. In December and January the overcast skies result in there being
little variation in temperature between day and night. However, if there are
light winds and clear skies, fog may form inland overnight.
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On the coasts, sea fog is common in these tropical maritime southwesterlies. However, if the cloud base is several hundred feet, sea-level sites
may be saved from the fog.
air
Tropical maritime air usually approaches the British Isles from the southwest. During its passage across the Atlantic, the air is cooled from below
as it passes over a progressively cooler ocean, and so it becomes more
stable. While it cools down, little of its moisture is lost. It therefore reaches
south-west England or western Ireland almost saturated, giving dull, warm,
overcast weather.
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The Scout Meteorologist Badge 10
TASK 4
POLAR MARITIME
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po
ar
it
m
Polar maritime air is the most common type of air mass affecting the British
Isles. The air has its source in the Canadian Arctic or the Greenland area.
As the cold air travels over the relatively warm sea it is warmed from below
and becomes unstable. Unstable airstreams tend to produce convection,
and so cumulus clouds, cumulonimbus clouds and showers are likely. Other
characteristics of the air are that it is cool (especially in summer), fairly moist
and associated with good visibility.
im
e
air
In winter most of the convection is initiated over the Atlantic and showers hit
the coasts, spreading inland if the winds are strong. In spring and summer,
convection clouds tend to be set-off to rain inland by daytime heating.
RETURNING POLAR MARITIME
Returning polar maritime air, like polar maritime air, originates in Polar
Regions, but travels southwards before turning north towards the British Isles.
The air is originally cold, but as it takes a long sea track southwards across the
Atlantic the lower layers become warmer, more moist and more unstable.
However, as it returns northwards the lower layers are cooled and become
more stable. This mixture of a stable layer near the surface and an unstable
layer aloft can lead to a wide variety of weather.
On exposed coasts and hills the combination of high moisture content
and low-level stability can lead to stratus clouds and hill fog. Sometimes,
however, the unstable layer leads to the formation of cumulonimbus clouds
and showers (and occasionally thunderstorms). Further inland a mixture of
weather can occur — stratus lifts and disperses and then suddenly gives way
to a heavy shower.
ACTIVITY
Ask the Scouts to draw and present a weather forecast map of one
type of front, where two distinct air masses meet. They should
explain how features of the land and sea will affect the weather
and also show the different cloud types and weather that could
be expected at the front.
11 The Scout Meteorologist Badge
retu
rning polar
mari
time air
TASK 5
Understand a simple weather map, with fronts and isobars, similar to
those shown on television and printed in some newspapers. Relate the
observations you made in task 2 to the corresponding weather maps.
ACTIVITY
Ask the Scout to collect a week’s worth of daily weather charts that are
available in newspapers or on the Met Office website.
Ask them to label the maps using the information in the diagram below.
cold front
front moving
wide rain belt
behind
occasional rain
behind
fairly narrow rain
belt on the front
brighter weather
behind
Some of them might want to pretend to be a TV weather presenter and do a
‘live’ weather forecast!
warm front
occluded front
front moving
The Scout Meteorologist Badge 12
TASK 6
Understand the effects of temperature, wind and water on the human
body in cases of hypothermia and exhaustion.
The human body is very vulnerable to extremes of weather. When the
outside temperature falls below a certain point our body temperature can
drop to a dangerously low level. Our body temperature falls most rapidly
when we are immersed in cold water, as the water conducts heat out from
our body. A cold wind has a similar effect, taking heat away from the body
and thus reducing body temperature. This effect is known as wind-chill, and
it can make the air ‘feel’ much colder than it actually is. If it is also raining,
this can reduce the body temperature further.
• A low body temperature can cause us lasting physical damage.
Hypothermia develops when body temperature falls below about
35 °C. Although moderate hypothermia can normally be reversed,
hypothermia can lead to death if the body temperature falls below
26 °C. To reduce the risk of hypothermia, expeditions and outdoor
activities must be planned very carefully. No one suffering from
minor illness should take part.
• Wear several layers of loose clothing and an outer wind-proof layer
• Take a waterproof layer (cagoule and over trousers)
• Take a woolly hat or balaclava
• Carry spare, dry socks
• Ensure boots are suitable for the terrain you are travelling in
• The kit in your back pack should include:
- Spare clothes
- First aid kit
- Survival bag
- Means of providing a hot drink
- Emergency, high-energy food
- Map and compass
All members of the party should be aware of the dangers of hypothermia
and take preventative steps to avoid the situation. It is also useful to
understand what affects the night temperature and what precautions
should be taken when sleeping outdoors.
13 The Scout Meteorologist Badge
At the opposite end of the scale, overheating can also be very dangerous.
Heat exhaustion is caused by a loss of salt and water from the body, usually
due to strenuous exercise or a hot, humid environment. It can cause
headaches, sickness or fainting, but the effects can be reversed by moving
the casualty to a cooler location and replacing lost fluids and minerals.
Again, prevention is better than cure, so keep fluid intake high, and wear
light clothing and a sun hat.
Heatstroke can occur during exposure to extreme heat or high humidity
when there is no air current to cool the body down. The body temperature
may rise as high as 43 °C, causing unconsciousness in some cases. Anyone
suffering from heatstroke should always receive urgent medical attention.
ACTIVITY
Using the wind outdoors, ask the Scout to dip a hand or bare foot in a
bucket of water. The Scout should then hold that limb exposed to the
moving air and observe the cooling of the soaked limb compared with the
dry one. Is it cooler? Ensure they understand the reasons why it is cooler.
Also, ask them to make a list of things they think they need to take to ‘Be
Prepared’ on an outdoors expedition. Ask them to mark their list against
the one on the left and see how many they think of.
The Scout Meteorologist Badge 14
RESOURCES: TASK 2
Weekly observations log
Record your daily observations at the same time each day. Stand in the same spot to
record the wind and weather type so the observations can be compared. Use the table
below to record the data. This table has enough fields to cover a two week period.
Date and time
Weather
Temperature
Rainfall
Wind direction
Wind force
The Scout Meteorologist Badge 15
The Met Office is committed to
helping people of all ages make
the most of the great outdoors.
If you are interested in other
environmental activities
designed to help you explore
and enjoy nature, take a look at
the OPAL website.
www.opalexplorenature.org
The Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) network is an exciting new initiative
that is open to anyone with an interest in nature. They aim to create
and inspire a new generation of nature-lovers by getting people to
explore, study, enjoy and protect their local environment.
Met Office
FitzRoy Road, Exeter
Devon, EX1 3PB
United Kingdom
Tel: 0870 900 0100
Fax: 0870 900 5050
[email protected]
www.metoffice.gov.uk
Produced by the Met Office
© Crown copyright 2010 10/0262
Met Office and the Met Office logo
are registered trademarks