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Download Meteorology - The Federation of Galaxy Explorers
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Meteorology GENERAL Hello. This Mission will familiarize the Mission Team members with meteorology to develop a basic understanding of weather observation and forecasting. We expect to expand the terrestrial and space knowledge of all Galaxy Explorers in order to enhance their understanding of planetary science. DISCUSSION “Meteorology is the study or science of the atmosphere. The atmosphere is composed of oxygen and other gases. We know that oxygen is necessary for life. We could not live long with out it. Water vapor is one of the other gases in the atmosphere. If the conditions are right, we see the water vapor in the form of clouds. When there is enough water vapor in the atmosphere and it is cool enough, it falls down in the form of rain or snow. We call this weather. We like to know when it is going to rain or snow so we like to have people do “weather forecasting”. People have gotten pretty good at this and they predict the weather a few days ahead. Let’s look at some of the ways to forecast the weather. You can tell a lot about the weather by looking at the clouds. You have all seen the white puffy clouds that are all puffy like these (Slide 2). When they are small like this they indicate fair weather so have a nice day. When cumulus clouds get really big and tall they turn into thunderstorms (Slide 3) so go inside. Sometimes you see clouds like these (Slide 4) that look like a flock of sheep. These are pretty to look at, but they don’t tell you much about the weather. Another type of cloud that makes spectacular sunsets is cirrus clouds (Slide 5). These precede warm fronts that we will talk about later. Often rain will follow a day or two later. Stratus clouds (Slide 6) are low clouds that are associated with drizzle or fog. Clouds are pretty to look at (Slide 7), but they are rather unreliable indicators of what the weather will be in the future. Weather forecasters use information from weather satellites, weather station measurements and weather balloons to predict the weather much more accurately. They put this information in computers and get products like this weather map (Slide 8). This map may look complicated, but it is really pretty simple. Big patches of cold air come down across our country from Canada. The leading edge of the cold air mass, called a “cold front” is indicated by the blue line with the triangles on it. Since the cold air is heavier, it causes higher pressures as indicated by the big blue “H” on the map. Warm fronts are indicated by the red lines that have half circles on them. Sometimes the air doesn’t know which way to go and it forms a stationary front indicated by the alternating red and blue lines. The purple line indicates an occluded front where a cold and warm front has combined. So what is the big deal with fronts anyway? Well that is where the bad weather is. A cold front is associated with showers and thunder storms. Warm fronts usually bring steady rain. You can see that the clouds lie along the fronts on this weather map. Of course, the weather forecasters have a lot more information about the temperatures, pressures and water vapor in the atmosphere so they are able to predict weather fairly accurately for your specific area. They can see where it is raining from satellite pictures like this (Slide 10). Notice how the small storm system over Texas gets bigger and moves up toward Virginia as time passes. Other weather forecast products include temperature (Slide 11). As you would expect the purple over Canada indicates that it is cold up there and the orange indicates that is warm in Mexico and Texas. There is much more to meteorology. Some people have spent a lot time studying snow. A man named Wilson A. Bentley photographed snowflakes about 75 years ago (Slide 12). One way people describe the weather is using the Beaufort Scale. The Beaufort Scale is a system of recording wind velocity (speed) devised in 1806 by Francis Beaufort. Actually this scale is a list of numbers from zero to twelve. Each number describes how hard the wind is blowing. (Mission Team Leader Note) List the scale and describe. Beaufort Speed Scale mph 0 below 1 1 1-3 2 4-7 3 8 - 12 4 13 -18 5 19 - 24 6 25 - 31 7 32 - 38 8 39 - 46 9 47 - 54 Effects on Land Smoke rises straight up; tree leaves without perceptible motion Rising smoke drifts; tree leaves barely move Effects on Water Sea flat and mirror like Ripples without foam on crests appear Small wavelets form, with Leaves rustle slightly; wind felt on face short but pronounced crests that do not break Large wavelets with breaking Leaves and twigs move; loose paper crests form; occasional white and dust raised from ground foam crests Small branches move; wind raises dust Small waves form; white foam and paper at crests more frequent Moderate waves occur, with Small trees sway and large branches in foaming crests and possible motion; dust clouds raised spray Large branches move continuously; Large waves form, with wind whistles; umbrellas difficult to use extensive white foam crests Sea heaps; white foam blows Whole trees in motion; walking difficult in streaks from breaking waves Moderately high waves form, Tree twigs break; walking progress well-marked streaks of foam slow blow with wind Slight structural damage High waves form, with dense 10 55 - 63 Exposed trees uprooted; heavy structural damage 11 64 - 72 Widespread damage 12 above 73 Severe damage and destruction streaks of foam Very high waves with long overhanging crests occur; great patches of foam blows in dense white streaks Exceptionally high waves form; sea covered with long white patches of foam; wave crests blown into froth Exceptionally high waves form; air filled with foam and spray; sea completely white Activity 1. Build a Beaufort Scale box. This box will determine wind speed. Each Mission Team Member will need the following materials: 1. A card board box 2. A strait piece of coat hanger wire about 8 inches long 3. Self adhesive shelf paper (Optional) 4. A sheet of aluminum foil 5. Tape 1. Cut off both ends of the box. Use tape to reinforce any pieces that get loose when the box is cut. 2. Cover the inside and outside of the box with self-adhesive shelf paper. 3. Cut a strait piece of wire about 8 inches long from the coat hanger. 4. Poke the piece of wire into the side of the box1/2 inch in from the open end and ½ inch below the top. Push the wire strait across the opening and out the other side. Make sure the second hole is directly opposite the first. Bend the ends of the wire down. 5. Slide one of the 6-inch edges of the aluminum foil over the wire and make a fold about 1 inch deep all along the folded edge. Tape the fold with cellophane tape so that the foil hangs down like a curtain. Be sure the curtain can move freely on its rod. 6. Push on the bottom of the curtain so that you can see the curved path that the bottom of the curtain follows as it swings inward. Cut a curving slot about 1 inch wide the goes along the side of the box from the bottom to the top following the path of the curtain. 7. Write the number 0-12 on the side of the box over the curving slot. 8. Finish off the edges of the box with plastic tape. Box Wire Curving slot Beaufort Scale Curtain Activity 2 You may want to have one jar for several Mission Team Members. This activity is to demonstrate to the students the direct affects of pressure and temperature on cloud formation. OBJECTIVES: 1. To demonstrate the principles involved in cloud formation. 2. Transfer this information to weather maps to predict cloud formation and clearing. 3. Introduce the term nuclei, necessary for attachment to form clouds RESOURCES/MATERIALS: 1. Wide mouth gallon pickle jar 2. Heavy duty clear plastic bag 3. Rubber bands or masking tape PROCEDURES: 1. Place about 20 ml of water in a wide mouth gallon pickle jar 2. Place a lit match into the jar. 3. Quickly place a heavy duty clear plastic bag over the mouth of the jar and secure a firm seal by placing a rubber band/masking tape around the top of the jar. 4. Push the bag into the jar quickly, then pull the bag out. Observe! TYING IT ALL TOGETHER: This activity illustrates how humidity, temperature, and air pressure influence the formation of clouds. The water produces high humidity in the jar and the smoke introduced by the match provides nuclei on which the water vapor can condense. As the bag is pushed into the jar pressure and temperature in the jar increases causing the jar to clear. Upon pulling the bag out, pressure and temperature decrease allowing water vapor to condense and produce a "cloud" inside the jar. Questions for further inquiry: 1. Why are smoke and water added to the jar? (provide moisture and nuclei for cloud formation) 2. What does pushing and pulling on the bag do to the jar? (increases/decreases pressure) 3. How would warming or cooling the jar effect the observations? (decrease/increase cloud information)