Weather Forecasting
Know that meteorologists are scientists who study and forecast the weather using satellites, radar, weather balloons, and computer models, and that weather forecasts help people plan their activities and prepare for dangerous weather
What a learner can do afterwards
- Define a meteorologist as a scientist who studies and predicts weather
- Name at least three tools meteorologists use
- Explain why weather forecasting is useful for safety and daily planning
1 · Read
A meteorologist is a scientist whose job is to study the weather and figure out what it will do next. They look at clouds, wind, and temperature, then use special tools to make a good guess about tomorrow, so you know whether you can play outside.
Meteorologists use more than their eyes. A weather balloon carries instruments high into the sky to measure temperature, wind, and how damp the air is. Radar sends out signals that bounce off raindrops, so it shows where rain and storms are. A satellite takes pictures of clouds from space. A computer puts all the clues together.
Dr. Nia checks the radar and sees a big storm moving toward her town. She looks at satellite pictures of the clouds and checks numbers from a weather balloon. Then she tells people on TV, a storm is coming tonight, so bring an umbrella and stay inside if it gets bad.
A forecast is a smart guess, not a sure thing. That is why meteorologists use many tools together instead of just one.
Meteorologists use satellites, radar, weather balloons, and computers to study the weather and help people stay safe and plan their day.
Rewritten readings were written for this dataset.
More to read
Weather-map clues
Weather scientists are called meteorologists. They use maps with symbols to show what is happening in the air.
An H marks high pressure, often bringing clear skies and settled weather. An L marks low pressure, which often comes with clouds, rain or storms.
Lines with triangles or rounded bumps mark fronts, where different bodies of air meet. Blue triangles mark a cold front, which may bring rain. Red bumps mark a warm front.
Reading these clues helps you work out what the weather might do next. You can use them to plan your day and keep safe.
Check ahead for snowy weather
Snow may slow traffic, shut schools or cancel events. Knowing it might arrive gives you time to get ready.
Check a forecast, such as the weather report on local news. Meteorologists make these predictions. Many reports cover five days or longer.
Satellites watch clouds from space, while radar on the ground tracks rain and snow. Scientists use this information with computers to predict the weather.
Looking at the forecast before bedtime helps you choose warm clothes, allow extra travel time for school and prepare for snow.
What wind and clouds can tell you
A forecast is the usual way to check coming weather. You can also watch the sky for clues, as people did long ago.
Wind is moving air. Air is pushed from higher pressure towards lower pressure. In many places, weather moves from west to east. Wind from the west sometimes brings clearer skies after a storm. In some places, wind from the east may mean a storm is coming. What these clues mean depends on where you live.
High, feathery clouds may appear a day or two before rain. Tall, dark, puffy clouds can warn of a storm.
Sky watching can be fun. Meteorologists use satellite and radar information to make more reliable forecasts.
Could snow close school?
When snow closes school, children call it a snow day. Lots of children enjoy these days.
Check the forecast for each hour, including when snowfall may end. Snow stopping midway through the night may let crews clear roads before school. Heavy snow lasting overnight and through the morning makes closure more likely.
Meteorologists track storms using satellites, radar, weather balloons and computer models. Schools use their predictions to help judge whether buses can travel safely.
Forecasts help people make safe plans, both for school and for family trips.
Following a hurricane with computers
When a hurricane develops at sea, people need to know its likely route. Meteorologists, the scientists who study weather, gather clues to predict it.
Satellites photograph the storm from above. Other instruments measure pressure, wind and temperature.
Scientists feed these measurements into computer models. These programs use maths about air, heat and energy to predict changes over the coming hours and days. In 2014, pressure maps and satellite images helped scientists model Hurricane Arthur's route along the east coast of the United States.
Families use these forecasts to prepare and reach safety before a storm arrives.
2 · Watch
به انگلیسیTake it off screen
Where it sits
Learn first
Optional connections
This opens up
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.