Teacher & Student Field Reporting Guide - Worldnow

Teacher & Student Field Reporting Guide
© 2001 Cecil Productions

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CONTENTS

PREFACE iii HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE iv BEFORE WE GET STARTED – SAFETY FIRST v

LESSONS LESSON 1 – Station Characteristics 1 Student Handout 2 LESSON 2 – Sky Coverage 3 Student Handout 4 LESSON 3 – Wind Direction 5 Student Handout 7 LESSON 4 – Wind Speed 8 Student Handout 9 LESSON 5 – Significant Weather 10 Student Handout 11 LESSON 6 – Ground Conditions 12 Student Handout 13 LESSON 7 – Instruments & Automated Weather Stations 14 Student Handout 15

WORKSHEETS Basic Weather Reporting Worksheet 16 Weather Reporting Worksheet for Instruments 17

TABLES TABLE 1 18 TABLE 2 18 TABLE 3 19 TABLE 4 20 TABLE 5 21 TABLE 6 23 TABLE 7 24

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PREFACE Station Model We at the WXVT Storm Center want to welcome your class’s participation in Student Weather Station. We look forward to your joining our weather team and to your classroom gathering weather data to create a fun and easy weather model. This is a great opportunity to learn about weather mythology, science and weather safety while submitting weather questions and classroom photos to WXVT’s Storm Center meteorologists to share with our viewers in our daily weathercasts.

For example: the station model on the cover of this guide tells us: that there is a thunderstorm with broken sky, that the ground is wet, winds are out of the northwest at 10 to 15 m.p.h., the temperature is 78 degrees, the dew point is 54°F, 0.65 inch of precipitation has fallen in the last 6 hours, the barometric pressure is 1012.8 mb and the station is on a plain!

All of the station models for the Student Weather Station begin with a circle. The circle represents your station’s location on a weather map. The symbols drawn in and about the circle tell others the weather conditions you observed at your station. The circle and the symbols we use today were developed by the World Meteorological Organization and adopted by international treaty in 1935. The use of these symbols standardized the recording and interpretation of weather maps from country to country around the world. The weather model you will use to report your weather observation uses these international symbols.

Over the years, these symbols have been used to report weather observations from land stations, from ships at sea and even planes in the air. Still in use today by meteorologists these individual symbols have been modified over the years. Today alphabetic codes are also used to report current weather conditions. We use the same symbols for our Student Weather Station to report ground conditions that British Royal Air Force pilots used in World War II. These symbols are the closest match to the same symbols you will use today to report any significant weather you observe at your station.

To begin, draw a circle to represent your weather station. If all of the weather observations made at your station were made by a computer or automated device, you would place a triangle over the circle to represent an automated weather observation station. Since we are going to make many of our own observations and report those for broadcast on television, we will draw a plain circle. After reviewing the sections on how to use this guide and safety tips, you are ready for LESSON 1.

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HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE This guide is designed to show students how to make weather observations in a quick and easy way and use them to draw a basic station model. The guide is divided into six basic lessons with tables that correspond to each lesson. There is also a weather reporting worksheet that students will use to make their observations. Lesson #7 is designed for those schools with weather instruments or automated weather stations on site. Each lesson deals with one of the weather observations used to build a station weather model like the sample station model on the cover of this guide. After the class completes all six lessons, students will be able to draw a station model, using the tables provided as a reference. Each lesson is divided into two parts. The first part covers the basic weather concept that teachers may read and teach to their class. The second part includes a handout with questions and problems that teachers may copy and distribute to their students. Older students can probably read the lesson and complete the handout. Younger students will probably require more direction from the teacher. Teachers may decide to go over each lesson with the class and then guide students through the problems presented in each student handout. For more advanced or older students, teachers may want to do a different lesson each day, enabling students to build a fairly complete station model after just one week. For younger students, teachers may find it easier to do just one lesson a week. This would allow students to get more comfortable with each concept learned before moving to the next lesson. Once your class has completed all the lessons, assign three different students each day to work together as a team to complete the station weather model using the worksheet at the back of this guide. Each day’s completed model may be drawn on the blackboard or posted on a bulletin board for the rest of the class to see. However you choose to present this material, we hope the students have fun learning about weather and sharing the information they gather with our viewers in our weather broadcasts. Before you get started, you will want to share the “Observe Weather Safely” sheet that follows with your students.

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OBSERVE THE WEATHER SAFELY

■ Always observe the weather from a safe place – away from traffic of any kind. Streets, parking lots and sidewalks are not safe places to observe the sky.

■ Never look directly at the sun. It will damage your eyes and is not necessary to complete your weather model.

■ Dress appropriately for weather conditions. – If it is cold, dress warmly. If it is hot, dress in light-colored, loose fitting clothes.

■ Before going outside, listen for the sound of thunder or any sign of severe weather.

■ If severe weather is present, take shelter inside the school and follow the directions of your teachers for weather safety.

■ Never go outside in a thunderstorm or when lightning is present.

■ If lightning is present, stay indoors – away from electric appliances, water faucets, sinks, tubs, windows and doors. Don’t use a corded telephone unless it is an emergency.

■ If severe weather is in the distance, make your observation safely from a window or a sheltered doorway.

■ Never go outside in high winds. Winds can blow over trees, break windows, and carry debris that can hurt you or damage your eyes. Observe from a sheltered doorway away from glass.

■ Remember to always observe weather warnings. They will help keep you safe in a storm.

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LESSON 1 STATION CHARACTERISTICS A circle indicates the location of your weather observation station on a weather map and it is the first step in drawing your weather station model. First draw a basic circle. Then add the name of your teacher, school, your grade, your city, date and time of observation at the top of the page. Below is an example of a SWS worksheet with the circle already drawn for you.

Basic SWS Station Model Worksheet

___________/ _____/

______________/ _______

Teacher Grade School City& State

Date __________________________ Time __________________________ Station Characteristics

__________________________

Sky Cover __________________________ Wind Direction __________________________ Wind Speed __________________________ Significant Weather __________________________ Ground Conditions __________________________ Draw your station model below with today’s weather information. Use the accompanying tables for help.

Now modify this circle by adding the appropriate slash marks to the edges of the circle to identify the type of terrain your school is located on. This will be helpful to our meteorologist in reporting your weather observations to the television audience. Here are your choices for identifying the terrain that surrounds your school. Station characteristics:

On a plain

On the coast

On the side of a mountain or a hill

On top of a hill, mountain or a ridge

At the foot of a hill, mountain or a ridge

In an open valley

In a deep valley

Use an atlas to determine the terrain for station characteristics of other cities and locations. Examples: Death Valley, CA; Miami Beach, FL; Vail, CO; Plainview, TX.

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STUDENT HANDOUT:

STATION CHARACTERISTICS

1. What type of terrain is your school located on? _________________________ 2. Can you draw the correct symbol for your school’s

characteristics? _________________________ CAN YOU MATCH THE SYMBOLS BELOW WITH THE CORRECT STATION CHARACTERISTICS?

1.

On the coast

2.

In a deep valley

3.

At the foot of a hill, mountain or a ridge

4.

On the side of a mountain or hill

5.

On a plain

6.


7.

In an open valley

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LESSON 2 SKY COVERAGE Determining the sky coverage for your station model is the next step in preparing your daily weather report. First, review safety information before making your observation. Remember to find a place to look at the sky that is a safe location and never look directly at the sun.

The sky coverage is indicated by filling in portions of the circle you drew for the station

characteristics in lesson 1. There are five symbols we will use for sky coverage. They are listed below with their definitions:

Clear sky - There are no clouds visible

Scattered clouds - There is a greater amount of sky visible then

there are clouds visible, also called partly cloudy

Broken sky - There are a greater amount of clouds visible

than sky, also called cloudy

Overcast - No sky visible

Sky obscured - Observation of the sky or clouds is not possible

due to smoke, dust, pollution, etc.

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STUDENT HANDOUT:

SKY COVERAGE

What does the sky look like today? ________________________________

Is it cloudy or clear? ________________________________

Circle the correct symbol for today’s skies called sky coverage:

Clear sky

Scattered clouds – also called partly cloudy

Broken sky – also called cloudy

Overcast

Sky not visible (obscured) – due to smoke, dust, pollution, etc.

Draw your station model below with your station characteristics and add sky coverage. Hint: start with a circle.

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LESSON 3 WIND DIRECTION The wind direction recorded on your weather station model shows the direction of the wind blowing toward your weather observation station. This is the third step in drawing your weather station model. This observation is best made using a flagpole, windsock or ribbon extended from the top of a pole. The higher the better so that when you record the wind direction it is not influenced by the ground, corners of buildings or other objects. Use a compass or a city map to determine the direction of true north from your observation point. For future reference, you may want to mark this direction on your pole with masking tape, chalk, or a wooden stake on the ground. Now that we know the direction north, the opposite direction is south. As you face north, west is to your left and east is to your right. You can now tell the direction of the wind by observing the flag, windsock or ribbon extended from the pole. If the wind is out of the north, it will be blowing the flag to the south. If the wind is blowing out of the northwest, it will be blowing the windsock or ribbon to the southeast. The wind direction you record on your model always shows the direction the wind is coming from not blowing towards. That is why we say the winds are out of the northwest.

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LESSON 3 – (continued)

Below are examples of how we draw the direction of the wind on our station models. You start with the circle you drew in Lesson 1. The top of the circle represents true north, the bottom south, the right east, and the left west. Draw the wind direction you observed as a straight line blowing toward the circle and stopping at the circle’s edge.

Wind out of the north

Wind out of the south

Wind out of the west

Wind out of the east

Wind out of the northwest

Wind out of the northeast

Wind out of the southeast

Wind out of the southwest

When the direction of the wind is not constant it is called variable and it is always drawn on your weather model as a line from the left to the edge of the circle with an X in the middle of the shaft. Here is an example below:

Winds are variable

When there is no wind it is reported as being calm. You draw calm wind on your station model by drawing a larger circle around the circle you drew in Lesson 1. Below is an example:

Winds are calm

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STUDENT HANDOUT:

WIND DIRECTION

What are the winds like today? _____________________________________

Are the winds variable or calm? _____________________________________

From what direction is the wind today? _____________________________________

Can you identify the sky coverage and wind direction for the following station models? The answers are printed below.

1.

_________________________________

2.

_________________________________

3.

_________________________________

4.

_________________________________

5.

_________________________________

6.

_________________________________

ANSWERS:

Draw your station model in the space below with your station characteristics, sky coverage and add wind direction. Hint: use you tables for station characteristics, sky coverage and wind direction for help.

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LESSON 4 WIND SPEED Wind speed is the measurement of the wind blowing toward your observation station. It

is measured using a wind instrument such as an anemometer or visual observation using the Beaufort scale. The speed of the wind is recorded on your station model by adding hash marks and pennants at the end of the shaft you used to record the wind direction. The hash marks and pennants should be drawn on the right side of the wind shaft as viewed by a person facing the wind with their back to the station. Below is a station model recording clear skies, winds out of the northwest at 15 miles per hour:

If there is no wind speed, it is reported as calm and drawn as an outer circle around the

station model without a shaft as we learned in Lesson 3. If the winds are variable, the speed is recorded at the end of a shaft always drawn from the left to the center of the circle stopping at its outer edge. Below is an example of clear skies with variable winds at 15 miles per hour:

If the wind is also blowing with unusual gusts, a V is placed on the opposite side of the

shaft from the wind speed hash marks. The average speed of the wind is still recorded, but noted for additional gusts as shown below in an example of 21-25 mph wind out of the north with gusts.

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STUDENT HANDOUT:

WIND SPEED

Can you see signs of wind today? _____________________________________ Are the winds gusty, variable, or calm? _____________________________________ What is the speed of the wind today? (Hint: use the Beaufort scale in Table 4 for help)

_____________________________________

Using the Beaufort scale and the accompanying symbols for wind speed in Table 4, can

you tell the speed of the wind for these station models? If so, can you also tell the sky coverage and wind direction for each?

1.

____________________________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________________________

3. ____________________________________________________________

4. ____________________________________________________________

5. ____________________________________________________________

6. ____________________________________________________________

ANSWERS:

Draw your station model in the space below with your station characteristics, sky coverage, wind direction and wind speed. Hint: use the tables for help.

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LESSON 5 SIGNIFICANT WEATHER

The reporting of Significant Weather is recorded just to the outer left side of the circle and nearest to the center as possible. This is where you record rain, sleet, and dust storms. If you hear thunder or see lightning, it is reported here with many other weather phenomena. One way to look at reporting significant weather is that it is the reporting of anything that is in the air from haze to dust, from fog to freezing rain, even tornadoes and hurricanes. It is also likely on many days that there will be no Significant Weather to report, and if so, this part of our model is left blank. There are over fifty Significant Weather symbols to choose from to prepare your weather report. The example of Significant Weather reported here is for heavy, continuous rain. It is included with the other symbols in the table of Significant Weather at the end of the guide.

Some weather conditions are more significant than others. The occurrence of lighting is more significant than clouds forming. Choose the greater weather threat. Thunderstorms are more significant than rain, but some symbols represent a combination of more than one weather phenomenon. When possible choose the symbol that represents the most complete weather observation of current conditions.

HAIL THUNDERSTORM WITH HAIL

To determine whether to report continuous rain or intermittent rain refer to the Significant Weather definitions that are printed with each symbol. The Significant Weather symbols are listed in table #5.

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STUDENT HANDOUT:

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER

Is their any significant weather today? __________________________________________ What, if any, is the significant weather? __________________________________________

Here are a few weather models with reports of Significant Weather. Use your table to determine what significant weather is being reported

1. light fog 2. ____________ 3. ____________ 4. ____________ 5. ____________ 6. Can you draw the symbol for reduced visibility from smoke? 7. Draw the symbol for a tornado.

Review the names and symbols from table #5 and see how many you can draw from memory. ANSWERS:

Draw your station model in the space below with your station characteristics, sky coverage, wind direction, wind speed and any significant weather. Hint: use the tables for help.

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LESSON 6 GROUND CONDITIONS There are a total of eleven ground conditions that you are going to report with your Student Weather Station weather model. This is an important but easy weather observation to make. It is reported in the shape of a box in the upper right corner of your station model. The ground conditions in the example below tell us that the ground is wet.

The condition of the ground can actually effect what happens in the air around us. Standing water can increase humidity. Snow on the ground can hold down the temperature of the air and also create fog. Ground observations can be made visually or with the help of a ruler if measuring snow depths six inches deep or greater. The sides of the box are also part of the symbol. For some of the Ground Observation symbols omitting one or more sides of the box gives us a different meaning. Below are the eleven symbols for observing Ground Conditions. They are also included in a separate table with the other weather symbols in the back of the guide.

Ground dry Ground wet Ground flooded

Ground frozen hard and dry

Ground partly covered with snow or hail

Ground covered with ice or glazed frost

Ground covered with thawing snow

Ground covered with snow less than 6 in. deep but ground not frozen

Ground covered with snow less than 6 in. deep and ground frozen

Ground covered with snow greater than 6 in. deep

Fresh snow has fallen on the mountains

It is important when making your observations of the ground that you make them in an

open area away from the sides or corners of buildings where water could run off of roofs and collect in pools. Hedges and fences could also contribute to the drifting of snow in some areas and give an incorrect reading for the area. When making your observation it is also important to use the same area each time to give you a daily comparison of how the ground conditions are changing or remaining the same.

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STUDENT HANDOUT:

GROUND CONDITIONS

What are the ground conditions today? _____________________________________ Is the ground wet or dry? _____________________________________ Is the ground frozen or covered with snow? _____________________________________

Circle the correct symbol for today’s ground conditions:

Ground dry

Ground wet

Ground flooded









Draw your station model in the space below with your station characteristics, sky coverage, wind direction, wind speed, any significant weather and ground conditions. Hint: use your weather tables for help.

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LESSON 7 INSTRUMENTS AND AUTOMATED WEATHER STATION DATA If your school has an automated weather site or if your class has made some of your own weather instruments, there are places on your weather model to record this data. In the example below the temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit is recorded just above the significant weather observation. The dew point in this example is 54 degrees Fahrenheit and is recorded just below the significant weather observation.

Barometric pressure is reported just below your ground condition observation. The barometric pressure in this example is 1012.8 mb. Precipitation for the last six hours is reported in the lower right corner of the weather model underneath your report for ground conditions and barometric pressure observations. In this example, precipitation is recorded as 0.65 in. If there has not been any precipitation, this observation is left blank. Table 7 shows a diagram of all of the types of weather data we are reporting with our station model and where to place them in the model.

If automated instruments recorded all of the weather observations for your weather model, you would place a triangle around the circle representing your weather station. The upper point of the triangle always points true north. The example below shows a weather model where all of the information is from an automated station. If any human observations are made such as for sky coverage or significant weather and added to your automated report, the triangle is omitted.

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STUDENT HANDOUT:

INSTRUMENTS AND AUTOMATED WEATHER

STATION DATA

Can you correctly identify each of the parts of the station model below?

1. ______________________ 2. ______________________ 3. ______________________ 4. ______________________ 5. ______________________ 6. ______________________ 7. ______________________ 8. ______________________ 9. ______________________

Using your automated weather equipment, please record the following information for today’s weather:

1. Temperature __________________ 2. Dew point __________________ 3. Barometric pressure __________________ 4. Precipitation (if any) __________________ Draw your station model in the space below with your station characteristics, sky coverage, wind direction, wind speed, any significant weather, ground conditions, temperature, dew point, barometric pressure and any precipitation. Hint: use your weather tables for help.

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Basic SWS Station Model Worksheet _________________/ __________/ ______________________/ _____________________

Teacher’s Name Grade School City and State

Date _________________________________________

Time _________________________________________

Station Characteristics _________________________________________

Sky Cover _________________________________________

Wind Direction _________________________________________

Wind Speed _________________________________________

Significant Weather _________________________________________

Ground Conditions _________________________________________ Draw your station model below with today’s weather information. Use the accompanying tables for help.

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Automated SWS Station Model Worksheet _________________/ __________/ ______________________/ _____________________


Date _________________________________________

Time _________________________________________

Station Characteristics _________________________________________

Sky Cover _________________________________________

Wind Direction _________________________________________

Wind Speed _________________________________________

Significant Weather _________________________________________

Ground Conditions _________________________________________

Temperature _________________________________________

Dew Point _________________________________________

Barometric Pressure _________________________________________

Precipitation _________________________________________ Draw your station model below with today’s weather information. Use the accompanying tables for help.

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TABLE 1 – STATION CHARACTERISTICS

On a plain

On the coast

On the side of a mountain or a hill


At the food of a hill, mountain or a ridge

In an open valley

In a deep valley

TABLE 2 – SKY COVERAGE

Clear sky - There are no clouds visible

Scattered clouds - There is a greater amount of sky visible then there

are clouds visible, also called partly cloudy

Broken sky - There are a greater amount of clouds visible than

sky, also called cloudy

Overcast - No sky visible

Sky obscured - Observation of the sky or clouds is not possible

due to smoke, dust, pollution, etc.

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TABLE 3 - WIND DIRECTION

Wind out of the north

Wind out of the south

Wind out of the west

Wind out of the east

Wind out of the northwest

Wind out of the northeast

Wind out of the southeast

Wind out of the southwest

Winds are variable

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TABLE 4 - WIND SPEED WITH BEAUFORT SCALE Beaufort Number Description Wind in m.p.h. Symbol

0 Calm – smoke drifts up Less than 1

1 Light air – smoke drifts with wind 1 - 3

2 Light breeze – leaves rustle; wind felt on face 4 - 7

3 Gentle breeze – leaves move constantly; wind extends light flag 8 - 12

4 Moderate breeze – small branches move; raises dust and loose paper 13 - 18

5 Fresh breeze – small trees sway 19 - 24

6 Strong breeze – large branches move; umbrellas are turned inside out 25 - 31

7 Moderate gale – whole trees move; inconvenient to walk against wind 32 - 38

8 Fresh gale – twigs break 39 - 46

9 Strong gale – slight damage to houses 47 - 54

10 Whole gale – much damage to houses; trees uprooted 55 - 63

11 Storm – extensive damage 64 - 75

12 Hurricane – extreme damage Above 75

Winds are gusty Add a V to the opposite side of shaft from the wind speed hash marks. Example:

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TABLE #5 - SIGNIFICANT WEATHER Please answer the following five questions and remember there is not always significant weather to report. If there is no significant weather to report, leave this part of your station model blank. 1. Observe the sky. Is there anything in the air: dust, smoke or haze? If not, go to question #2.

Smoke Dust suspended in air, not being raised by wind

Dust or sand, raised by winds

Light or moderate, dust storm or sandstorm

Heavy, dust storm or sandstorm

Dust devil(s) Haze

2. Is there fog? If not, go to question #3.

Fog in patches Light fog Heavy fog

3. Is there any significant weather observed in the distance? If not, go to question #4.

Lightning, no thunder heard

Thunder heard, but no precipitation

Precipitation in sight, NOT reaching the ground

Squall(s) Tornado, funnel clouds or waterspouts

4. Is there any precipitation: not frozen, frozen or mixed? If not, skip over to question #5. Precipitation (not frozen):

Intermittent drizzle, light

Continuous drizzle, light

Intermittent drizzle, moderate

Continuous drizzle, moderate

Intermittent drizzle, heavy

Continuous drizzle, heavy

Intermittent rain, light

Continuous rain, light

Intermittent rain, moderate

Continuous rain, moderate

Intermittent rain, heavy

Continuous rain, heavy

Drizzle & rain

light

Drizzle & rain moderate or

heavy

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TABLE #5 – Continued Precipitation (frozen):

Freezing drizzle, light

Freezing drizzle, moderate or heavy

Freezing rain, light

Freezing rain, moderate or heavy

Intermittent snow, light

Continuous snow, light

Intermittent snow, moderate

Continuous snow, moderate

Intermittent snow, heavy

Continuous snow heavy Granular snow

Light or moderate drifting snow, less than 6 feet

Heavy drifting snow, less than 6 feet

Light or moderate drifting snow, more than 6 feet

Heavy drifting snow, more than 6 feet

Sleet Hail, light Hail, moderate or heavy

Precipitation (mixed):

Rain or drizzle & snow, light

Rain or drizzle & snow, moderate or heavy

5. Are there storms? If not, you are finished with this table and are ready for Table #6.

Thunderstorm, no precipitation

Thunderstorm, with rain and/or

snow

Thunderstorm with hail

Thunderstorm with dust storm

or sandstorm

Heavy thunderstorm with rain and/or snow

Heavy thunderstorm

with hail Hurricane

Remember there is not always significant weather to report. If there is no significant weather to report, then leave that area blank on the station model. Definitions: Continuous – Continuous means steady or constant or nonstop. Intermittent – Intermittent means on and off or starting and stopping.

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TABLE 6 - GROUND CONDITIONS

Ground dry

Ground wet

Ground flooded









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TABLE 7 - COMPLETED WORKSHEET

Automated SWS Station Model Worksheet

Mrs. Webb / 5th / Truman Elementary / Norman, OK


Date September 27, 2001

Time 2:30 p.m.

Station Characteristics On a plain

Sky Cover Broken sky or cloudy

Wind Direction Wind out of the northwest

Wind Speed 10 to 15 miles per hour (m.p.h.)

Significant Weather Thunderstorm

Ground Conditions Ground wet

Temperature 78 degrees Fahrenheit

Dew Point 54 degrees Fahrenheit

Barometric Pressure 1012.8 mb

Precipitation .65 inches Draw your station model below with today’s weather information. Use the accompanying tables for help.

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Teacher & Student Field Reporting Guide - Worldnow