Weather Scope Print...
   
Name:_________________________ Date:___________________________
Student Worksheet Student Worksheet - Activity 5: Are weather forecasters always right?
INSTRUCTIONS
Part 1: How do meteorologists predict the weather?
  • What tools do meteorologists use to predict weather?


     
  • Are they always right? List several examples when they were right or wrong.



     
    •

Part 2: Are weather forecasters always right?
  1. Go to the weather web sites on the Activity 5 web page and access the satellite images for your country/region. After you access each of the maps, animate them by clicking Animación del mapa (only in regional maps).
     
  2. In the animated images, was the weather generally moving in one direction? If so, which?



     
  3. How do you think this might assist you to predict, or forecast the weather?



     
  4. In Part 3 of the previous activity, you analyzed the weather from the previous two weeks to look for trends. How do you think this might assist you to forecast the weather?
    For example, was the air pressure falling or raising at the end of the two-weeks? Did the temperature hold steady?, etc.



     
  5. Make predictions for the weather for the next four (4) days based on the graphs and data analysis from the last activity in addition to the satellite and radar images. Explain your reasons for your forecast.
  Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4
Sky Conditions        
High Temp. (ºC)        
Low Temp. (ºC)        
  1. Once you have recorded your forecast, use a newspaper or go to the Weather Underground and look at the forecast for the next four days. How do your predictions compare with the predictions on the site?


     
  2. Do you agree with the forecast? Why or why not?



     
  3. THE NEXT DAY: Check the accuracy of your forecast with he actual weather of the day? Was it correct? Was the weather web site's forecast correct?




     
    4.

Part 3: FINAL CONCLUSIONS
Write a few paragraphs describing your final conclusions of this investigative study. You should include the following:
  1. Introduction - basic information such as:
    • School name, location, grade and/or subject area, etc.
  2. Main Body
    • Name, place, and description of where you measured the weather (temperature, precipitation, sky conditions, wind, etc.).
    • Description of your investigation (e.g. what you did, how long, etc.)
    • Description of each of the weather variables (temperature, etc.) and the tools used to measure them.
    • Summary of the observed weather in each of the three cities during the two week period (you can include graphs, charts, etc. for this)
  3. Conclusions
    • What is weather?
    • How do meteorologists predict weather?
    4.




















 

EXTENSION: this last section can be completed over the next several days.
  1. Record the actual weather for the next four (4) days using the class instruments and the weather web site every day. At the end of the four days, answer the following:
     
  2. Which forecast was more accurate? yours, the weather web site, both, or neither?


     
  3. Were the four-day forecasts accurate every day or were they more accurate for the first couple of days or last couple of days? Why do you think so?



     

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