LESSON 4: WEATHER PREDICTION
How well can I predict the weather for the next four days?
Chicago Forecast:
"Current weather is cloudy with drizzle as a warm front is passing;
temperatures will rise and the skies will clear as the front moves
past our area; winds will from the southwest; air pressure will
remain relatively steady."
Notice that as the Low moves across the country, the associated fronts advance
around the center of the Low.
It works somewhat like a spinning top traveling across a floor.
Also notice the relative speed of motion of the two fronts around the center
of the Low.
The cold front, advancing more quickly than the warm front, evenutally
"catches" the warm front.
The approaching cold front "arm" pushes the warm, moist air upward like a
bulldozer pushes dirt.
Recall that precipitation occurs as the warm moist air ahead of a cold front rises.
(The "squeeze play" involves a fast-moving bulldozer (cold front) rear-ending
a slower moving truck (warm front) ahead of it, moving in the same direction.
When the collison occurs, the contents of the truck (precipitation) are pushed out.)
Exercise 4:
- This activity will assist you in creating your own weather maps of the next few days and making your own forecast.
Select Image 4-A and print out the page of maps. You will use these maps to draw your own forecast maps and write your own weather report.
1. You are a weather forecaster. Given the first two days of a four day forecast sequence, predict and draw the sequence of forecast images for the next two days. Notice the distance the Low (L) and High (H) travel in a one day period, and use that to predict how it will travel over the last two days. Use the first two day sequence to estimate the speed at which the cold front approaches the warm front.
2. As a weather forecaster you must explain these maps to your viewing or reading audience. Write a weather report explaining your forecast sequence. Include forecasts for Denver, Memphis, and Chicago. Discuss changes in pressure, wind direction, wind speed, temperature, and sky condition.
Check your predictions and discussion.
Activities (Lessons)
Written by: Gene Rempel and Mike Hanson
Last Modified by NASA: September 19, 1998
