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Weather Basics....online an internet investigation |
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Weather Basics....online an internet investigation |
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Today, we'll be visiting a number of weather sites on the internet to find out about some of the basic ingredients of what we call the weather. You will follow the instructions on your handouts in order to locate the information needed to answer the questions necessary to complete this investigation. If you are visiting, or do not have a copy of the handout or answer sheet, you may get them using the links below.
When you have you instructions and questions handout, you're ready to proceed to the first websites, found in the table below.
Layers of the Atmosphere
The Earth's atmosphere is divided into layers based upon a number of
characteristics. To find out about these use the links below.
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Heating of Earth's Atmosphere - Greenhouse Effect
Earth's atmosphere does not receive and absorb the Sun's energy evenly.
The sites linked below, will inform you about this topic.
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Hydrologic Cycle (water cycle)
Water on Earth is constantly changing its form as it moves through the
environment. This vital process and the forces that drive it are described
at the sites found using the links below.
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Cloud Formation and Types
Clouds have long fascinated man. They foretell changes in the weather and
bring needed moisture back to earth. They contain many mysteries that we
still are trying to understand.
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Precipitation Moisture returns to Earth in many forms. The conditions under which precipitation forms and changes type is an important field of meteorological importance.
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Air Masses and Fronts
Weather forecasting today depends largely on understanding air masses,
their characteristics, and storms that occur along regions known as
fronts.
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Storms
Storms are the extremes of weather that transfer enormous amounts of
energy and moisture across our atmosphere. Though dangerous, they are an indispensable
part of what makes the Earth inhabitable.
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Storm Safety
Though storms are a necessary part of our world's environment, the can be
very dangerous. Many lives are lost each year to storms. Knowing how to
protect yourself in a storm can be a real lifesaver.
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Wind Belts and Air Currents
Storms, moisture, and heat are among many atmospheric ingredients that are
carried to the far reaches of the atmosphere by large currents of air we
call wind belts. To understand how they formed and what influences
they have on weather, follow the links below.
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Wind Chill
Wind blowing across the unprotected human body, can have profound, even
deadly effects. To protect ourselves against this danger we need to
understand what factors produce this phenomena.
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El Nino
We have long that the oceans affect the atmosphere. Periodically, this
influence results in major shifts in weather patterns. El Nino is one such
ocean event that we are just beginning to understand.
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Images and animations provided by NASA, NOAA, US Geologic Survey, Animation Factory, The Globe Gallery, and Windows to the Universe, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, The SeaWiFs Project and ORBIMAGE, Scientific Visualization Studio
Copyright © 2002-2003 Robert Zuber (Oswego, NY)
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