CLOUD OBSERVATION AND WEATHER FORECAST

A Guide for the Group Project

CLOUD OBSERVATION AND WEATHER FORECAST

PURPOSE

The purpose of this activity is to help you understand the nature of scientific method to meet one of the Gen Ed course goals, which is to “Identify, describe critique, respond to, and construct the various components of the scientific process such as observations, inferences, operational definitions, aspects of scientific design, conclusions, control of variables, etc.”

GROUP SIZE

You can also conduct the activity by yourself or form a group of 3-4 people to work together on the project.

REQUIREMENTS

Preparation

You need a digital camera (or cell phone camera) for this activity. Check the weather forecast from the Internet (weather.com) first before you go out. It is also helpful to spend a little time studying the cloud pictures from the text so that you will be able recognize types of clouds in fields. The ideal time for observation is before a weathersystem arrives or after it just passes. During this time you will see a variety of clouds.

Major Tasks
1. Cloud observations: Choose a day but not a rainy day to conduct your observation. Pay attention to the color, forms (cirrus, status, cumulus), altitude (cirro, alto, strato), and their relation to precipitation (-nimbus,nimbo-) of clouds as well as cloud coverage, direction and speed ofcloud movement. Discuss with your teammate about what weather system is developing (possible cold front, warm front, etc.).Bring the Report Form with you and complete the first page t the site.
2. Taking pictures of clouds:Take picturesofthree to fourdifferent types of clouds and select only the best pictures for your report. You may take and use more picturesif you work as a group.
3. Acquiring weather maps: You need to download/copy past some maps from weather.com to analyze the weather systems associated with the clouds and forecast their changes. Open you internet browser and type (click this link) http://www.weather.com/ to get the site. Click the very first option “Map” (above the map) or “Maps” (below the map) that will take you to the weather map room page. Then, select (1) Weather details and (2) Current weather and you will see the map of US current weather map. There is also a dropdown list under the map frame. Select and view each one of them. To copy the map, move your mouse cursor on the map and click the right button of your mouse, click “Copy” from the popup list. This will copy the map onto your computer’s clipboard. Then go to the project report template page and find the same type of maps, paste your new map onto the old one (click the right mouse button and select paste). You need to select (2) short term forecast to be able to get the predicted map for the next day.
4. Analyzing weather maps: to identify these weather systems that are associated with the clouds observed and affect the areain which your observation site is located. See the report template for details.
5. Short term weather forecast: Apply the knowledge you have learn in class to predict movement and evolution the weather system in concern. You can refer to the weather maps and even the predictions from weather.com or other sources to perform this task. Specific requirements are available in the report template.
Report

A report temperate (starting from the next page) is provided to keep the components and format consistent.However, your are encourage to use your own format if is more creative.

Submission

I need only a hard copy of the observation report. NO EMAILs. Due on the Final’s day.

Evaluation: The total activity accounts for 5% of your final score. Properly submitted report will earn you 3 points and the rest depends on the content and quality of your work. All membersof a team will receive the same score.

Cloud Observation and Weather Forecast

Project Report (Template)

Team Members: __________________, __________________, ____________________, ___________________

Location: _________________________

Date: _____________________________

Time: _____________________________

Wind velocity: _______________________

Cloud coverage (%): __________________

Cloud movement:_____________________

I CloudObservations

Ground Observations

Select the most prevalent Cloud Type at each level where clouds exist. Cloud Cover and Visual Opacity must be determined for each level observed. Check the items that best suit your observation.

	High Level
*Cloud Type*	*Cloud Cover*		*Visual Opacity*
Cirrus	Clear	<5%	Opaque
Cirrocumulus	Partially Cloudy	5-50%	Translucent
Cirrostratus	Cloudy	50-95%	Transparent
	Overcast	>95%

	Mid Level
*Cloud Type*	*Cloud Cover*		*Visual Opacity*
Altostratus	Clear	<5%	Opaque
Altocumulus	Partially Cloudy	5-50%	Translucent
	Cloudy	50-95%	Transparent
	Overcast	>95%

		Low Level
*Cloud Type*		*Cloud Cover*		*Visual Opacity*
Fog	Stratus	Clear	<5%	Opaque
Nimbostratus	Cumulus	Partially Cloudy	5-50%	Translucent
Cumulonimbus	Stratocumulus	Cloudy	50-95%	Transparent
		Overcast	>95%

Cloud Images and Descriptions

Take pictures of the clouds you have observed and insert the best one for each type into the picture box. Label each picture with appropriate name and provide a brief description about its altitude, shape, relation to precipitation, and coverage. Delete the unused picture boxes. Three or four types of clouds would be sufficient. Please DO NOT COPY CLOUD IMAGES from internet.

Cirrocumulus

(Your description):

Stratus

Cumulonimbus

Analysis of Weather Systems
Acquiring Weather Maps From Weather.Com

Go to Weather.Com and get the following weather maps for your observation date. Replace the following images with yours.

US Current Weather (image size: 3.35 x 2.26 in.) (b) Short Term Forcast (US Morning, Midday or Evening Forcast)
US Current Temperature (d) US Current Winds and Gusts
US IR Satellite (Infrared Image) (f) US Water Vapor Satellite Image

Mark your observation site on each of the maps on previous page

Use a circle or star symbol to map the location of your observation site on these maps. Label each with a place name such as Towson University.

Identify the weather systems at or near the location of your observation site.
1. Surface Temperature: ____________________
2. Pressure: High_______________; Low ______________.
3. Winds: Direction____________; Speed _______________________________
4. Air Mass: Cold_______________; Warm_____________;
5. Fronts: Cold_______________; Warm ____________; Other ______________________________.
6. Cyclones: Location_______________________________; Strength____________________________.
7. Anticyclones: Location_______________________________; Strength____________________________.
8. Extreme Weather: Thunderstorms _________________________: Tornados __________________________.
9. Other: ___________________________________________________________________________________.
Create an isotherm map for surface temperature [Optional]
Synthesis of the weather systems
1. Briefly explain the relationship between the clouds observed and the weather systems identified.

III. Short Term Weather Forecast

Based on your ground observation and analysis of the weather maps (you can attach some of the forecast maps from Weather.com), predict or forecast

The prevailing weather systems in the next three days

Trends of temperature change

Change in cloud type and coverage

Possible precipitations

……………………….Answer Preview………………………..

Introduction:

Weather forecast is the science of observing and analyzing the current weather patterns in order to predict the next weather condition. Cloud observation entails the prowess of analyzing the type, color, forms and the altitude of the clouds. The essence of cloud observation in weather forecast is articulated through relating the features of a cloud to precipitation, the cloud coverage, the speed and the direction of the clouds. This report paper shall provide a detailed analysis of specific current type of cloud and its analysis in regards………………….

APA

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