Background Information for Air and Weather
On this page, you'll find links that fellow
teachers and KSN staff have recommended. These
links are tools to help guide your background
research on the topics covered within your kit.
comprehensive weather info | air | clouds |
forecasting | lightning | storms | temperature | wind
Comprehensive Weather
Information
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA)
This is among the most definitive governmental
weather-related sites in the world. The National
Weather Service; the National Environmental
Satellite, Data, and Information Service; the
National Marine Fisheries; and the National Ocean
Service all fall under the auspices of the NOAA.
There's an abundance of information accessible
through this site—take some time to explore.
National Weather
Service
This is
ground zero for weather information in the United States.
Find national weather data, up-to-the-minute warnings,
forecasts, current conditions, and weather maps. Access
regional headquarters for area-dedicated information;
specialized centers focused on subjects such as climate
prediction and aviation weather; and archives of weather and
hazard statistics.
What Forces Affect Our Weather?
This conversational site is a great place to
start to refresh your knowledge about how weather works.
Investigate the atmosphere, the water cycle, powerful
storms, ice and snow, forecasting, and climate change.
Weather Instructional Material
Featuring a wealth of resources for educators and
their students about storms; observing, charting, and
tracking the weather; and "Adopt a City" multimedia
projects, this site would be a great place for you to go to
gain inspiration and resources.
Earth
Observatory
NASA's
Earth Observatory seeks to provide a freely accessible
online publication where the public—particularly public
media and educators—can obtain new satellite imagery
and scientific information about our planet. The focus is on
Earth's climate and environmental change.
Online Meteorology Guide
Created by the University of Illinois for use in
schools, the Online Meteorology Guide is a collection of
interactive web resources that introduce fundamental
meteorology concepts. The modules cover such topics as light
and optics; clouds and precipitation; forces and winds; air
masses; severe storms; El Niño, and more.
How Weather Works
USATODAY provides an extremely detailed
guide to understanding basic weather phenomena.
This site could be a very convenient starting
place if you're seeking comprehensive background
information to further your own knowledge.
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Air
What Is Air Pressure?
This brief page from the National Data Buoy Center
delivers on its promise to explain the basics of air
pressure, discussing the gaseous composition of air, and the
effects of wind, gravity, and temperature.
It's a Breeze: How Air Pressure Affects You
NASA created this site for kids to
explain what air pressure is, how it's measured, and how it
affects our bodies and the atmosphere.
Educator's Guide to Convection
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory created this text
which provides an overview of the process of convection, and
how it plays a role not only in weather but some of the most
basic processes in nature and in space.
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Clouds
Cloud Boutique
The Meteorology Program at Plymouth State
College in New Hampshire created this useful page
of some basic cloud forms, combining clear
explanations with great photos. This is a nice
place to get a good understanding of
clouds.
Clouds
Dan the Wild, Wild
Weatherman (an actual meteorologist) provides
straightforward and friendly information about what clouds
are, how they're formed, and an easy chart to help remember
the different types of clouds. Don't miss checking out his
gallery of cloud photos at the top of the page.
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Forecasting
Storm Prediction Center
The Storm Prediction Center is
part of the National Weather Service and the
National Centers for Environmental Prediction. At
this site, they offer timely and accurate
forecasts and watches for severe thunderstorms and
tornadoes over the contiguous United States. They
also monitor heavy rain, heavy snow, and fire
weather events.
Franklin's Forecast
At this site created by The Franklin Institute, you can
build your own weather station, learn about today's
sophisticated weather technologies, and check the weather
right now. You can also learn about weather phenomena and
events.
Radar
The Franklin Institute
offers a very easy to understand explanation of how
meteorology today relies on radar as an important tool for
analyzing and forecasting weather events. Explore radar
history, science, detection, and use some radar images to
make your own weather predictions.
The Weather Channel
Although it looks like it
focuses mainly on the United States, The Weather Channel's
site will also provide you with current weather data and
forecasts for cities around the world, as well as satellite
and radar maps.
AccuWeather
This
comprehensive site offers current weather info and
forecasts, as well as feature stories and a plethora of
maps. Check out the News and Features section to find out
the daily national highs and lows—it could be a fun way
to discuss how the country has many different types of
climates.
National Weather Service: Mt. Holly, NJ/Philadelphia
Visit the source that
disseminates most of our local weather data. It can be a
fairly technical site, but it could be interesting to see
the data as meteorologists see it.
Interactive Weather Information Network
The National Weather Service has
created this source that provides hourly updates on weather
conditions across the country through current satellite and
radar maps, as well as informs users of the active warnings
(flash flood, hurricane, severe thunderstorm) administered
to states. It's interesting to see how many states are
facing severe weather conditions at any given time.
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Lightning
Lightning: The Shocking Story
This National Geographic site, geared towards
students, takes site visitors though short sections
explaining the science of lightning with great facts. (Did
you know that in the instant of a lightning flash, the
surrounding air is superheated to a temperature five times
hotter than that on the surface of the sun?) The site also
includes brief stories about real people who've been struck
by lightning, photos of lightning strikes, and activities.
Lightning: The Shocking Statistics
Dan the Wild, Wild Weatherman (an actual
meteorologist) reveals "the shocking statistics" and
lightning safety tips appropriate for older students and
adults.
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Storms
What Causes Precipitation?
Along with easy-to-follow
explanations of the factors that cause
precipitation, Dan provides several useful links
to information about hail, rain, freezing rain,
sleet, and snow; the difference between rain and
drizzle; snow and avalanches; and convection.
Hyper Hurricanes
In this series of brief feature articles from
Discovery.com, you can find out about how
hurricanes are made, how scientists search for
traces of ancient deadly storms, and the
difficulty of predicting hurricanes. What makes
this site especially interesting is the great
video footage they offer—travel over
Hurricane Andrew though a computer simulation, see
footage from some of the deadliest storms of the
last century, and watch hurricanes from
space.
Tornado Weather
Dan
the Wild, Wild Weatherman (an actual meteorologist) offers
this handy page that explains the basics of
tornadoes—how they're created, where they
occur—complete with helpful illustrations and
photographs. The content is at an appropriate level for
middle schoolers and up.
Interactive Weather Information Network
The National Weather Service has
created this source that provides hourly updates on weather
conditions across the country through current satellite and
radar maps, as well as informs users of the active warnings
(flash flood, hurricane, severe thunderstorm) administered
to states. It's interesting to see how many states are
facing severe weather conditions at any given time.
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Temperature
What's the Temperature?
Dan the Wild, Wild Weatherman (an actual meteorologist)
helps you learn how to get the most accurate temperature
from your thermometer. He also offers links about what
temperature is, how to read a thermometer, and how to
predict low temperature.
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Wind
Wind
Dan explains the effects
of wind on weather change, the jet stream, and the use of an
anemometer to measure wind speed. If you're looking for
additional wind activities, be sure to check out the bottom
of the page.
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