How We Measure Weather
Basics on the topic How We Measure Weather
Do you know how you can measure weather? Watch this video and find out!
Transcript How We Measure Weather
Oh, what's blowing in the wind? Uma, it's a windsock! With this we can measure how STRONG the wind blows! Hmm, how do we measure other types of weather? Let's learn all about "How We Measure Weather"! We measure the weather to help understand more about it and what could happen. There are many tools we use to measure it! First, let's take a closer look at the windsock. The windsock is a flag-like bag attached to a pole. If there is no wind, it hangs down. If it is windy, then it flutters. In strong wind, it fills with air and blows straight. You can read the wind strength from the white and red rings on it. Each ring that fills with air means the wind is stronger and stronger. The windsock has FIVE rings which means that the wind is blowing A LOT if they are all filled! The smaller end of the windsock points in the direction the wind is blowing. We can also use other devices to measure wind.
This is an anemometer, which is just a big word that means "wind gauge".
The cups turn with help from the wind, the faster they turn, the stronger the wind.
Let's learn about how to measure temperature now!
You can feel the temperature yourself and say it is "cold or hot".
But if you want to know the exact temperature, you need a thermometer.
A thermometer measures in degrees called Fahrenheit. We use a capital F to stand for Fahrenheit.
In this kind of thermometer, the red line in the tube grows when the air around it heats up. It rises to the TOP. If the air around it cools down, the red line in the tube shrinks and falls down. To tell the EXACT temperature, read the number that red line stops at on the scale. How many degrees does this thermometer show you? It shows fifty degrees Farhenheit. It is important to hang the thermometer in the shade because otherwise it will measure the heat of the SUN and not the temperature of the AIR. There are also DIGITAL thermometers, like this one. It tells you the EXACT temperature by showing the number right on the screen. Now let's measure the rain with a rain gauge!
This tool let's you to catch the rain in a type of cup. You read the amount of rain by seeing what number it stops at on the scale just like a measuring cup! Rain gauges come in many sizes. This is what a REALLY big gauge looks like. Finally, what about air?
We use a barometer to measure the force of air, or its pressure. which your ears might have felt on a plane or when driving through a tunnel. This tool helps us to predict the weather!
If the air pressure goes down, the weather will get bad. If the air pressure goes up, the weather will get nice. These are all special tools that measure the weather! But what about Uma? Can she measure the weather without those tools? She COULD build a weather station. NO, that would be too much. "AH yes, this will do just fine!"
How We Measure Weather exercise
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Why do we measure the weather?
HintsHere are some of the tools that might be used to measure the weather.
A windsock is just one of the tools we use to measure the weather!
SolutionWhy do we measure the weather?
We measure weather to understand more about it and what can happen. There are many different tools we use to do this!
It is important for us to understand weather and the effect it has on our planet and lives. A windsock is just one of the tools we use to measure weather!
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What does each weather measuring tool measure?
HintsMany of the tools have the name of the weather that they measure in the name of the tool as well!
If a barometer measures air pressure, going up there will be good weather. If the air pressure goes down, it usually means bad weather.
SolutionLet's take a look at each of the tools that we were presented with
A windsock and Anemometer are used to measure the wind. The stronger the wind, the more the windsock will fill and the more the cups on an anemometer will spin.
We use a thermometer to measure temperature. The red line on the tube goes up and down as the temperature rises and falls. Or there are digital thermometers that display the temperature in degrees on a screen!
A rain gauge measures the amount of rain that falls. Markings on the rain gauge show how much rain has fallen in a time period.
Finally, a barometer measures air pressure. If a barometer measures air pressure going up there will be good weather. If the air pressure goes down, it usually means bad weather.
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Which tools are used to measure wind?
HintsThe name of one of the tools that measures wind has the word wind in it!
Remember, that we are looking for tools that measure the wind, not rain.
There are two tools that measure wind for this question!
SolutionWe use an anemometer and windsock to measure wind.
As the name says, a rain gauge measures how much rain has fallen, thermometer measures the temperature, and a barometer measures air pressure.
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What does each weather measuring tool do?
HintsThis is an image of a thermometer.
This is an image of an Anemometer.
SolutionA windsock and anemometer are used to measure the wind.
We use a thermometer to measure temperature. There are also digital thermometers that display the temperature in degrees on a screen!
A rain gauge measures the amount of rain that falls using marks on the cup.
Finally, a barometer measures air pressure. If air pressure going up there will be good weather. If the air pressure goes down, it usually means bad weather.
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What is the name of this device?
HintsA thermometer works by red liquid in a glass tube moving up as the temperature rises and moving down as it gets colder. The degrees are marked on the side of the thermometer.
A barometer measures the air pressure. If the air pressure drops it likely means bad weather. If it rises, it likely means good weather.
SolutionA windsock and anemometer are used to measure the wind. The stronger the wind, the more the windsock will fill and the more the cups on an anemometer will spin.
We use a thermometer to measure temperature. The red line on the tube goes up and down as the temperature rises and falls. Or there are digital thermometers that display the temperature in degrees on a screen!
A rain gauge measures the amount of rain that falls. Markings on the rain gauge show how much rain has fallen in a time period.
Finally, a barometer measures air pressure. If a barometer measures air pressure going up there will be good weather. If the air pressure goes down, it usually means bad weather.
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Which tools would we need for this experiment?
HintsMarkus is going to need a tool that tells him which direction the wind is blowing.
Markus is going to need a tool that helps measure temperature.
SolutionThe tools that would best help Markus conduct his experiment are a windsock and a thermometer.
The windsock will show Markus whether the wind is blowing from the ocean or from the mainland and how strong that wind is.
The thermometer will allow him to accurately record whether the temperature is hotter on days when the wind blows from the mainland or the ocean.
Cool!
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