Clouds and Weather Data

Georgia Perimeter College

Objectives

  1. Observe and describe cloud type.
  2. Observe and describe cloud cover.
  3. Collect data on maximum, minimum, and current temperature.
  4. Collect data on relative humidity.
  5. Collect data on barometric pressure and interpret it.

Preassessment

Ask students to name various types of clouds and write them on the board.

Safety concerns

None

 

Basic introduction to clouds

Estimating cloud cover

Materials

White paper
Blue paper
Scissors
Glue, glue stick or tape

Procedure

Each student is given a sheet of white paper and a sheet of blue paper.  Students will simulate various percentages of cloud cover by cutting or tearing various percentages of the white paper and placing it onto the blue paper to simulate clouds in the sky.

Each student is assigned (or chooses) a percentage of cloud cover to simulate.  (The students should not reveal their number until the end after everyone guesses.)
90%
80%
75%
70%
60%
50% (use half the sheet of white paper)
40%
30%
25% (use a quarter of a sheet of white paper)
20%
10%

This will be easiest to do if both pieces of paper (blue and white) are cut to 10 inches long, and the rest discarded.  (Standard paper is 8.5 x 11 inches).  Cut off one inch and discard it.
Then cut off the number of inches corresponding to the percentage of cloud cover you are simulating.
Cut or tear the correct percentage of the white paper into clouds, and mount them on the sky.  Clouds may be large or small, as the student wishes.  Do not overlap the clouds.  Write the percentage on the back of the page.

Randomize or shuffle the sky simulations.  Number each sky simulation on the front. Have students examine each other's simulations and estimate the percentage of cloud cover.  (Show on document camera, and have students estimate percentage of cloud cover for each.  Students should record data in a table.) 
 

Simulation Estimate Classification
1    
2    
3    
3    


Cloud cover can be classified as follows:

After students have examined all of the simulations and made estimates of cloud cover, create a table on the board to compare the estimates with the actual percentages.

Simulation Actual % Number of Underestimates Number classified correctly Number of Overestimates
1        
2        
3        
3        

Then reveal the actual percentage and determine how many overestimates and how many underestimates there were for each simulation.
 

 

 

Cloud Identification

Work through a cloud tutorial and/or look at cloud images.  Learn to identify the major types of clouds.

Go outside and make estimates of:

  1. Cloud cover
  2. Cloud type

Students should keep a weather observation journal with cloud cover and cloud type for each day.

Students should take photos of examples of various types of clouds and put them in their journal.

 

Temperature

Students should learn to read various types of thermometers to collect temperature data, including current temperature, both inside the classroom, and outside of the building.  (Thermometers include liquid-filled thermometers and digital thermometers

Outside readings could be taken in various areas, such as in the sun vs. in the shade, or in a parking lot vs. in a grassy or wooded area, near a water source such as a pond or fountain, etc.  If wireless remote thermometers are available, additional data may be collected.  (If classes are held on multiple campuses, the data may be compiled to look for, and interpret, differences.)

If the thermometer will collect maximum and minimum temperature data, that should also be recorded.  Otherwise, obtain maximum and minimum temperatures for the previous day(s) using the newspaper or online sources.

Students should record maximum, minimum, and current temperatures for each day in a weather observation journal. 

When a month or more of temperature data is available, graph the data

 

 

Relative Humidity

 

 

Barometric Pressure

 

 

 

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Content provided by Pamela Gore, Georgia Perimeter College
Some content from http://www.globe.gov/tctg/atla-cloudcover.pdf?sectionId=20

Page created by Pamela J.W. Gore
Georgia Perimeter College,
Clarkston, GA

Page created August 9, 2007