Planet Earth and Beyond – Weather
Weather is ever present, ever changing and always interesting.
Have a look at these Science Learning Hub links to see how they might fit in to your weather unit.
New Zealand weather map
This map of New Zealand shows areas of high and low atmospheric pressure. We can use maps such as this to determine what the weather will be like, with highs indicating fine weather and lows meaning rain.
General weather concepts and activities
Watching the Weather – Article
Weather and climate – Article
Differences between weather and climate – Activity
Using weather data – Activity
Cyclones, typhoons and hurricanes – Article
Extreme weather – Article
Gaseous atmosphere – Article
Space weather – Article
Sun, wind or rain? – Article
Making a thermometer – Activity
Making a weather vane and compass – Activity
Making a rain gauge – Activity
Making a barometer – Activity
Making an anemometer – Activity
Weather – literacy learning links – this article contains a selection of weather-related articles from the Connected and School Journal series, along with supporting Hub resources.
Lightning
Lightning location network – Article
Lightning explained – Article
Space weather – Article
Lightning – Image
Steps in lightning production – Image
Thundercloud charges – Image
Weather balloon being released – Image
Lightning – Video
Lightning research – Video
I am continually amazed by how many things we can improve... applying what we already know in better, more effective ways.
Dr Eric Scharpf
Aurora Australis over Lake Tekapo
The colours of the Aurora Australis are caused by the reaction of the gases in our atmosphere with the solar winds that are emitted by the Sun.
Weather and the water cycle
H2O On the Go – Unit plan
Earth system – Article
Water and weather – Article
Building a water cycle – Activity
What is the Earth system? – Activity
New Zealand weather map – Image
Rain – Image
The water cycle – Image
Weather satellite orbits – Image
Water and weather
In this video, Dave Campbell and Keith Hunter discuss what weather and climate are, and how the water cycle is key to the weather. Weather describes the condition of the air masses overlying land and sea. Climate refers to a pattern of weather over a period of time (such as a season). Weather is the ‘here and now’, while climate is an accumulation of many days’ or even years’ worth of information about the weather.
Weather and climate are complex processes with many influences: solar radiation, the tilt of the Earth’s axis, landscape (including buildings and cities), seasons, time of day and human activities. Approximately half of the incoming solar radiation is used in evaporating water to the atmosphere. This water then becomes our weather, which can then recharge water resources of the rest of the planet through precipitation
Points of interest: Find out what latent heat is and why it is important. What is the source of heat energy that drives the water cycle?
Satellites and weather
Satellites to study Antarctic atmosphere – Articile
Investigating the Antarctic ozone hole
Dr Adrian McDonald tells us why his research on the interaction between atmospheric dynamics, chemistry and climate is important for the development of climate models.
Points of interest:
Why do you think Adrian travels to Antarctica nearly every year to do fieldwork?
Why does he distribute the weather stations where he does?
Satellite sensing – Article
Weather satellite orbits – Image
Our research is contributing to the big topic of climate change... We are trying to understand it and find a solution so we can mitigate and adapt to our future climate.
Dr Katja Riedel
Clouds
Observing clouds and weather – Article
Cloud types
One of the easiest ways to predict weather is to look at the clouds. There are many different types of clouds in the troposphere. Different clouds mean different types of weather.
Clouds and the weather – Activity
Precipitation and cloud formation – Activity
Seeing through clouds – Article
Towering cumulus clouds – Image
Cloud roads – Image
Tropical Cyclone Yasi
A spectroradiometer on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this image on 1 February 2011. The storm extends over the Solomon Islands and grazes Papua New Guinea. Part of the Queensland coast appears in the top left corner.
Citizen science projects
How Deep Is Your Snow? – Online citizen science project
Related content
What happens with you play with data, sort it, arrange it, test some ideas and predict what might happen? Find out in this Connected article. It uses a parent’s job as a meteorologist and an upcoming sports competition as the contexts for using data.
