Name:______Date:______

Meteorology: Weather Instruments

Vocabulary

Blizzard:

Forecast:

Hazardous weather:

Hurricane:

Thunderstorm:

Tornado:

Many instruments are used at ground-based weather stations to measure the conditions of the atmosphere. Weather is monitored with weather balloons that send data to weather stations. Satellite photographs show cloud cover. Radar gives information about the intensity and speed of approaching storms. Doppler radar is especially useful in detecting tornadoes. Computers collect and store large amounts of data and compare present weather data to the past.

Humans can prepare for and protect themselves against hazardous weather if warnings are given. Tornadoes are rapidly rotating, extremely low-pressure storms. A funnel extends down from a thunderstorm cloud. Tornadoes form when every cold air meets warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico. The tornado may be on the ground for a few minutes or a few hours. The path of the tornado is unpredictable. Radar monitors their formation and warnings are sent out. Tornadoes have hazardous winds and flying debris. People in the path of a tornado should seek low shelter immediately or go into or under a sturdy structure.

In the winter, ice storms and blizzards pose hazards to people. Blizzards are associated with heavy snow and winds. Drifting snow can stop transportation. An ice storm can disrupt electric and phone services. Ice storms can occur suddenly as rainfall begins to freeze. There is a danger of frostbite and hypothermia. People should stay indoors, not drive, stay warm and have food, water and medical supplies available.

Hurricanes are low-pressure systems, which form over warm, tropical oceans. Winds are greater than 74 miles per hour. Hurricanes have high winds, high waves, flooding from rain, and storm surges of ocean water along coastlines. If you are in the path of a hurricane you should have food, water and all necessary supplies and stay indoors. If you live in a flood prone area you should go to an emergency shelter.

Review Questions

  1. Which technology has improved our weather forecasting ability?
  1. satellitesb. shipsc. airplanesd. Internet
  1. Satellite photographs show ______.
  2. Doppler radar can be used for ______.
  3. Weather data is compared by using ______.
  4. During a tornado you need to protect yourself from wind and ______.
  5. Thunderstorms form along a ______.
  6. Severe winter storms are called ______.
  7. Hypothermia can be prevented by ______.
  8. Hurricanes form over ______.
  9. Hurricane winds are more than ______miles per hour.
  10. When a hurricane warning is issued the supplies you need should include ______.
  11. Name the type of hazardous weather associated with each precaution:
  12. Leave low lying ocean shorelines in the storm’s path ______.
  13. Stay indoors and keep yourself warm during the storm ______.
  14. Immediately go to a sturdy underground shelter ______.
  15. Turn off the computer and do not use the telephone ______.
  16. Tornadoes are most common in the ______section of the USA.
  17. Tornadoes form when a very cold, dry air mass meets a very warm, moist air mass. Which two air masses could form a tornado when they meet?
  18. cP and cTb. cP and mTc. cT and mPd. mP and mT
  1. On a summer afternoon, the reading on the barometer begins to decrease. This indicates that
  2. A storm is approachingc. Skies will stay clear
  3. Weather conditions will improved. It will not rain for the next three days
  1. Which is a form of precipitation?
  2. Frostb. Snowc. Dewd. Fog
  1. The arrows on the map show the movement of
  1. Earth’s rotationc. Tsunamis
  2. Northeasterly windsd. Atlantic Ocean hurricanes

  1. The map shows the average number of thunderstorms each year in the United States. What section of the country gets the most thunderstorms?
  1. Northeastb. Southeastc. Southwestd. Northwest

  1. The data below gives the positions of a hurricane during a seven day period.

  1. Plot the hurricane positions using the hurricane symbol
  1. Connect the positions with a line. Use an arrow to show the direction of movement of the hurricane.
  1. Name one specific land location that the hurricane affected.

Location:______Date:______

  1. Hurricanes form over warm, tropical oceans. The hurricane air mass would be classified as: (mP) (mT) (cT) (cP)
  1. State TWO dangerous conditions that could cause damage as the hurricane strikes the shoreline.

(1)______

(2)______

  1. State TWO ways that you can prepare for a hurricane emergency if a hurricane warning is announced in your area.

(1)______

(2)______

  1. A student wants to prepare for the winter season. There were many snow and ice storms last year and meteorologists forecast the same for this winter. List FOUR preparations that the student and his family can make now before the winter storms arrive.

(1)______

(2)______

(3)______

(4)______