Each day, automated meteorological systems and human observers around the world produce and share weather data through a global network. Predictions centres use the observations to produce global, regional and local forecasts. The quality of these forecasts depends on accurate weather observations from polar regions.
image: Nicola Munro, Halley Research Station, AntarcticaObserve the weather today where you live:
1. Air Temperature – warm, cold? Value in degrees Celsius?
2. Precipitation – do you currently experience rain or snow?
3. Wind – do you observe calm or windy conditions? Did you measure the wind, or observe its effects on trees or flags?
4. Visibility – how far can you see (in metres)?
5. Cloud cover – do you see clear sky, sky and cloud, or only clouds?
Activities:
1. Launch a virtual balloon at www.ipy.org and include your observations.
2. Using the WMO world weather map and the virtual balloon map, compare your local weather to weather in the Arctic and elsewhere on the planet, and to weather reported by other classes around the world.
Discussion:
1. How do you react to your local weather? Do you wear different clothing? Do you choose certain types of transportation? Do you change the heating or cooling of your home?
2. What do these observations tell you about seasonal effects? About local effects? About differences between your location and polar locations?
For global and Arctic weather information, check http://www.worldweather.org/.
Visit the Above The Poles ipy.org pages for links to Antarctic weather information and for other activities about auroras, satellite observations, and astronomy.
image: Kirsty Stead Launching a weather balloon at Halley Research Station, Antarctica