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Document one hour of weather observations

⏱️ 1 hour (plus 10 min setup/analysis) 📊 Beginner 🔬 Science

About This Idea

Record weather data every 10 minutes for one hour. This meteorology activity teaches data collection, graphing, and scientific observation. Learn how meteorologists track weather patterns and practice recording quantitative data.

#meteorology#weather#data-collection#graphing#science

📑 Table of Contents

How to Get Started

CREATE DATA TABLE (5 minutes)
  1. Draw table with columns: Time | Temp (°F) | Sky Conditions | Wind | Precipitation
  2. Rows for: Starting time, +10 min, +20 min, +30 min, +40 min, +50 min, +60 min
  3. Example table:
  4. | Time | Temp | Sky | Wind | Precip |
  5. | 2:00 PM | 72° | Partly cloudy | Light | None |
COLLECT DATA (1 hour)
  1. Every 10 minutes, record:
  2. - Temperature (use thermometer, weather app, or outdoor thermometer)
  3. - Sky conditions (clear, partly cloudy, cloudy, overcast)
  4. - Wind (none, light breeze, moderate, strong)
  5. - Precipitation (none, drizzle, rain, heavy rain)
  6. Set timer to remind you every 10 minutes
  7. Be consistent—measure from same spot each time
ANALYZE DATA (10 minutes)
  1. Create a line graph: Time on X-axis, Temperature on Y-axis, plot your points
  2. Look for patterns:
  3. - Did temperature change? By how much?
  4. - Did sky conditions change?
  5. - What was most variable? What stayed constant?
  6. Prediction: Based on this data, what will weather be like in next hour?
COMPARE TO FORECAST (Later)
  1. Look at weather forecast for your area
  2. Did your observations match official forecast?
  3. What instruments do meteorologists use that you don't have? (barometer, wind gauge, radar)

What You'll Need

Recommended Resources

🛠️ Tools & Apps

  • Weather.gov 🔗
    Official NOAA weather data
  • Thermometer
    Measure temperature
  • Graph Paper
    Create professional-looking graphs

📚 Tutorials & Learning

  • How to Read Weather Data 🔗
    Meteorology basics
  • Weather Station Setup 🔗
    Educational weather resources

👥 Communities

  • r/Weather 🔗
    Weather observations and discussions

Progress Milestones

Track your progress with these key achievements:

1
10 minutes
Data table created and first observation recorded
2
1 hour
All 7 observations recorded
3
1 hour 10 min
Graph created and patterns analyzed

Common Challenges & Solutions

Every beginner faces obstacles. Here's how to overcome them:

⚠️ Temperature didn't change much
Solution: That's valuable data! 'No change' is still scientific information. Try again during weather transition (morning, evening, or when storm approaches) for more dramatic changes.
⚠️ Forgot to record at exact 10-minute intervals
Solution: That's okay—science in real world isn't perfect. Do your best. Note any irregularities. Professional scientists deal with imperfect data collection too.

Share Your Progress

Celebrate your achievements and inspire others:

Reflection Prompts

Deepen your understanding with these thought-provoking questions:

1
What changed most during your observation hour?
2
What stayed the same?
3
How accurate was your weather prediction?
4
What tools would help you collect better data?

Ready to Get Started?

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