Geog 101 Physical Geography Group Activity/Project #4 A Guide for the Group Project CLOUD OBSERVATION AND WEATHER FORECAST PURPOSE The purpose of this activity is to help you understand the nature of scientific method to meet one of the Gen Ed course goals, which is to “Identify, describe critique, respond to, and construct the various components of the scientific process such as observations, inferences, operational definitions, aspects of scientific design, conclusions, control of variables, etc.” GROUP SIZE You can also conduct the activity by yourself or form a group of 3-4 people to work together on the project. REQUIREMENTS (1) Preparation You need a digital camera (or cell phone camera) for this activity. Check the weather forecast from the Internet (weather.com) first before you go out. It is also helpful to spend a little time studying the cloud pictures from the text so that you will be able recognize types of clouds in fields. The ideal time for observation is before a weather system arrives or after it just passes. During this time you will see a variety of clouds. (2) Major Tasks a. Cloud observations: Choose a day but not a rainy day to conduct your observation. Pay attention to the color, forms (cirrus, status, cumulus), altitude (cirro, alto, strato), and their relation to precipitation (-nimbus, nimbo-) of clouds as well as cloud coverage, direction and speed of cloud movement. Discuss with your teammate about what weather system is developing (possible cold front, warm front, etc.). Bring the Report Form with you and complete the first page t the site. b. Taking pictures of clouds: Take pictures of three to four different types of clouds and select only the best pictures for your report. You may take and use more pictures if you work as a group. c. Acquiring weather maps: You need to download/copy past some maps from weather.com to analyze the weather systems associated with the clouds and forecast their changes. Open you internet browser and type (click this link) http://www.weather.com/ to get the site. Click the very first option “Map” (above the map) or “Maps” (below the map) that will take you to the weather map room page. Then, select (1) Weather details and (2) Current weather and you will see the map of US current weather map. There is also a dropdown list under the map frame. Select and view each one of them. To copy the map, move your mouse cursor on the map and click the right button of your mouse, click “Copy” from the popup list. This will copy the map onto your computer’s clipboard. Then go to the project report template page and find the same type of maps, paste your new map onto the old one (click the right mouse button and select paste). You need to select (2) short term forecast to be able to get the predicted map for the next day. d. Analyzing weather maps: to identify these weather systems that are associated with the clouds observed and affect the area in which your observation site is located. See the report template for details. e. Short term weather forecast: Apply the knowledge you have learn in class to predict movement and evolution the weather system in concern. You can refer to the weather maps and even the predictions from weather.com or other sources to perform this task. Specific requirements are available in the report template. (3) Report A report temperate (starting from the next page) is provided to keep the components and format consistent. However, your are encourage to use your own format if is more creative. (4) Submission I need only a hard copy of the observation report. NO EMAILs. Due on the Final’s day. (5) Evaluation: The total activity accounts for 5% of your final score. Properly submitted report will earn you 3 points and the rest depends on the content and quality of your work. All members of a team will receive the same score. Geog 101 Physical Geography GA#4 Field Observation and Data Analysis Cloud Observation and Weather Forecast Project Report (Template) Team Members: __________________, __________________, ____________________, ___________________ Location: _________________________ Date: _____________________________ Time: _____________________________ Wind velocity: _______________________ Cloud coverage (%): __________________ Cloud movement: _____________________ I Cloud Observations 1. Ground Observations Select the most prevalent Cloud Type at each level where clouds exist. Cloud Cover and Visual Opacity must be determined for each level observed. Check the items that best suit your observation. High Level Cloud Type  Cirrus  Cirrocumulus  Cirrostratus Cloud Cover  Clear  Partially Cloudy  Cloudy  Overcast 95% Visual Opacity  Opaque  Translucent  Transparent Mid Level Cloud Type  Altostratus  Altocumulus Cloud Cover  Clear  Partially Cloudy  Cloudy  Overcast 95% Visual Opacity  Opaque  Translucent  Transparent Low Level Cloud Type  Fog  Nimbostratus  Cumulonimbus  Stratus  Cumulus  Stratocumulus Cloud Cover  Clear  Partially Cloudy  Cloudy  Overcast 95% Visual Opacity  Opaque  Translucent  Transparent Geog 101 Physical Geography 2. GA#4 Field Observation and Data Analysis Cloud Images and Descriptions Take pictures of the clouds you have observed and insert the best one for each type into the picture box. Label each picture with appropriate name and provide a brief description about its altitude, shape, relation to precipitation, and coverage. Delete the unused picture boxes. Three or four types of clouds would be sufficient. Please DO NOT COPY CLOUD IMAGES from internet. Cirrocumulus (Your description): Stratus Cumulonimbus Cumulonimbus Cumulonimbus Cumulonimbus Geog 101 Physical Geography GA#4 Field Observation and Data Analysis II. Analysis of Weather Systems 1. Acquiring Weather Maps From Weather.Com Go to Weather.Com and get the following weather maps for your observation date. Replace the following images with yours. (a) US Current Weather (image size: 3.35 x 2.26 in.) (b) Short Term Forcast (US Morning, Midday or Evening Forcast) (c) US Current Temperature (d) US Current Winds and Gusts (e) US IR Satellite (Infrared Image) (f) US Water Vapor Satellite Image Geog 101 Physical Geography GA#4 Field Observation and Data Analysis 2) Mark your observation site on each of the maps on previous page Use a circle or star symbol to map the location of your observation site on these maps. Label each with a place name such as Towson University. 3) Identify the weather systems at or near the location of your observation site. a. Surface Temperature: ____________________ b. Pressure: High_______________; Low ______________. c. Winds: Direction____________; Speed _______________________________ d. Air Mass: Cold_______________; Warm_____________; e. Fronts: Cold_______________; Warm ____________; Other ______________________________. f. Cyclones: Location_______________________________; Strength____________________________. g. Anticyclones: Location_______________________________; Strength____________________________. h. Extreme Weather: Thunderstorms _________________________: Tornados __________________________. i. Other: ___________________________________________________________________________________. 4) Create an isotherm map for surface temperature [Optional] 5) Synthesis of the weather systems a. Briefly explain the relationship between the clouds observed and the weather systems identified. III. Short Term Weather Forecast Based on your ground observation and analysis of the weather maps (you can attach some of the forecast maps from Weather.com), predict or forecast a. The prevailing weather systems in the next three days b. Trends of temperature change c. Change in cloud type and coverage d. Possible precipitations
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