Classroom
Activities
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Rainfall
Trends
(from Oklahoma Climate Spring 2006)
How do you know if today's weather is an extreme event? You must
compare today's weather to all recorded weather events or the
climate record for your area. Look at the statewide rainfall
history of April to determine which decades were warmer or drier
than the average. |
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Winter
Weather Forecasting (from Oklahoma Climate Winter 2005-2006)
Winter weather forecasting is not an easy process. Surface temperatures along
with the temperature and moisture content at different levels in the atmosphere
all contribute to whether precipitation reaching the ground will be snow, sleet,
freezing rain, or rain. Learn how forecasters use critical thicknesses to predict
precipitation type. |
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Wind
Power (from Oklahoma Climate Fall 2005)
Wind energy is a popular resource. Is it profitable to build
a wind farm anywhere in Oklahoma? Graph the mean average wind
speed for two Mesonet stations to determine the better location
to construct a wind farm. |
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Heatbursts
(from Oklahoma Climate Summer 2005)
The concept of a heatburst was introduced by Cline in 1909 after an unusual event
in Cherokee, Oklahoma. For eighty-five years, heatbursts were considered rare
events. But in 1994, scientists gained a tool that resulted in new research.
Loyal readers will recognize this date as the launch of the Oklahoma Mesonet. |
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Thunderstorm
Outflow (from Oklahoma Climate Spring 2005)
This event produced significant severe weather from Kansas, western
Oklahoma, and north Texas in many areas that were forecast to
experience a normal summer day. This activity looks at the storms
of 17 August 1994 after they have moved into central and southern
Oklahoma, after a gust front has formed. Look at the maps of
air temperature and winds to determine where you believe the
largest storm is located. |
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Winter
Weather Meteograms (from Oklahoma Climate Winter 2004-2005)
Winter weather events can be just as damaging as tornadoes. Winter
weather impacts travel, school, and the ability of utility companies
to supply electricity for lights and heat. In this activity,
we will look back at a major winter storm during the winter of
2001-02. The following meteograms are based on data taken at
the El Reno Mesonet site. El Reno is located in central Oklahoma,
west of Oklahoma City. This event caused major damage to our
electric utility infrastructure. |
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Solar
Radiation and Leaf Color (from Oklahoma Climate Fall 2004)
Weather conditions play a vital role in the range of autumn colors
displayed. Once trees are left with a large number of healthy
leaves, the two determining factors in the color are temperature
and sunlight (or solar radiation). |
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Heat
Index (from Oklahoma Climate Summer 2004)
Hot summer temperatures mean paying attention to Heat Index values.
This activity demonstrates the relationship between air temperature
and relative humidity and their affect on Heat Index. |
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Tornado
Alley (from Oklahoma Climate Spring 2004)
In this activity, students look at the number of tornadoes in
each county of Oklahoma from 1950-2003. |
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Wacky
Water (from Oklahoma Climate Winter 2003-2004)
Sometimes the lack of data on a map indicates a significant weather
event. During winter precipitation events, missing wind reports
reveal areas of ice accumulation on the instruments. |
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Station
Model Plots (from Oklahoma Climate Fall 2003)
A standard map used by meteorologists is the Station Model Plot.
This map provides surface conditions of temperature, dew point,
pressure, rainfall, wind speed and direction for each station.
Using a different color for each variable, the data are plotted
around each station. Meteorologist analyzes each variable looking
for overlapping patterns like cold fronts, low pressure systems,
drylines, or wind shifts. |
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