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Thermometer

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Measures

temperature

Rain Gauge

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Measures

precipitation

Anemometer

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Measures

wind speed

Barometer

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Measures

air pressure

Thunderstorm

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  • produces a brief period of heavy rain
  • lasts 30-60 minutes
  • lightning precedes thunder

Hurricane

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  • occur over warm, tropical water
  • winds equal to or greater than 74 mph
  • spiral-shaped cloud formation

Tornado

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  • most form from thunderstorms as the wind changes direction and the air begins to rotate
  • Funnel-shaped cloud that touches Earth

**ALL weather events, day-to-day and extreme, affect the ecosystem.

Unit 2

Weather Wonders

For use by NNPS Department of Teaching and Learning and families only

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Curious Conversations

  • If we were planning an outdoor party, what kind of clouds would you hope to see in the sky? Why those ones?
  • Can you check the weather forecast for next week and tell me what you think the weather might be like? How did you figure that out?
  • If we were out on a sailboat, what tools do you think we’d need to keep an eye on the weather? Why would those be helpful?
    • Follow-up: “Like, maybe something to measure wind or air pressure?”
  • Do you want to try making your own clouds at home? I bet we could find some stuff in the kitchen to do it—how do you think we could make it work?
  • How would you explain the difference between weather and climate to someone? Can you give me an example of each?

Cumulus

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  • fair weather
  • fluffy, white
  • flat bottoms
  • like cotton balls

Cumulonimbus

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  • darker in color
  • produce storms
  • tall,puffy clouds

Stratus

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  • smooth, gray
  • cover the sky
  • light rain

and drizzle

Cirrus

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  • feathery
  • fair weather
  • indicates rain

or snow is on its way

  • Weather = day to day conditions (what you see on the news)
  • Climate = regional with weather data collected over a longer period of time (at least 30 years)

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  • High pressure air mass = happy weather (clear skies, light winds)
  • Low pressure air mass = lousy weather (stormy, strong winds)

For use by NNPS Department of Teaching and Learning and families only