Weather

As much as we hate to admit it, weather plays an important role in our lives every day. On warm sunny days, it is fun to play outside. Cold, rainy days, though, aren’t as much fun when it comes to being outside. Deciding whether you will be able to play outside is one good reason to track weather, but there are plenty of other reasons, too. If you are planning to take a trip, host a big event like a birthday party or if you have a sporting event coming up, you will likely be interested in the weather forecast for that day.

And if you are someone whose work depends on the weather, you can bet that knowing the latest forecast is important. Farmers, truck drivers, pilots, commercial shermen and many other professionals are influenced by weather. Things like temperature, wind direction, wind speed and precipitation are all factors that have to consider to get their work done.

We have tools like radar and satellites that help predict and track weather, but there are other tools we can use, too.

The temperature tells us how cold or hot it is outside. ere are several scales and units for measuring temperature (Celsius, Fahrenheit and Kelvin). e tool used to measure temperature is called a thermometer. For weather-related things, knowing the temperature is important. What you would wear to go outside in 30 degrees Fahrenheit (a coat and hat and gloves) is very different from what you would wear to go outside in 90 degrees Fahrenheit (shorts and sandals).

Wind direction and wind speed may not be something you think about as you head go to school in the morning, but if you are a pilot (or a passenger on an airplane) or a sailor, wind speed and direction are important to you! Some tools that people use to measure wind speed and direction are weather vanes, windsocks and anemometers.

Precipitation is a weather component that affects us all. Rain, sleet, hail and snow are all types of precipitation. Not only does precipitation play a part in how we plan our day, it is also an important part of the water cycle. Rain gauges are used to measure precipitation.

Measuring things like temperature and wind and precipitation may not sound very exciting, but it is important. Over time, these measurements help scientists understand weather patterns and how they affect our world.