Hands-On, Minds-On Meteorology Exercises

Below are examples of exercises developed for ATMOS 100 - Introduction to Meteorology
(all content is copyright 2003, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois)

Exercises are listed alphabetically by topic.

Topic	Description of Exercise	Exercise used in class	Computer Program to accompany exercise
air pollution	evaluate the potential for high air pollutions episodes using maps and soundings	air pollution	_
air pollution - smog	examine how meteorological & non-meteorological factors influence smog	smog	smogcity.com
air temperature data	compute mean temperatures, degree-days, and temperature ranges using real data	air temperature data	_
climate and crops	examine how climate and location affect crop growth	climate & growing crops	Growing Seasons
cloud formation & topography	see how humidity changes over a mountain	cloud formation over mountains	Mountains
cloud identification	identify cloud types from slides (requires slides by instructor)	cloud identification table	_
contouring maps	learn to contour isotherms and isobars on weather maps	contouring	Contour
controls of surface temperature	determine how greenhouse gases, clouds, and albedo influence temperature	controls of temperature	Controls of Temperature
Coriolis force	learn about the Coriolis force by simulating a ball rolling on a rotating platform	Coriolis force	Coriolis
cyclone development	determine where surface cyclones form based on upper air data	cyclone development	_
cyclone tracks	examine U.S. cyclone tracks and typical weather associated	cyclone tracks	Cyclone
El Nino and the Southern Oscillation	examine sea surface data to identify El Nino and the Southern Oscillation	El Nino & Southern Oscilliation	_
El Nino & Precipitation	see how precipitation varies across the country during El Nino	El Nino & precipitation	_
forces & wind	learn how each force affects wind direciton and speed	forces & wind	Ekman
enhanced greenhouse effect	examine ways man has influenced and can change greenhouse gas concentrations	greenhouse debate	_
front identification (forecasts)	identify what types of fronts will pass based on weather forecasts	identify front types	_
front identification (maps)	analyze a weather map by identifying frontal positions based on station data	analyze fronts on maps	Fronts
greenhouse effect facts	test your knowledge before class of the greenhouse effect	greenhouse effect quiz	_
heat transfer	identify heat transfer methods in common experiences	heat transfer	_
hurricane characteristics	learm about hurricanes by plotting the track as it moves along the East Coast	hurricane characteristics	_
hurricane tracks	explore the climatology of hurricane tracks over a several year period	hurricane tracks	Hurricane Tracker
hurricane structure	learn the basics of hurricane structure (requires radar and satellite)	hurricane structure	_
lake effect snow	identify the relationship between lake effect snow and wind	lake effect snow	_
lightning	test your knowledge of lightning with this myth/fact quiz	lightning	_
moisture (observations)	determine moisture properties from station observation data	moisture - obs	_
moisture in every day life	questions about how moisture manifests itself in our everyday lives	moisture in your life	_
pressure gradient	learn more about how to identify pressure gradients on weather maps	pressure gradient force	_
satellite	learn to interpret satellite data via imagery and loops	satellite	RadSat
station models	make personal weather observations & create station models	station models	_
stability and vertical motions	review of stability and lapse rates	stability	_
thunderstorm forecasting	forecast thunderstorm formation from weather data	thunderstorm	Thunderstorm
tornado - myth or fact	test your knowledge of tornado safety with this myth/fact quiz	tornado myths	_
weather forecasting from models	practice your forecasting skills using numerical model output	weather forecasting	_