Activity Hand-out

A MAGIC SQUARE OF WEATHER

Below are words relating to weather

Atmosphere jet streams wind
land breeze
Troposphere stratosphere greenhouse effect
doldrums
Ionosphere mesosphere convection
trade winds
Ozone exosphere sea breeze
front

Directions:​ Write the number of the word which fits a clue in a box on the grid. If
you have matched the correct numbers in all 16 squares, the sum of the rows,
columns, and diagonals will be the same. This is called magic square. (See attached
sheet)

air that rushes from

calm areas of earth
mass of air that the north and south to a gas in the upper part
where there is little
surrounds earth warm the air along the of earth’s atmosphere
wind
________ equator ________
________
________
cold air from the the zone of the the zone in the
a movement of air
ocean that moves into atmosphere above the atmosphere above the
close to earth’s surface
the warmer land troposphere stratosphere
________
________ ________ ________
air above earth that is
warmed by the strong, steady winds
the outer zone of reflection of the sun’s transfer of heat by high in the
earth’s atmosphere rays and is prevented currents of air or water atmosphere; used by
________ from easily passing ________ pilots
back into space ________
________
cold air from land that zone of the the zone of the
the line along which
moves out to warmer atmosphere which atmosphere which is
air masses meet
air over oceans affects the closest to the surface
________
________ transmission of radio of earth
 waves ________
________

What is the magic number for this puzzle? _______________________

Can you discover other number combinations in the puzzle which give you the same answer?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Activity Hand-out
Weather Instruments

Directions:
Weather conditions are measured using he standards instruments. Find out what some of these
instruments are by using the clues below to unscramble the letters of each weather instrument.
The circled letters will then spell the source of all weather conditions on earth.

1. An instrument carried aloft by a weather balloon to measure upper-level pressure,

temperature, humidity and winds

O R I S E D N O D A __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

2. A type of radar that continuously measures the wind, moisture and temperature of the
upper atmosphere

P L E D R O P __ __ __ __ __ __ __

3. Measures the ceiling or base height of cloud layers

M O L I C E R E E T __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

4. Measures precipitation in inches

N A IR A G G E U ​__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
__

5. Measures the intensity of rainfall or snowfall

A R D A R __ __ __ __ __
 6. Measures surface wind speeds

E M O N E R T A M E ​__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

7. Measures wind direction

E V A N __ __ __ __

8. Measures air pressure

R O B E T E R A M ​__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

9. Measures temperature

T R O M E M T H E E R __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

10. A special thermometer that measures temperature continuously

G E R M A P T H O R H __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

11. Measures relative humidity, vapor pressure and dew point

G R O T R T E M E H __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

ANSWER: ​__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Activity Hand-out
Cloud Height

Ever wondered why clouds usually form high above the ground ?

Materials

Shiny metal cup​ ​Ice Cubes​ ​Thermometer​ ​Stirring rod

Procedure
1.​ ​Measure air temperature with your thermometer. Do not hold the thermometer close to any heat source
such as your body or a lamp while doing this.
Air temperature (T) = ________ o​​ C

2.​ ​Pour about an inch of tap water into the metal cup. Wipe the outside of the cup and make sure that it is
completely dry.

3.​ ​Keep the thermometer immersed in the water throughout the experiment. It should not touch any side of
the container.

4.​ ​Drop a small piece of ice into the water and stir constantly with a stirring rod.

5.​ ​Another group member should watch the outside of the can for any mist or condensation.

6.​ ​Record the water temperature when the first sign of mist appears on the outer surface of the metal cup.

Mist appears at ______ ​o​C

7.​ ​Immediately remove any remaining ice in the cup and continue stirring the water. Wait for the water in
the cup to warm until the mist disappears.

8.​ ​If it takes more than a minute for the mist to disappear, add small amounts of tap water.

9.​ ​Record the water temperature when the mist completely evaporates from the metal surface.

Mist disappears at _____ o​​ C.

10.​ ​Get the average of your two temperature readings. This is the ​dew point​. Cooling air to the dew point will
cause the water vapor in it to condense.

Dew point (T​d​) = ______​o​C.

How would dew point change if there is more water vapor in the air ?

On Monday, the air temperature was measured at noontime to be 30o​ C ​

and the dew point was 25​o​C. At about
the same time on the next day the air temperature was also 30​ ​o​C but the dew point was 20​o​C. In which day was there more water vapor in the

air ? Explain.

11.​ ​The estimation of the height at which clouds will form is based on the assumption that a rising parcel of dry
air will cool at a steady rate. Having measured the dew point, the height can be computed as :

Height(in meters) = 100 * (T-T​d​)​ ​where T = air temperature, T​d​ = dew point

Note:
This estimate is only valid for cumulus clouds that form on a warm sunny day.

The computed height will be in meters. This height means that condensation of water vapor will start when a
 parcel of air has risen to about this level.

Activity Hand-out
Weather Elements

A B C D E Cloud Cover
Time Temp(​o​C) Air pressure Relative Wind direction
Humidity
9 AM
10
11
12 NN
1
2
3
4 PM

Station 1.​ ​Air Temperature

Materials

Shoebox thermometer

Procedure

1. Remove the shoebox cover and cut out a rectangular hole at the center just long enough
for you to see the thermometer graduations.
2. Hold the shoebox upright and punch a small hole at the center of the top wall. Check to
see that the thermometer fits snugly when inserted through this hole.
3. Cut a rectangular hole at the center of the bottom wall where the thermometer is to be
inserted. Make it big enough to allow air to move freely through the shoebox.
4. Insert the thermometer through the hole in the top hole. Allow about an inch of the
thermometer to protrude from the top. Tape this with masking tape for added support.
5. Place the shoe cover. Make sure that the thermometer graduations are visible through the
hole.
Guide Questions
1. Is the air temperature highest at noontime ? If not, at what time is it highest ? How would
you explain this ?
2. What could be the reason for enclosing the thermometer inside a housing ?
3. What factors could lead to erroneous readings ?

Station 2. Air Pressure

Materials

can rubber balloon drinking straw ruler

Procedure

1. Get an open milk can and stretch a piece of rubber balloon over its
mouth, use rubber band to hold it in place.
2. Glue one end of the straw to the center of the balloon.
3. Make a stand for the ruler, and place it close to the tip of the straw,
which will serves as the pointer to indicate any changes in pressure.
4. Place this in a corner of the room away from direct sunlight.
5. Observe any changes in the area of the ruler to which the straw
points. Your improvised barometer is now complete.
Questions

1. How should the straw respond when atmospheric pressure increases ? decreases ?
2. Describe the changes in straw as you bring on the way to Baguio.
3. How would the operation of your improvised barometer change be affected if there is a
small hole in the rubber balloon ?
4. How would this barometer be affected by changes in temperature ?

Station 3. Relative Humidity

Materials

2 thermometers shoebox

Procedure

1. Get two identical thermometers. Wrap one bulb with a piece of cloth tying it with a
thread.
2. Holding the shoe box upright, punch two holes 10 cm apart.
3. Put the thermometer in each hole and wet the one covered with cloth.
4. Fan the thermometers and observe any change in the readings.
5. Take the readings of both thermometers when the temperature of the thermometer with
 the wet bulb stops changing.
6. Use the chart provided to you to get the Relative Humidity reading.

Questions

1. Which thermometer has a lower reading? Explain.

2. How is the RH affected by changes in air temperature ?
3. Is it possible for the wet and dry bulb thermometer to be equal? What is the RH at this
point?

Station 4. Wind Direction

Materials

metal strip
wire
stand

1. Cut an arrow from a 25 cm long, 3 cm wide

metal strip.
2. Fasten the arrow on a stand with a wire. See to it that the arrow rotates freely.
3. Go outdoors and allow your wind vane to align with the wind direction. The wind
direction is that from which the wind is blowing. (Use a compass to identify the direction.)
4. Record your data on column F.

Questions

1. Is the wind always coming from the same direction? How does the wind direction
change from morning to afternoon?
2. If possible, observe the direction of cloud movement. Is the wind direction the same as
the direction of cloud movement?