Real Time Weather Image Information

Real-Time Weather Information

Click on the real-time weather site above to see a radar map of the United States which shows current precipitation levels. Radar images display precipitation whereas satellite images display cloud cover. Sometimes you will see images that combine both of these into one.
Note the time and date stamp on the map (top left, right above Canada). Can you figure out how current this information is?
What do the colors correspond to? Note the color scale at the bottom of the map.
If you click anywhere on the map, it will zoom in on that area. Note the time and date stamp of the zoomed-in area. Is it different than what you saw for the entire map? Some of the local areas update their images more regularly than is shown on the full state map.
If you stay on any real-time data site for a while you may want to click on the "reload" or "refresh" button to ensure you are getting the most up-to-date information.
You may want to explore a little more on this site. Use the links above the map to look at satellite images (cloud cover), surface maps (high and low pressure areas), upper level maps (jet stream), and radar loop (12 hour animation) as a start.

Students can learn about weather patterns (e.g. weather typically travels from west to east across the U.S.) by viewing real-time images over a period of days.
By looking at satellite images, the jet stream map, and the radar map, students can identify significant storms forming in the western U.S. then predict where (and perhaps when) the storms will arrive in the eastern U.S.
Using real-time weather images instead of images out of a textbook brings a real world connection right to the students. Now they can use the same maps and images as meteorologists to forecast the weather.

Geography - Learn states and capitals
Social Studies - How does weather/climate affect your way of life? What historical events have been caused or impacted by weather/climate?
Language Arts - Creative writing assignments centered around weather/climate
Math - Look at historical weather data to find highs, lows, trends.

Weather Scope (CIESE Real Time Data project): CIESE-sponsored real-time data module created for use by students in the elementary grades to allow them to investigate weather phenomenon both locally as well as in other places around the world.
The Gulf Stream Voyage (CIESE Real Time Data project)
The Globe Program

	Click on the real-time weather site above to see a radar map of the United States which shows current precipitation levels. Radar images display precipitation whereas satellite images display cloud cover. Sometimes you will see images that combine both of these into one. Note the time and date stamp on the map (top left, right above Canada). Can you figure out how current this information is? What do the colors correspond to? Note the color scale at the bottom of the map. If you click anywhere on the map, it will zoom in on that area. Note the time and date stamp of the zoomed-in area. Is it different than what you saw for the entire map? Some of the local areas update their images more regularly than is shown on the full state map. If you stay on any real-time data site for a while you may want to click on the "reload" or "refresh" button to ensure you are getting the most up-to-date information. You may want to explore a little more on this site. Use the links above the map to look at satellite images (cloud cover), surface maps (high and low pressure areas), upper level maps (jet stream), and radar loop (12 hour animation) as a start.
	Students can learn about weather patterns (e.g. weather typically travels from west to east across the U.S.) by viewing real-time images over a period of days. By looking at satellite images, the jet stream map, and the radar map, students can identify significant storms forming in the western U.S. then predict where (and perhaps when) the storms will arrive in the eastern U.S. Using real-time weather images instead of images out of a textbook brings a real world connection right to the students. Now they can use the same maps and images as meteorologists to forecast the weather.
	Geography - Learn states and capitals Social Studies - How does weather/climate affect your way of life? What historical events have been caused or impacted by weather/climate? Language Arts - Creative writing assignments centered around weather/climate Math - Look at historical weather data to find highs, lows, trends.
	Weather Scope (CIESE Real Time Data project): CIESE-sponsored real-time data module created for use by students in the elementary grades to allow them to investigate weather phenomenon both locally as well as in other places around the world. The Gulf Stream Voyage (CIESE Real Time Data project) The Globe Program