Louie's Space

E-Adventure into the Weather

Predicting the Weather

What's the weather going to be like today? How can we tell what the weather will be like tomorrow? You might try asking someone who has the job of studying the weather every day.

People who study the weather are called meteorologists (me-tee-or-ol'-o-jists). They study all about the clouds, wind, rain and snow. They look at pictures sent back from space satellites that show what's happening in the air above our planet. These satellites use batteries for power. The satellite batteries are charged by flat solar cells that collect the energy of the sun and turn it into electricity.

Whatever happens in our planet's air or atmosphere is called the "weather." Meteorologists have many instruments and machines that use electricity to help them take special measurements of weather.

They use pictures from satellites that give a "star's eye" view of earth's weather.
They use television and radio to tell others about the weather.
They use computers to help add and keep track of all the information.

Computers can also take information on weather in the past and make models or predictions of what the weather might be like in the future.

They take measurements of the wind and how fast and from which direction it's blowing.

Weather can stay the same for weeks at a time, or it can change in minutes. Weather can even change the way electricity reaches your house or school. Storms and high winds can make tree limbs fall against power lines and even break them. When power lines are down, electricity can't reach your house. Special power company workers fix the lines and cut or move the limbs. If you see a power line down, don't go near it. Ask an adult to call the police or power company.

Here's a weather poem:

Mild weather days, warm and lazy,
Rainy, springtime sloshes;
Cooler days come just before
We get out our winter galoshes.
Wild weather days, we have a few:
Stormy, windy weather;
Makes us glad we're all inside
Snug and dry, together!