It’s time to get Year 8 students to forecast the weather using the synoptic charts at the improved BBC weather forecast site (still in beta). Their task is here.
It’s a shame that Ian Watkins’ excellent weather map background that I mentioned last year seems to have disappeared.
My own version is too ancient to consider ever using again, but Ian Ford has created a fine alternative that I’m looking forward to using next week.
Pretty gloomy weather today, and Year 8 need to know about depressions tomorrow. Obviously my first thought is to go with Tony Cassidy’s Postman Pat lesson – a slice of Radical Geography genius. And so I shall, however fortunately, the UK is in the grip of a series of low pressure systems and the Weather Layer in Google Earth is brilliant for illustrating the relationship between air masses and the weather.
I could start with an animation of the clouds over the past 24 hours…
Google Earth cloud animation from Noel Jenkins on Vimeo.
The animation requires a download of this network link
Turning on the Weather panel from the Layers Panel in Google Earth provides really helpful information.
Weather Layer
Starting with the Conditions and Forecasts, the weather is cool over N. France, warm and rainy over the S. of the UK and cold and partly sunny over the North. Excellent!
Weather reports
Activating the clouds layer reveals the reason – a perfect example depression is responsible. More good news!
The cloud layer
Finally, the rainfall radar indicates where the rain is falling. Conveniently within the warm sector of the depression. Absolutely textbook – yay!
Rain radar
I’m archiving the passage of this depression to provide material for a PowerPoint in case the weather isn’t being so cooperative next time I do the lesson.
Right, over to Postman Pat!
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