APPLICATIONS & INVESTIGATIONS IN EARTH SCIENCE
NAME: ______________________________
EXERCISE 14
CLASS: ______________________________
RESPONSE FORM
DATE: ______________________________
1) Throughout your study of weather you will be examining and interpreting several different types of weather
satellite images. To add to your understanding and aid you in your investigations, examine this Satellite
Meteorology: Online Remote Sensing Guide from the Weather World 2010 Project (WW2010) at the University
of Illinois and this Weather Satellites Module from the University of Wisconsin. .
When you have completed your investigation, write short descriptions of the two types of weather satellites and
each of the various types of weather satellite images.
2) Use the data at coolwx.com to answer the following questions.
a) What is the current dew point temperature at your location?
b) Keeping in mind the relationship between air temperature, dew point temperature, and relative humidity,
after you compare the current dew point to the current temperature at your location, what is your estimated
relative humidity?
c) Check your estimated relative humidity from Question b) by using this online weather calculator to
determine the actual relative humidity using air temperature and dew point temperature. How accurate was
your original estimate?
d) What is the current atmospheric pressure at your location? What is the pattern of pressure in the U.S.?
Indicate the geographic areas of high and low pressures as well as their measurements and note the date
and time of your observation.
e) What is the current wind direction and speed at your location? Describe the general pattern of surface
wind directions and speeds in the U.S. Indicate the date and time of your observation.
f) Write a brief statement that describes the relation between the current winds (directions and speeds) and
pressures in the United States.
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3) With reference to this United States radar map from Intellicast, describe the current general pattern of
precipitation occurrences over the country. During the past 8 hours the general movement of the precipitation has
been toward which direction?
4) Examine the weather satellite images at this University of Wisconsin - Madison website.
a) With reference to your investigation in Question 1 of this exercise, what type of image is shown at the
University of Wisconsin site? What is the principle behind the image's ability to show cloud cover?
b) Using the image, write a summary of the current cloud cover in North America. Be sure to include the
date and time of the image in your report.
(NOTE: Print and attach a copy of the satellite image to the form.)
5) Research the high-altitude wind called the jet stream at this USA Today weather index site.
Then, using the data at this San Francisco State University website, describe the current pattern and speed of the
jet stream over North America. Indicate the date and time of your observation.
(NOTE: Print and attach a copy of the latest available North America jet stream analysis map from the San
Francisco State University site to the form.)