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From: Monster Storms Mission 3: The Chase
Mission 3 - Lesson 8: Communicating Weather Data

Operationally define how graphs communicate weather data. Compare and analyze tornadoes based upon their graphed data sets. Graph the pressure changes associated with a passing tornado.
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Prepare  
 
Prepare
 
Time required: 45 minutes
  • Obtain a classroom set of markers, rulers and graph paper as required for completing this activity.
  • Obtain a table that shows hourly humidity measurements over time.
  • Identify or supply a source of hourly temperature measurements that students can use in completing the Follow-Up activity.
  • Make sure all Internet connections are functional and access to the suggested URLs is not blocked by the local server.
Motivate  
 
Motivate
 
Display a household digital barometer and demonstrate how it measures and communicates ambient atmospheric pressure. Place the barometer probe into a large wide-mouth jar. Cover the jar with a rubber diaphragm, sealing and isolating the container from the surrounding air. Pull up on the diaphragm fabric. Observe the change in barometric pressure. Have students connect this observation to the pressure data collected on tornadoes. How does this demonstration model real world events?
Teach  
 
Math: Graphing Tornadic Air Pressure Interdisciplinary Connection
 
View In this activity, students have the opportunity to organize, graph, and analyze data to help them compare two tornadoes. They are then asked to interpret a graph made with real data obtained during an F4 tornado.
Reflect And Assess  
 
Reflect and Assess
 
  • Have students assess the use of the pressure/time graphs as a way of communicating weather data. Are graphs more or less effective than data tables?
  • Have students write the script and record a “time-synced” weather report based upon the data illustrated in these graphs.
Follow-up  
 
Follow Up
 
For homework, have students generate a graph that illustrates hourly changes in local atmospheric pressure over a 24-hour period. As an extension, have students create a 2-column data table based upon the plotted points shown on the page 67 graph, Probe 3 Pressure Drop.
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