Transcript Weather Merit Badge - Information Technology Services

Weather Merit Badge
March 22, 2002
Requirements
1.
2.
3.
4.
Define meteorology. Explain how the weather affects farmers, sailors,
aviators, and the outdoors construction industry. Tell why weather forecasts
are important to each of these groups.
Name five dangerous weather-related conditions. Give the safety rules for
each when outdoors and explain the difference between a severe weather
watch and a warning. Discuss the safety rules with your family.
Draw cross sections of a cold front and a warm front showing the location
and movements of the cold and warm air, the frontal slope, the location and
types of clouds associated with the front, and the location of rain. Tell the
differences between a cold front and a warm front.
Tell what causes wind, why it rains, and how lightning and hail are formed.
Explain the difference between high and low pressure systems in the
atmosphere and tell which is related to good and poor weather.
Continued…
Requirements
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Identify and describe clouds in the low, middle, and upper levels of the
atmosphere. Relate these to specific types of weather.
Draw a diagram of the water cycle and label its major processes. Explain the
water cycle to your counselor.
Define acid rain. Identify which human activities pollute the atmosphere as well
as the effects such pollution can have on people.
Do ONE of the following:
b. Visit a National Weather Service office or talk with a local radio or
television weathercaster, private meteorologist, local agricultural
Extension service office, or university meteorology instructor. Find out
what type of weather is most dangerous or damaging to your
community. Determine how severe weather and flood warnings reach
the homes in your community.
Do ONE of the following:
a.
Give a talk of more than five minutes to your unit explaining the
camping safety rules in the event of lightning, flash floods, and
tornadoes. Before your talk, show your outline to your counselor for
approval.
1. What is Meteorology?
Meteor = Greek for “thing in the sky”
 -ology = Greek suffix for “study of”
 Meteorolgy is
“study of things in the sky”
 Today meteorology means the study of
the weather. What causes rain, snow,
cold days, hot dry days, etc?

Who is Interested in the
Weather and Why?



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Aviators: Is it safe to fly, winds, freezing?
Farmers: Should I plant, irrigate, harvest?
Sailors: Should I keep my ship in the harbor?
Construction Industry: Should I replace the
roof? Pour concrete? Paint?
Travelers: Will the roads be icy or wet? Is it
worth going to Florida?
Party Planners: Should we plan an outside
barbeque?
Others ?
2. Dangerous Weather Conditions
Winter Storms
(Snow, Freezing Rain, Sleet)
 Thunder Storms
 Floods
 Tornadoes
 Hurricanes
 Heat Waves

3. Cold Front

Cold Air replaces Warm Air (causing warm air
to rise)
 If Warm Air is Humid Precipitation Occurs
 Generally Brief but Severe Storms
 Clouds: Cumulonimbus (Thunderstorm)
3. Warm Fronts
Warm Air Replaces Cold Air
 If Warm air is Humid Precipitation Occurs
 Typically Long (days) of Inclement Weather
 Clouds: Cirrus, Stratanimbus

3. Stationary Fronts
Boundary Remains Stationary
 Days (or Weeks) of Cloudy,
Wet Weather

3. Occluded Fronts
Current Frontal Boundaries
4. Low Pressure System
When forecasters say a
low pressure area or
storm is moving
toward your region,
cloudy weather and
precipitation result
as the low pressure
area approaches.
Low pressure
systems have
different intensities
with some producing
a gentle rain while
others produce
hurricane force
winds and a massive
deluge.
4. High Pressure System
Often, you hear a weather
forecaster say that an area
of high pressure will
dominate the weather. This
usually means your region
has several partly to mostly
sunny days in store with
little or no precipitation. Air
tends to sink near highpressure centers, which
inhibits precipitation and
cloud formation. This is
why high-pressure systems
tend to bring bright, sunny
days with calm weather.
Current Pressure Systems
4. Wind
Warm Air
Rises
 Cool Air
Moves to
Fill Vacuum

4. Wind
Pressure Differences Push air from High
Pressure to Low
 Coriolis Force: Rotation of Earth causes winds
to move “around” High and Low Pressure
zones

5. Clouds
Cloud Type
Appearance
Altitude
Cumulonimbus
Thunderheads
Near ground to
above 50,000 feet
Cirrostratus
Thin, wispy, above
thunderheads
Above 18,000 feet
Cirrus
Thin, often with "mare's tail"
Above 18,000 feet
Cirrocumulus
Small puffy clouds
Above 18,000 feet
Altostratus
Thin, uniform, sometimes
with "wide wale corduroy"
appearance
6,000 - 20,000 feet
Altocumulus
Medium-sized puffy clouds
6,000 - 20,000 feet
Stratocumulus
Broad and flat on the bottom,
puffy on top
Below 6,000 feet
Cumulus
Puffy clouds
Below 6,000 feet
Stratus
Uniform, thick to thin layered
clouds
Below 6,000 feet
5. Clouds (High)
Cirrus
Cirrostratus
Cirrocumulus
5. Clouds (Med)
Altostratus
Altocumulus
5. Clouds (Low)
Cumulus
Stratus
Stratocumulus
Fog
5. Clouds (Rain)
Nimbostratus
Cumulonimbus
6. Water Cycle
7. Acid Rain

Acid rain is rain, snow or fog that is
polluted by acid in the atmosphere
and damages the environment. Two
common air pollutants acidify rain:
sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen
oxide (NOX). When these substances
are released into the atmosphere,
they can be carried over long
distances by prevailing winds before
returning to earth as acidic rain,
snow, fog or dust. When the
environment cannot neutralize the
acid being deposited, damage
occurs.
8. Most Dangerous Weather
to Saint Joseph

Freezing Rain
Affects Entire Population
 Severs Power Lines
 Makes Travel Hazardous
 Destroys Trees

9. 5 Minute Talks

To Finish the Merit Badge you need to
write and present a 5 minute
presentation to your troop about
camping safety rules in the event of
lightning, flash floods, and tornadoes.