Training 450 Junior Weather Officers
Diane McAliley is one of the sixth grade science teachers at Pizitz Middle School in Vestavia Hills. She wrote and received a grant this year to launch a weather balloon with her students. She expanded the weather balloon launch to include all three pods of sixth graders.
On Friday January 15th, I was honored to conduct an all-day weather training event in anticipation of the weather balloon launch that included all five sections of students, teaching them how to do a launch forecast. The students learned how to make day-specific weather forecasts by using universal time, considering what weather factors are relevant for a successful launch, finding this relevant weather data, and then interpreting the charts, numbers and symbols. By the end of each session, the students could independently read the GFS model output for a specific day, evaluate important parameters (surface winds, winds aloft, vorticity, relative humidity & precipitation), and formulate a forecast and recommendation about whether or not to launch the weather balloon on that particular day.
Since then, they have been using their new skills to find a launch window that will be acceptable. They are shooting for next Tuesday, March 8th now.
Pizitz students Jillian Kind and Kate Waldsmith were appointed to write a story about the forecasting seminar for our blog. They contributed this piece:
By Jillian Kind and Kate Waldsmith
VESTAVIA, AL, January 19, 2016 –SPECIAL TO ALABAMAWX.COM
Today in Science we gathered in the media center to discuss a very important topic. Pizitz Middle School is allowed to do a weather balloon project!
We had a special guest as well. Bill Murray was here to explain to us what conditions we can or cannot launch the weather balloon in, with charts and maps.
The students were put in groups of three and were to fill out a form of how the weather balloon would be affected if we were to launch it that day. For example, January 15th was an in between day, where we could launch it but we would not have the best results.
A fact that we learned was that the more white on the chart the better weather. There are different scenarios for different weather types. For example, we have to keep an eye on the clouds, wind speed, icing, and precipitation.
We do not want it to end up in Texas or West Virginia. We need it to land somewhere close, but with a good view of the Earth. Mr. Murray said that it would go up to 12 miles in the air on a good day, maybe even higher.
Pizitz is very excited for the weather balloon launch!
By: Jillian King and Kate Waldsmith
Created with flickr slideshow.
Category: Alabama's Weather
About the Author (Author Profile)
Bill Murray is the President of The Weather Factory. He is the site's official weather historian and a weekend forecaster. He also anchors the site's severe weather coverage. Bill Murray is the proud holder of National Weather Association Digital Seal #0001 @wxhistorianSubscribe
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