Journal Weather Observations

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• Each journal should include at least 5 weather observations.
  • The main purpose of the weather observations is to provide you with opportunities to reflect on changes in the weather, and to see if you can spot patterns or regularities to help you predict weather changes in the future. Spend a lot of time this semester with your Audubon Field Guide to the Weather in hand, just contemplating the skies!
  • An observation consists of all the data and phenomena you record for a given date. The contents of a single weather observation are described below.
  • Your 5 weather observations may be taken on any combination of days during the journal period (usually two weeks).

   

• See your Audubon Field Guide, pp. 598-600 and 608-609 for important information.

   

• Clarification of weather report terminology:
  • Does north wind refer to a wind blowing to the north or from the north?
  • What units of measure will you use for each of your phenomena?
  • What abbreviations?
  • What symbols?

   

• Should one always record the time at which observations are made?
  • How often should one note the meteorological conditions?
  • What times of day or night are the most significant?
  • How important is it to be regular or systematic in one's observations?
  • Should one guess, or interpolate, to make up for a missed observation?

   

• What instruments do you need?
  • Can you make your own barometer? Wind vane?
  • Where are they located?
  • How closely should outdoor instruments be located to buildings and other structures and still provide accurate information?
  • Ought rain guages, thermometers, etc., be placed in direct sunlight?

   

• Is it okay to use the Weather Channel, Internet, or other news sources?
  • Oklahoma Weather Line provides Temperature and Relative Humidity: 478-5100, ext. 9999.
  • Shawnee Temperature from American National Bank: 273-9800, ext. 6.
  • CNN, America Online, and other Internet sources provide daily weather maps which you can print to analyze individually or to display the weather developments and trends for the week.
  • The Oklahoma Mesonet, developed by the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University, provides unparalleled weather monitoring information for Oklahoma citizens. Over 100 automated observing stations across the state relay current meteorological data, updated every fifteen minutes, to the central processing site.
  • Should some indication (e.g., a different color of ink) be used to identify indirect data?

     

Sample Template for Journal observations

Date:	Humidity: Source:
Temperature High: ____ Low: ____ Other: ______ at time _______. Source: Comments:	Pressure ______ inches Hg at time ________. __ rising; __ falling Source: Comments:
Winds Speed: ____________ mph Evidence (Beaufort scale):   Direction: N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW Comments, changes, interpretation?	Clouds High altitude:   Middle altitude:   Low altitude:   Time observed: Comments/interpretation:
Sky Cloud cover, if no precipitation: clear, scattered, broken, overcast If precipitation: rain (R), snow (S), sleet (E), hail (A), thunderstorm (T), freezing rain (Z), drizzle (L), fog (F) Precipitation amount: _____ Source: ____________
Remarks, interpretations, predictions, significance:

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