Practical Exercises in Elementary MeteorologyWard, Robert DeCourcy
Science
Practical Exercises in Elementary Meteorology
Ward, Robert DeCourcy
Meteorology
One whole year of the grammar school course may well be given to the
observations suggested in Chapter I, provided that there is no need of
hastening on to the more advanced work. The advantage of extending the
course over a whole school year is great, because such extension gives
opportunity for becoming familiar with late summer, autumn, winter,
spring, and early summer weather types, and this is far better than
attempting to crowd all the work into one short season. The interest of a
class can easily be kept up throughout a school year by means of a
progressive system of observations. It is best to vary the observations
from time to time, and to arrange them so that, beginning with the more
simple, they shall gradually become more complete and more advanced as
the year goes on. Thus, starting with temperature observations alone,
these may be continued for one or two weeks before they are supplemented
by records of wind direction and velocity. After some practice in the
observation of these two weather elements (say during one month), data as
to the state of the sky may be added. Cloud observations themselves may
well be graded during successive weeks, so that, beginning with the
simplest notes concerning amounts of cloudiness, the pupils shall
gradually advance to the point of observing, and perhaps even of
sketching, the common cloud forms and their changes. Thus an important
step will have been taken towards appreciating the need of a standard
cloud classification, which may be given later.
The addition of records of precipitation completes the list of simple
non-instrumental weather observations, and these records, as well as the
cloud records, can easily be graded, so that, during successive weeks,
every week’s work shall be different from that of every other week. In
this progression from the simpler to the more complicated observations
lies the secret of making the work attractive. Nothing will sooner check
interest in the study than the necessity of making exactly the same
observations day after day and week after week throughout the year. A
graded course of non-instrumental observation, such as is suggested, gives
a very practical general knowledge of our common weather types and
changes, and of the relations of one weather element to another. The
questions asked under the different headings in this chapter are designed
to awaken the interest of the scholars, and to call their attention to the
more important points of diurnal, cyclonic, and seasonal changes in
weather elements. The teacher will readily think of other questions which
may be suggested for the consideration of the class.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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