Category Archives: Backyard Science

Simple observations or experiments you can do in your backyard or at your school.

Raindrops Part 3: More about Hail

Posted on 11/01/2006 by peggy

Can you guess how hailstone size can be used to measure the strength of a storm? Here, “strength” refers to how fast the air moves upward in the storm: in other words, how strong the updraft is. Hailstones grow until … Continue reading →

Posted in Atmosphere, Backyard Science | 5 Comments

Falling raindrops — Part II

Posted on 10/24/2006 by peggy

Someone asked, “How can you assume that the speed of the raindrop is 8 meters per second?” That number comes from some resesarch we did a few years ago on a squall line (line of cumulonimbus) in the tropics. We … Continue reading →

Posted in Atmosphere, Backyard Science | Leave a comment

Where did the rain come from?

Posted on 09/28/2006 by peggy

I was watching a baseball game at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, USA, when a big fat raindrop fell on my lap. I looked up — and there were only small altocumulus clouds overhead. Where did the drop come from? … Continue reading →

Posted in Atmosphere, Backyard Science | 3 Comments

Watching the wind

Posted on 08/17/2006 by peggy

GLOBE has protocols for measuring temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, and even aerosols. Did you ever wonder why there isn’t a protocol to measure wind? This picture can give you a hint. The flags in the picture are some of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atmosphere, Backyard Science | 5 Comments

GLOBE at Night — can you see the stars?

Posted on 05/08/2006 by peggy

When I was in Washington, D.C., a few weeks ago, the TV weather forecaster said “It will be partly cloudy this afternoon with sunny skies tonight.” After a few seconds, I realized what he said and laughed. But, even without … Continue reading →

Posted in Atmosphere, Backyard Science, Field Campaigns | 1 Comment