Weather Forecasting

A set of computer-based learning modules for new college students

This web page is a portal to a set of modules or tutorials that teach students about meteorology from the point of view of learning how to forecast the weather. The modules were designed as the primary teaching resource for a seminar course on weather forecasting at the introductory college level (originally METR 151, later ATMO 151 ) and can also be used in the laboratory component of an introductory atmospheric science course. The modules assume no prior meteorological knowledge and no physics beyond an understanding of Newton's laws, so they would also be appropriate for advanced high school students.

In addition to text and graphics, the modules include interactive questions and answers designed to reinforce student learning. While the modules can be used for self-study or distance learning, they were originally designed to replace course lectures. At Texas A&M University, students do each module in the computer classroom in teams of two, with occasional breaks for class discussion as indicated by the "stop" signs in many of the modules. Most modules require 20-40 minutes from start to finish.

The modules are copyrighted, but are otherwise provided free of charge. They may be freely reproduced for noncommercial use, provided that the copyright notices are retained. If you have any questions, please contact the principal content author, John Nielsen-Gammon. Please notify me of any errors of omission or commission.

Known bugs or incompatibilities:

  1. The interactive questions and answers do not function properly under the Safari (v1.2.1) web browser.

The Tutorials


    Nuts and Bolts (probably of local interest only)
  1. How to Access Weather Data | Review question
  2. How to Read Hourly Weather Observations | Review question
  3. National Collegiate Weather Forecasting Contest | Review question
    The Basics
  4. Radiation and the Diurnal Heating Cycle | Review question
  5. Factors Affecting Temperature: Clouds and Moisture | Review question
  6. Factors Affecting Temperature: Wind and Mixing | Review question
  7. Air Masses and Fronts | Review question
  8. Forces in the Atmosphere | Review question
  9. Air Pressure, Temperature, and Height | Review question
  10. Winds and Pressure | Review question
  11. The Forecasting Process | Review question
    Advanced Topics
  12. Sounding Diagrams | Review question
  13. Upper Air Maps | Review question
  14. Satellite Imagery | Review question
  15. Radar Imagery | Review question
  16. Numerical Weather Prediction | Review question
  17. NWS Forecast Models | Review question 1 | Review question 2
  18. Sources of Model Error | Review question
  19. Sea Breezes, Land Breezes, and Coastal Fronts | Review question
  20. Soundings, Clouds, and Convection | Review question
  21. Snow Forecasting | Review question

Topmost document: Atmospheric Sciences Department at Texas A&M University