The Science Explained
The cold water sinks while the warm water rises. This happens because of convection. A thunderstorm is caused by unstable air and convection plays an important part. Warmer air surrounded by cooler air will rise, supporting the formation of thunderstorms. Satellites detect infrared energy, allowing forecasters to locate relatively warm regions that are more supportive of storms. Infrared light lies between the visible and microwave portions of the electromagnetic spectrum and shows us how hot or cold things are, like layers of the atmosphere.
Lesson Summary
Explore how thunderstorms form, using direct visual observation and an IR camera, in this hands-on activity that demonstrates hot and cold air convection.
Objectives
The learner will:
- Describe the basic process of convection by observing the movement of warm and cold water in the container.
- Use scientific tools and models by interpreting IR camera images to investigate otherwise invisible temperature patterns.
Procedure
Step One
Fill the plastic container two-thirds full with lukewarm water. Let the water sit for one minute.
Step Two
Have one student stand in front of the Thunderstorm Container with the IR camera and record the temperature of the water before, during and after the ice cubes are added.
Step Three
Ask students to place 6-10 blue ice cubes at one end of the plastic container. Note: the number of ice cubes depends on the size of container.
Step Four
Add three drops of red food coloring to the water at the other end of the plastic container.
Step Five
Have students observe what happens using direct visual observation and the IR camera, and record observations in their science journals.
Did You Know?
GXS will increase full atmosphere sensing over the United States by ten times compared to existing low-Earth orbiting satellites, improving storm tracking and storm strength monitoring, and forecasting of fire behavior and smoke transport.