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Weather balloons
carry weather instruments high into the sky. The
weather instruments gather information about air temperature, wind
speed, and wind direction. They gather information about air pressure.
Air pressure is the
force
of air pushing on things around it. Weather
balloons also provide information about humidity. Humidity is the
amount of water in the air.
All this information helps meteorologists predict what weather
is coming. They can make
forecasts
that help people know what to
expect. We need to know the weather to make choices about what to
wear, how to travel, and what events to plan.
Thinking about Weather
1.
Who are meteorologists and what do they do?
2.
How do we measure air temperature? wind direction?
precipitation?
3.
What do meteorologists use weather balloons for?
4.
Why is it important for meteorologists to be able to
forecast the weather?
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