Learn About Weather
Explore all things weather – from storms to climate – with this course that looks at the basic processes behind the weather.
Who is the course for?
This course is for anyone looking for an introduction to the weather, as well as those with a particular interest in how weather affects photographers, gardeners and walkers. You don’t need any scientific knowledge or past experience.
What topics will you cover?
The large-scale processes that lead to our weather
Air masses and their characteristics
How to interpret a weather (synoptic) chart
Clouds and what they can indicate
Weather and climate for gardeners
Weather for photographers
Hazardous weather for walkers
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to…
Explain how heat is redistributed around the Earth, including circulation cells, and how they affect the climate
Describe the layers in the Earth’s atmosphere, including the troposphere in which most of our weather occurs
Explain atmospheric buoyancy, and how a buoyant atmosphere can result in showers
Describe the six main air masses which affect the UK including their characteristics
Explain what a front is, and understand their differences and characteristics
Interpret a weather chart (also known as a synoptic chart) to provide details about wind speed and direction, precipitation and cloud cove