Learn About Weather

Understand the weather

Ever wondered what the difference between a hurricane, cyclone and typhoon is? Or what a ‘front’ is? Or asked how weather warnings are issued? Maybe you’ve even spoken about the weather today. The weather is one of the most popular topics of conversation, yet not many of us actually know how it works.

On this course you’ll explore all things weather, learning about the basic processes that result in the weather that we experience and how the weather affects people like photographers, gardeners and walkers.

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.

You will need access to an internet browser. You will also be encouraged, with our guidance, to use simple online tools to aid, collate, publish and share your findings.

• Large Scale Processes
• Welcome to Learn About Weather
• Global circulation
• The atmosphere
• The jet stream
• Atmospheric buoyancy
• Week 1 roundup
• Reading a Synoptic Chart
• Pressure, wind and coriolis
• Air masses and fronts
• Low pressure systems
• Week 2 roundup
• Clouds
• Clouds and how they form
• Make your own cloud
• Cloud names and classification
• Precipitation
• Week 3 roundup
• Weather for Leisure Activities
• Weather types
• Interesting weather
• Being outdoors
• Weather hazards
• Microclimates
• Climate change
• Make the most of the weather