Exploration Labs: Nowcasting: Cloud Formation Lab

Learn the role aerosols play in cloud formation

Program Cost

$225.00

Contact Information

For more information about this program, contact:

Menzel Smith-Jones
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Bldg.400 – P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000
631-344-4495 (phone)
631-344-7098 (fax)
slc@bnl.gov

Course Objective

What are clouds and how do they form? Learn the role aerosols play in cloud formation and why BNL scientists spend their time flying through clouds to sample the skies. The lesson culminates with a cloud making activity.

Audience for This Program

Grades: 5-8

Program Benefits

Scientists are using the LI Solar Farm at BNL to learn about the interaction between local weather conditions and the integration of solar energy into the grid. Clouds are of particular interest. Current cloud models do not provide the necessary ability to accurately predict cloud formation in “Now Time”. Nowcasting is predicting weather within 30 minutes. It is important to predict the Solar panels’ output to the grid within the next half hour to maintain constant levels of power to the grid. This is done through cloud tracking, observations and evaluations of cloud conditions.