Learn About Weather (FutureLearn)

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.

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 cover

- Describe the weather features associated with high pressure and low pressure, including named storms which impact the UK

- Explain how the National Severe Weather Warning System works

- Explain the difference between hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons

- Describe the different cloud types and explain how they can indicate changes in 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 software or tools do you need?

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.