It is important to prepare in advance for a severe storm or natural disaster. Gathering emergency kit items, having a communication plan in place and knowing when, how and where to take shelter saves lives. It is easy to be complacent about storms or think that they won’t strike close to home....
As the sun heats the air, energy is created with air movement, and lightning typically comes from towering storm clouds. Fortunately, accidents involving lightning are very avoidable. Safe Electricity has the following suggestions to stay safe from the dangers of lightning:
- There...
In All About Clouds, see various types of clouds, including unique clouds only seen in a few locations and what weather is expected with each variety. The Everyday Environment online webinar series, presented by University of Illinois Extension energy and environmental experts, helps individuals...
A rare but destructive wind can move over much of the United States during certain times. Watch this video to find out what a Derecho is.
Temperature near Earth’s surface usually decreases the higher you go from the surface, but not always. Learn why there are times when temperature gets warmer at higher elevations.
The rain shadow effect is the reason why areas on opposite sides of a mountain can have drastically different climates.
Humans see just a small fraction of all the energy the sun produces. Watch this video to learn about how energy travels in waves and how the size of those waves are visible and invisible, and what actually is received on Earth.
Learn the basic processes of how the sun comes through Earth’s atmosphere, heats the earth’s surface, then escapes back to space.
Ever wonder what all the symbols mean on a weather map. Find out with this video!
El Nino and La Nina are part of a huge natural change in air pressure, ocean temperatures and winds in the Equatorial Pacific. Find out how these changes affect weather in the United States.
Find answers to weather's mysteries.
Weather happens every day; still, it's a bit mysterious. Illinois Extension takes away some of that mystery with these short, easy to follow videos.
- What is the Heat Index?
Why do weathercasters talk about “feels like” temperatures in summer that are higher than the actual temperature? Watch this video to find out.
- What is the Wind Chill Index?
Why do weathercasters talk about “feels like” temperatures in winter that are lower than the actual temperature? Watch this video to find out.
- What Causes the Seasons?
Spring ,Summer, Fall and Winter. Why do we have changes in temperature throughout the year. The cause may be a surprise.
- Types of Thunderstorms
There are several types of thunderstorms, each with their own characteristics. This video discusses each one.
- Good and Bad Ozone
We hear on the news about bad ozone that causes health problems, but also the loss of ozone over Antarctica, which also can be a health problem. Watch to learn the difference.
- Is Heat Lightning Real?
You hear many people talk about heat lightning on warm summer nights. Is lightning formed from just heat? Find out with this short video.
- What Makes the Wind?
Find out how wind is created by the H’s and L’s you see on a weather map.
- How Does Hail Form?
Some thunderstorms have hail, others don’t. Learn the process that creates hail in this video.
- How Do Clouds Form?
Clouds come in all shapes and sizes. Some are made of tiny water droplets, others have ice crystals. This video describes how clouds are created.
- What is the Greenhouse Effect?
The Greenhouse Effect is a part of nature, but people can make it stronger or weaker. Watch this video to get a brief description of how it works.
- El Nino and La Nina
El Nino and La Nina are part of a huge natural change in air pressure, ocean temperatures and winds in the Equatorial Pacific. Find out how these changes affect weather in the United States.
- How to Read a Weather Map
Ever wonder what all the symbols mean on a weather map. Find out with this video!
- How the Sun Heats the Earth
Learn the basic processes of how the sun comes through Earth’s atmosphere, heats the earth’s surface, then escapes back to space.
- Visible Spectrum of Light
Humans see just a small fraction of all the energy the sun produces. Watch this video to learn about how energy travels in waves and how the size of those waves are visible and invisible, and what actually is received on Earth.
- Rain Shadow:
The rain shadow effect is the reason why areas on opposite sides of a mountain can have drastically different climates.
- Temperature Inversions
Temperature near Earth’s surface usually decreases the higher you go from the surface, but not always. Learn why there are times when temperature gets warmer at higher elevations.
- Derecho
A rare but destructive wind can move over much of the United States during certain times. Watch this video to find out what a Derecho is.