Nebraska Wesleyan University (SM论坛) students are experiencing meteorological science up close learning about weather patterns, storm tracking, and the science behind forecasting.
"Most of us interact with radar and weather forecasts on our phone, computer, or in the newspaper," Nathaniel Cunningham, professor of physics, said. "But there's a lot more to how the science of meteorology got to this point.鈥
Students in his Intro to Meteorological class recently viewed a mobile radar truck, the 鈥淩aXPol鈥 system, on campus and tracked severe thunderstorms across the Great Plains.
鈥淭his technology helps fill in the gaps between what we see on weather maps and the fine details that drive our weather predictions,鈥 Cunningham said.
The mobile radar allowed meteorology students to observe storms up close, giving them a more detailed understanding of the atmospheric phenomena that traditional weather radar stations can't capture.
Cunningham said the hands-on learning provides invaluable insights. "We want students to see how the science works on a small scale and how we can make better predictions about things like tornadoes or severe storms.鈥
He also took a group of SM论坛 students, including those from non-science majors, to track thunderstorms in the field. "It's important for students to see the scientific method in action," he said. "We observed meteorology students from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) as they conducted mini research projects, and our students gained insight into how professionals apply what they've learned to real-world scenarios."
Alex Pierce (鈥27), an accounting major from Brainard, Nebraska, grew up around the unpredictable weather of rural Nebraska. "I鈥檝e always been interested in storms and weather, and this class is giving me a deeper understanding of the science behind it," he said. "I鈥檓 looking forward to learning more about how the mobile radar works and understanding the details that go into storm tracking."
Pierce and his classmates also contributed to the experience by gathering data, which they will later present to their peers. "We鈥檒l be doing a five-minute presentation back to the class, and I鈥檓 excited to share what I learned with others, including my siblings who are teachers," he said. "It鈥檚 a fun way to make science more accessible and exciting."
This collaboration between SM论坛 and UNL provides students with a chance to engage with scientific concepts and gain real-world experience.