1. Name That Tool!

2. What is this tool called?
What does it measure?
What units of measure does this tool use?
Most rain gauges measure the precipitation in millimeters, but the level of rainfall is reported in inches or centimeters. One downfall (or inaccuracy) of rain gauges is that they only indicate rainfall in a localized area.
Electronic Temperature Instruments, UK. (Photographer) (2012). Rain gauge [Print].

3. What is this tool called? What units of measure does this tool use?
What does it measure?
What units of measure does this tool use?
A thermometer is a device that measures temperature. A thermometer has two important elements: the temperature sensor and a scale for converting a physical change into a numerical value. In science, we use degrees Celsius when reporting temperature. In a weather report in the United States, you generally hear temperature reported in degrees Fahrenheit. Microsoft. (Designer). (2010). Thermometer [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from

4. What is this tool called?
What does it measure?
A weather vane is an instrument for showing the direction of the wind. The pointer (in this case, the rooster’s beak) pivots to face the wind direction. Venegas, A. (Photographer) (2012). Weather vane [Print].

5. How much of the sky is covered in clouds?
How would you describe the cloud coverage?
A forecast of “cloudy” or “overcast” is when the sky has over 90% cloud coverage. Venegas, A. (Photographer) (2012). Clouds [Print].

6. How much of the sky is covered in clouds?
How would you describe the cloud coverage?
Since there is less than 10% cloud cover, this sky is considered “clear”. Venegas, A. (Photographer) (2012). Mt. Olympus [Print].

7. How would you describe the cloud coverage?
How much of the sky is
covered in clouds?
What tools do you use to determine the cloud coverage?
How would you describe the cloud coverage?
This sky could be called “partly cloudy” or “partly sunny” because there is between 30% and 60% cloud coverage. To measure cloud coverage, you must observe the sky in all for directions and use estimation. Microsoft. (Designer). (2010). Clouds [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from
Estimation +