At-Home STEM Activities: Record Today's Cloud Cover
Be a community scientist by keeping a cloud cover log. Learn how here!
Take your writing materials outside, and make observations about what you see in the sky. Record your findings:
1) What shape of clouds do you see?
2) Now try drawing all the clouds you can see. The sky is big. To make an accurate observation, it is helpful to orient yourself to the north, divide the sky into quadrants, and sketch what you see in each one. No clouds today? That’s real data, too—to make a note and try again tomorrow!
3) How full is the sky today? Can you estimate cloud cover?
Clouds are important for helping scientists learn about planets’ weather and atmosphere. We can study clouds from above (in space) and from below (on Earth).
From above, NASA’s satellite instruments observe and collect information about clouds and various properties of Earth’s atmosphere. NASA even observes and photographs clouds on other planets!
From below, community scientists make observations and share their data with researchers collaborating with NASA.
Dig Deeper
Learn about how clouds form—on Earth and throughout our solar system—in our Distance Learning Module, “Investigating Clouds”
