Weather Research Center®

The Weather Museum is being developed to stimulate interest in the scientific fields of meteorology and oceanography, to provide a facility for people of all ages to learn about the weather, obtain weather safety information, and to look into the past at how weather was observed.

The Weather Museum is a project of Weather Research Center, a Houston, Texas based non-profit educational and research organization founded in 1987 by Jill F. Hasling and Dr. John C. Freeman. It is the belief of the founders that too many lives are lost and too much property destroyed due to the lack of information reaching the public.

The Weather Museum will distribute weather safety information as well as maintain exhibits and programs that increase knowledge about weather.

Thousands of school children will be accommodated in the various educational programs offered by Weather Research Center and The Weather Museum, including summer weather camps, special talks and other demonstrations.

Internships for high school and college students involved in meteorology also will be expanded at the Museum.

Adult tours and special programs for teachers are available. The Weather Museum is an innovative, educational facility that will continue to grow in service to the community as well as a point of interest to Houston visitors.

Purpose: A display where meteorologist will perform weather experiments and interact with the visitors.

Display Description: This will be in a corner of the museum with benches where the meteorologist will perform simple weather experiments involving the audience. This exhibit will be staffed with college meteorology students who are intern meteorologist.

Purpose: To educate visitors to the structure and dangers of hurricanes. Knowledge is the best way to protect your life and property.

Display Description: Visitor will enter a round room that would simulate the eye of the hurricane. As the visitor enters the exhibit air to simulate wind will be blown at them in one direction . As they leave air will be blown in the other direction. Once inside a slide presentation of hurricanes from birth to dissipation will be given.

EXHIBIT: Touch a Tornado!

Purpose: To show the visitors how a vortex forms.

Display Description: Water vapor tornado. This will be a 6' tall display which will generate a water vapor tornado.

Purpose: To educate visitors on Thunderstorms safety.

Display Description: Display on thunderstorms/severe weather safety. A wall in the museum will be lighting display where the lightning is attracted to the persons hand. There will be interactive computers to show how thunderstorms grow and mature as well as their destructive powers.

Purpose: To give the visitor the idea of just what a flash flood is. Flooding Safety

Display Description: This would be a large table about the size of a pool table with a 12 inch depth. Inside will be a bladder that shape can be changed by pushing

Different buttons. Dirt or some product will be on top of the bladder so that different kinds of terrain will be created. After the visitor is satisfied with the terrain. Simulated rain will be allowed to run over the terrain showing where flash flooding will occur.

The display would also have a display giving the visitors information on how to survive a flash flood as well as a history of significant flash floods in the past.

Purpose: Heat Safety/Surviving a Drought

Display Description: This display will demonstrate the danger of extreme heat and drought conditions. Heat Index - How Hot does it feel.

Purpose: Winter Storm Safety

Display Description: This display will demonstrate the danger of winter storms, blizzards and ice storms. Wind Chill - How Cold does it feel.

Purpose: This display will show how the atmosphere is structured and how it works.

Display Description: How the weather is measured will be demonstrated.

Purpose: To learn about air pollution and what can be done about it.

Purpose: To demonstrate how weather forecasts are made and shown on television.

Display Description: Television/Radio Studio equipped with a blue screen and camera to record the weather forecasts.

Purpose: The visitor can learn what types of careers are available in meteorology and which colleges and Universities offer programs.

Display Description: An interactive computer model and video which describes the different careers in meteorology.

Purpose: The visitor will be able to view historical weather equipment that has been used thorough out the years.

Display Description: This display will include teletype machines, antique barometers, thermographs, anemometers, thermometers and historical documents.

Purpose: To introduce visitors to the weather on the Internet

Display Description: A set of 12 computers network and connected to the Internet to give the visitor the ability to surf for current and past weather information.

Purpose: To show visitors various weather videos on a wide range of subjects.

Display Description: A room equipped with video equipment and chairs to show videos, slides and overheads. This room can be used for meetings, lectures and weather safety seminars.

Purpose: To give visitors access to out of print and historical weather information

Display Description: Library and Data Center with a collection of antique books, current books, technical journals and papers. Samples of the Data Center collection,

Surface Weather Charts dating back to 1871. Microfilm, National Weather Summaries dating back to 1915. Newspaper clippings on past weather events. Technical reports.

Purpose: To introduce the visitors to the key scientists in the field of meteorology

Display Description: This will be a museum wall dedicated to preserving the history of meteorology through a description of the key players.

Purpose: The visitors will be able to see a list of the sponsors and donors of the Museum.

Currently, The Weather Museum hosts the following projects through Weather Research Center. The museum hosts a variety of weather information on its various web sites. This includes weather safety information as well as links for current weather information.

Student interns and volunteers are introduced to various aspects of meteorology by being exposed to weather forecasting, research and teaching. Many of our interns and students have gone on to get their Ph.D.'s and continue in the meteorological field.

The Center also provides a monthly newsletter which gives informative information to members as well as periodic Press Releases on current weather events. The Center also publishes an Annual Atlantic Hurricane Summary.

Weather Camp is an activity which started at Weather Research Center in 1993. The day camp is designed to introduce students of all ages to weather and weather safety. The material for these camps has also been used to teach other classes during the year for various civic groups.

Weather Research Center conducts tours of its current facilities and give talks through out the year. These tours and talks are designed to answer the publics questions on weather, weather safety and meteorological careers.

Each year Weather Research Center's meteorologist exhibit and attend different conferences for teachers, industry, emergency management personnel, and the public. At these conferences, the Center disseminates weather safety information.

Meteorologist at Weather Research Center also provide weather information and forecast to National Public Radio through KUHF.

Programs in the future for Weather Research Center and The Weather Museum include Weather Classes for Science Teachers. Expanding weather classes for Girl Scouts and Boy Scout groups.

The Weather Museum would allow the space needed to carry out all of the activities outlined above and allow more annual visitors to the Center. This space will also allow visitors access to the Library/Data Center and the building of traveling displays.

The space will allow for visiting researchers to work with the data and work with Center meteorologist on meteorological research projects.

The Weather Museum's Goals and Objectives

The goals of The Weather Museum are to reach as many people as possible and educate them about weather and weather safety. One of these best ways to do this is to start with the young student. This weather education must cover all aspects of the weather due to the fact that our society is very mobile and you never know what type of severe weather a person might experience.

Another goal is to demonstrate to students that math and science are used in the real world. Meteorology is a science that uses trig and physics. The experience that the visitors of the museum will be exposed to will demonstrate that math and science occur in our every day lives.

The objectives will be measured by the number of visitors that visit the Weather Museum. The Museum will also be a place where people can call and visit to find out about weather again and again.