Resources for the 2026 Science Olympiad challenge in Meteorology - Everyday weather
Science Olympiad is a national STEM competition dedicated to improving the quality of K-12 science education, increasing interest and engagement in science, and providing recognition for outstanding achievement by students and teachers. Science Olympiad tournaments emphasize teamwork, problem solving, and hands-on learning practices. For more information about Science Olympiad, visit www.soinc.org offsite link. Here, we share resources from NOAA and our federal partners.
Background information
Air masses
An air mass is a large body of air with generally uniform temperature and humidity.
Air pressure
The atoms and molecules that make up the various layers of the atmosphere are constantly moving in random directions. Despite their tiny size, when they strike a surface, they exert a force on that surface in what we observe as pressure.
Fog types
There are eight different types of fog, all unique in their ways of formation and dissipation.
Heat capacity of water
The heat capacity of water can change, primarily depending on its state of matter and temperature.
How to read surface weather maps
Weather maps come in a myriad of styles, each providing different levels of information.
JetStream - Introduction to the atmosphere
The atmosphere is a layer of gas and suspended solids extending from the Earth's surface up many thousands of miles, becoming increasingly thinner with distance.
Making a weather forecast
The GOES-R satellite gathers information about Earth’s weather, which then gets translated into weather maps.
NOAA Observation Systems
Observations of the atmosphere are critical to every aspect of weather forecasting.
Optical phenomena
The optical phenomena our satellites observe are often due to the interaction of light from the sun on our Earth and ocean, as well as shadows from the moon.
Pressure systems, fronts, jet streams, and precipitation
Pressure systems, fronts, and how to denote them on surface maps, explained.
Prevailing winds
Different types of winds, including prevailing, upper level, surface, land and sea breezes, and mountain winds, explained.
Sunspots and the solar cycle
Sunspots are dark areas that become apparent at the Sun’s photosphere and appear in a wide variety of shapes and forms.
Surface fronts and boundary symbols
Surface fronts and other features seen on maps and forecasts, described and explained.
Surface-meteorology instruments
The most standardized and commonly deployed instruments monitor meteorological state variables, such as mean pressure, temperature, moisture, wind, and radiation.
Ten basic clouds and cloud classification
The World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) International Cloud Atlas is the official worldwide standard for clouds.
The seasons, the equinox, and the solstices
Different parts of the year, related to the Earth’s tilt, explained.
Types of weather phenomena
Weather around the world falls into three basic categories: precipitation, obscurations, and "other" phenomena.
Understanding the forecast process
If it falls from the sky, flows across the surface of the Earth, or is released from the Sun, the National Weather Service most likely produces a forecast for it.
Upper air charts
Constant pressure charts let us see changes and gradients in atmospheric conditions across the country and around the world.
Water vapor, humidity, dewpoint, and their relationship to precipitation
The differences between water vapor, humidity, dewpoint, explained.
Winter precipitation types
Types of winter precipitation and how they form, explained.
NOAA Education resource collections
Changing seasons
Visualize and understand the difference between meteorological and astronomical seasons.
The water cycle
Water is essential to life on Earth and ties together the major parts of the Earth’s climate system.
Weather observations
Temperature, humidity, precipitation, air pressure, wind speed, and wind direction are key observations of the atmosphere that help forecasters predict the weather.
Weather systems and patterns
The local weather that impacts our daily lives results from large global patterns in the atmosphere caused by the interactions of solar radiation, Earth's large ocean, diverse landscapes, and motion in space.
What is ...
How do rainbows form?
The traditional rainbow is sunlight spread out into its spectrum of colors and diverted to the eye of the observer by water droplets.
What causes a rainbow?
A rainbow is caused by sunlight and atmospheric conditions.
What causes halos, sundogs, and sun pillars?
When conditions are right, the atmosphere is capable of producing colorful displays of light.
What is a dust storm?
A dust storm is a wall of dust and debris that is blown into an area by strong winds from thunderstorms.
What is a nor'easter?
A nor'easter is a storm that forms along the East Coast of North America.
What is precipitation?
When you see rain or snow fall from above, you’re watching precipitation in action! Where does precipitation come from and why does it fall in different forms?
What is your precipitype?
Try our precipitation personality quiz to learn more about rain, snow, hail, sleet, and graupel, and to find out which you most closely identify with.