[SatNews] EUMETSAT has launched a new youth education web site, the Learning Zone, to stimulate interest among young people and teachers in the role of satellites in monitoring the weather and climate.
The launch of the web site coincides with this year’s World Meteorological Day, whose theme is “Weather and climate: engaging youth”.
Aimed at 12-18 year olds, the Learning Zone uses text, new video animations and satellite imagery to tell the story of how satellites are used to monitor the weather, atmospheric composition, the oceans and climate. The site highlights the many roles of today’s advanced weather and climate monitoring satellites, which range from collecting observations for forecasting weather and ocean circulation, to monitoring air quality over cities, tracking volcanic ash or Saharan dust storms and even monitoring rising sea levels. There is also an easily understandable introduction to EUMETSAT’s weather satellites which includes a new interactive animation that lets users explore the satellites and learn about their on-board instruments.
EUMETSAT’s Director-General, Alain Ratier, said, “We hope the Learning Zone web site will be a useful resource that encourages people to learn more about the space-based monitoring of our weather and climate.”
As the site is based on a WordPress blogging platform, it will be regularly updated by a team of EUMETSAT bloggers, who will talk about the satellites, the data they collect and the day-to-day job of operating them. The site is intended to be a “homework hub,” so it also provides extensive links to other educational resources, including teaching portals of National Weather Services and other international bodies.
The Learning Zone was launched on World Meteorological Day, which is celebrated every year on March 23rd. In addition to commemorating the formation of the World Meteorological Organization in 1950, the day also highlights the huge contribution that National Meteorological and Hydrological Services make to the safety and well-being of society.
The youth campaign infosite is accessible at http://bit.ly/PLNUdn