How do weather stations predict the weather?

Brains On! Science podcast for kids

American Public Media

Kids & Family, Education For Kids

4.4 • 13.5K Ratings

🗓️ 27 May 2025

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

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You can’t see into the future, but with weather reports you can get a pretty good idea of what weather is coming your way. But how do forecasters make those predictions? In this episode, Molly and co-host Pedro learn about weather stations, special buildings where meteorologists use all kinds of tools to track rain, snow, sun and everything in between. We learn about weather balloons, radars, satellites and ocean buoys. Plus, forecast calls for a brand new Mystery Sound.

This episode was sponsored by:

Disney's Elio, only in theaters June 20. Rated PG, parental guidance suggested.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, this is Molly with something important to ask you. Like, very important, like so important,
0:07.5	imagine everything I'm saying is in all caps with giant font and underlined in glitter.
0:12.9	The Brains on Universe is public media, and public media is threatened like never before.
0:19.3	To keep doing what we do, we need your help. We need you.
0:24.5	That part's double underlined in glitter. Your donation can make sure Brains-on, smash-boom best, and more stick around through all of this uncertainty.
0:34.8	But we need you to give now, like right now. Please go to brainson.org
0:40.9	slash donate. We have an amazing community of listeners, and we love answering your questions,
0:47.5	hearing your mystery sounds, and admiring your incredible drawings. And the cool thing is,
0:53.0	this audience is big. If every family that listens
0:57.2	donated just $10, we'd be all set. But we truly mean it when we say any amount is helpful.
1:06.1	$5, $25. Maybe you like prime numbers and want to give $31 or $83.
1:13.5	Just head to brainson.org slash donate.
1:17.8	That's brainson.org slash donate.
1:21.9	And when you give, picture me saying thank you so much in rainbow font
1:27.0	surrounded by heart emojis with extra glitter.
1:29.9	Thank you.
1:32.7	You're listening to Brains-On where we're serious about being curious.
1:36.6	Brains-on is supported in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
1:46.0	Hong Kong! I call this meeting to order, fellow geese.
1:50.0	It has been honked to my attention that when we migrate every year and our big gaggles...
1:55.7	It's a flock, Gary.
1:57.6	Excuse me? Honk?
	...

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