Automated systems in weather monitoring

Name:

Date:

Class:

Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Which sensors would an automatic weather station use to measure the weather?

A Temperature, humidity, pressure and light sensors

B Keyboard, mouse and microphone

2. How often does an automatic weather station take its readings?

A At set, regular intervals, such as every few minutes

B Only when a person presses a button

3. What does the microprocessor in a weather station usually do with the sensor data?

A Uses an actuator to change the weather

B Stores it or sends it on to a central computer

4. Why are automatic weather stations useful in remote places such as mountains or deserts?

A They collect data without a person being there

B They need a person to stay there to read the sensors

5. Which statement about the data from a weather station is correct?

A It is thrown away once the reading is taken

B It is used to help forecast the weather

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1automatic weather station		AA system where sensors and a microprocessor record weather readings at set intervals and send the data on without a person present
2every 10 minutes: read sensors, then transmit		BTRANSMIT(temp, humidity, pressure)
3Sensors such as temperature, humidity, pressure and light supply the readings that the microprocessor processes		Ctemp <- READ(TemperatureSensor)
4The station sends its data to a forecasting centre instead of switching something on		DAn automatic weather station needs no person present. Its microprocessor records the readings itself.
5A weather station needs a person to read each sensor and write down the value		EThe station takes readings at regular intervals and sends the data on instead of making a physical movement
6A weather station records its readings once and never again, so the data cannot be used for forecasting		FReadings are taken at regular intervals, so the data builds up over time and can be used to forecast.

Definitions

automatic weather station

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

temp ← ___________("temperature")

____ 10 MINUTES temp ← READ_SENSOR("temperature") SEND(temp, base_station)

____(temp, base_station)

IF pressure _ 1000 THEN SEND("low pressure", base_station) ENDIF

_____ station_on = TRUE SEND(temp, base_station) ENDWHILE

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A WHILE station is on

B temp ← READ(tempSensor)

C MOVE motor TO temp

D WAIT 10 MINUTES

E ENDWHILE

Question 2

A REPEAT

B hum ← READ(pressureSensor)

C STORE hum IN log

D WAIT 1 HOUR

E UNTIL station is off

Question 3

A pres ← READ(lightSensor)

B IF pres < 980 THEN

C SEND storm warning

D ENDIF

Question 4

A WHILE station is on

B light ← READ(lightSensor

C STORE light IN log

D WAIT 30 MINUTES

E ENDWHILE

Question 5

A interval ← 15

B WHILE person is present

C record readings

D WAIT interval MINUTES

E ENDWHILE

Answer Key

Automated systems in weather monitoring

Section A: Quick Questions

A — Temperature, humidity, pressure and light sensors

A — At set, regular intervals, such as every few minutes

B — Stores it or sends it on to a central computer

A — They collect data without a person being there

B — It is used to help forecast the weather

Section B: Match the Pairs

automatic weather station → A system where sensors and a microprocessor record weather readings at set intervals and send the data on without a person present

every 10 minutes: read sensors, then transmit → The station takes readings at regular intervals and sends the data on instead of making a physical movement

Sensors such as temperature, humidity, pressure and light supply the readings that the microprocessor processes → temp <- READ(TemperatureSensor)

The station sends its data to a forecasting centre instead of switching something on → TRANSMIT(temp, humidity, pressure)

A weather station needs a person to read each sensor and write down the value → An automatic weather station needs no person present. Its microprocessor records the readings itself.

A weather station records its readings once and never again, so the data cannot be used for forecasting → Readings are taken at regular intervals, so the data builds up over time and can be used to forecast.

Section C: Definitions

automatic weather station — A system where sensors and a microprocessor record weather readings at set intervals and send the data on without a person present, often in remote places, to help forecasting.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

temp ← READ_SENSOR("temperature")

WAIT 10 MINUTES
temp ← READ_SENSOR("temperature")
SEND(temp, base_station)

SEND(temp, base_station)

IF pressure < 1000 THEN
   SEND("low pressure", base_station)
ENDIF

WHILE station_on = TRUE
   SEND(temp, base_station)
ENDWHILE

Section E: Spot the Error

C — A weather station records and sends its data on. It does not carry out a physical action with an actuator. Line 3 should be SEND temp TO server.

B — Humidity must be read from the humidity sensor. A pressure sensor measures air pressure, so line 2 should use humiditySensor.

A — The variable pres holds air pressure, so it must be read from the pressure sensor. A light sensor measures light level. Line 1 should be READ(pressureSensor).

B — The closing bracket is missing from the READ call. Line 2 should be light ← READ(lightSensor).

B — An automatic weather station works without a person present. The loop must depend on the station being on, so line 2 should be WHILE station is on.