climate
Children demonstrate a tornado to presenter, John Craven
Pupils from Hall School, Wimbledon joined presenter John Craven and the Countryfile team recently, to take part in the OPAL climate survey.
They also demonstrated a number of weather experiments, including creating a tornado and a cloud in a bottle.
See a short clip of how they got on the BBC website.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00j1bhm
OPAL was helping promote a new BBC series called The Great British Weather which starts this Wednesday at 7.30pm.
Take part in the OPAL climate survey
By making simple weather recordings you can help scientists learn more about our climate. The OPAL climate survey is open to everyone and you can download everything you need to know from this website.
More than 1,800 people from around the country have already submitted their results. Take part today and add your findings to our results map.
The climate survey begins!
The OPAL climate survey launched yesterday with an event at Imperial College, London.
Everyone had the chance to participate in the new survey, which consists of a few simple activities to explore our affect on the climate.
Dr Geoff Jenkins of the Royal Meteorological Society explained: "We're asking people to go outside and observe and measure the weather. What they see and record will be useful in checking the models we use for forecasting weather and predicting climate."
People are being asked to look for plane trails (contrails) in the sky, watch cloud movement to measure wind direction, and record wind direction and speed nearer the ground by blowing bubbles. A final activity explores the climate’s affect on us by asking how hot or cold you feel.
Sarah West, OPAL Community Scientist for Yorkshire and Humber said: "I can't wait to take part in the survey…..I'm particularly interested in learning more about contrails and how they can affect our climate. I see them all the time but have never given them much thought, I'll definitely be looking at the skies a bit differently now!"
Catch the OPAL Weather Roadshow
Explore the exciting science of climate and weather at an OPAL Weather Roadshow.
Record your own live weather forecast, take part in weather experiments, observe a professional weather station, and marvel at a tornado generator.
There are lots of activities and demonstrations to suit all ages and you’ll also be able to pick the brains of professional meteorologists and OPAL scientists.
To find out when the OPAL Weather Roadshow is visiting near you, check the OPAL events calendar.
So far, some confirmed dates include:
Climate survey activities - help us learn more about our climate
The OPAL climate survey consists of four simple activities. By taking part you'll help us investigate how our activities affect the climate, and the ways in which climate may affect us.
Activity 1 - contrails in the sky
By looking for contrails in the sky and reporting your results online, you'll help scientists test the accuracy of existing computer models that tell us where contrails should be.
Contrails are the tracks that planes leave behind when they fly. They are formed when water vapour from the plane's exhaust condenses in the cold air and forms ice crystals. This line of ice crystals is called a contrail.
Contrails are important because they may be contributing to the warming of our climate. Just like high clouds, they prevent some infrared radiation leaving the earth.
Activity 2 and 3 - measuring the wind
These activities explore how wind at cloud height can be different from what we experience at ground level.
In Activity 2, you'll use a mirror and compass to measure the wind direction at cloud height. In Activity 3, you'll use bubbles to calculate the wind direction and speed at our height.
Your results will be used to study how obstacles in our environment, such as buildings and trees, affect the speed and direction of wind around us.
Activity 4 - how the weather affects us
Climate change is predicted to result in milder winters and hotter summers across the UK, but how will this affect us?
In Activity 4, you'll answer simple questions about how hot or cold you feel and the types of clothes you are wearing.
Your answers will help us explore how sensitive we are to climate and how this may differ between people from various parts of the UK, as well as those from other countries.
Do you have any questions about the survey? Check out our survey FAQs.
View the results so far
Explore all the results from surveys submitted across the country.
Climate games, activities and more
Add your weather photos to our gallery, get your climate change questions answered, take part in our climate quiz, and much more.
Climate survey - join in today
How hot or cold do you feel?
Is the winter chill affecting you more than others?
Take a few moments to complete our thermal comfort activity and help us learn more about how we could be adapting to our climate.
This is activity 4 of the climate survey (see below) but can be completed separately. To submit your results, simply post the completed activity card (it's free) or use our online form.
Help us learn more about our climate and how we affect it
The OPAL climate survey is an exciting national experiment that everyone can take part in.
You’ll help us investigate ways in which we affect the climate and how the climate may affect us. The more people that get involved the more valuable our research will become.
How to take part
Step 1: Download the instructions and guides below. You can skip this step if you've received one of our climate survey packs.
Want to make your own bubble blower? Watch our video to find out how.
Step 2: Find a suitable space to carry out the survey and record your findings in the workbook.
Step 3: Submit your results online.
Ready to enter your results online?
We are collecting your sky observations for Activity 1 separately. Please return and submit as many observations as you can for this activity.
Order a free climate survey pack
We have a limited number of printed climate survey packs available, which include thermometer, mirror and compass.
Please email requests to opal@metoffice.gov.uk.
Alternatively, send your completed workbook(s) to: FREEPOST RSCH-CHYJ-HYYC, OPAL, Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ.
We are no longer accepting contrail observations by text message.
View the results so far
Do you have any questions about the survey?
Check out our survey FAQs.
Downloads - what you need to get involved
 Workbook:Background information and recording sheet |
 Field guide:Introduction and full instructions |
 Cloud chart:A photo guide to common cloud types |
||
You may download these documents for use in the context of the OPAL project only. All other rights are reserved.
The OPAL climate survey is being run by the Met Office.
Catch our Weather Roadshow
Explore climate science, try out experiments and be a weather reporter for a day.
Climate games, activities and more
Add your weather photos to our gallery, get your climate change questions answered, take part in our climate quiz, and much more.
Join the bubble chase and help study urban climate
People in Manchester will be joining in two unique science experiments to explore the urban heat island micro-climate.
Developed by the Met Office and supported by OPAL, these experiments involve blowing bubbles, seeing where they land, and recording the findings online. The results will tell us a great deal about air flows throughout the city.
The bubble chase experiments will be presented at the Futuresonic event in Manchester and everyone attending will be encouraged to take part. Futuresonic is an urban festival of art, music and new ideas and takes place 13-16 May 2009.
Get involved
Even if you don't go to Futuresonic you can still be part of the bubble blowing challenge and contribute your findings to the online map. More information, including a set of illustrated instructions are on the festival website.
Environment 2.0 Art Exhibition
From 13-23rd May the CUBE Gallery in Manchester will host a wide range of innovative artworks that highlight the environmental impact of our actions. As with other Futuresonic projects, the aim is to provoke thought and inspire action.
OPAL scientists from the Natural History Museum have collaborated with the artist Christian Nold to create a project called Biotagging - a unique collaborative portrayal of the animals and plants with which residents of Manchester share the city.
Climate Change Research Centre
How is climate change affecting our natural world?
What can we do about it?
Climate change is having a huge impact on the global ecosystem. It is an important driver of biodiversity loss - the process of animals and plants becoming extinct or disappearing from particular regions.
How will plants be affected?
We are investigating the effects of changing rainfall patterns on plant growth, species diversity and key ecosystem processes. Since the chemical make-up of the atmosphere is changing alongside climate change, we are also studying what happens when grassland ecosystems are faced with the double challenge of ozone exposure and drought.
Raise your awareness of climate change
We organise open days, summer schools and educational outreach activities. We'd like everyone to become more aware of the connection between what we do in our own lives, the energy we consume and the environmental consequences of climate change.
Get involved
Come along to a science fun day or summer school, or visit the Climate Change Research Centre. We can also help you run activities in your own school or community, or arrange to visit you. If you are a teacher or leader of a youth or community group please contact us about setting up a talk or activities.
Visit the Air Centre website
Contact us
Emma Green: opalclimate@imperial.ac.uk
Join in the OPAL air survey
Investigate lichens on trees and find out about local air pollution.
Join in the OPAL water survey
How healthy is your local lake or pond? Identify the invertebrates that live there to find out.
The OPAL Climate Change Research Centre is led by Imperial College, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot
OPAL Air
How does air pollution affect our natural environment?
Dr William Purvis of the Natural History Museum talks about lichens in London, past and present.
We want to raise awareness of how air pollution and climate change shape our environment and help everyone understand the global issues it raises.
OPAL Air research
Our scientists are conducting a number of research projects to investigate the impacts of climate change and air pollution. You can learn more about this work on the Air Centre and Climate Change Research Centre pages.
Air survey - take part today
Help us monitor local air quality throughout England.
Dr Nathan Callaghan of the OPAL Air Centre discusses the tar spot of sycamore activity in the OPAL air survey
By recording lichens on trees and tar spot on sycamore leaves, you can help our scientists answer important questions about the impacts of local air pollution.
The OPAL air survey is the second in a series of six OPAL surveys exploring the state of our environment. Everyone can take part in this valuable research project, all you need is one of our survey packs, which can be downloaded from the air survey pages.
Discover more about lichens
Lichen guide - an online guide to the air survey indicator lichens.
British Lichen Society - A society dedicated to stimulating and advancing interest in lichenology.
British Lichens - A large collection of images of British lichens.
Policy and regulation
If you are interested in learning more about government policy on air quality then please visit:
Defra - www.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/air/air-quality.
Air Pollution Information System (APIS) - www.apis.ac.uk.
Contact us
opalair@imperial.ac.uk
OPAL Air is led by Imperial College, Silwood Campus, Ascot
Surveys
Help OPAL scientists with valuable research, learn new skills, have fun
You need to download the latest Flash Player to view this video. Visit the website to download the Flash Player
OPAL is running six surveys across England to learn more about the state of our environment, and we’d like everyone to get involved.
Surveys exploring the health of our soils, the quality of our air and water, the distribution of invertebrates, the importance of hedges, and the ways in which we affect our climate are running now - see below for details.
All ages and abilities can take part and your contribution will be important in helping scientists build up a picture of England's natural environment.
We'll provide easy-to-follow survey instructions and all the support you need.
Bugs Count - join in now
Join in a timed challenge to find as many bugs as you can. Tell us what you find and you'll help scientists learn more about how the built environment affects invertebrates. Don't forget to keep an eye out for one of our six key species.
Climate survey - join in now
Are plane contrails contributing to global warming? How do buildings affect the weather around us? Help us explore ways in which we affect the climate and how climate change could affect us.
Biodiversity survey - join in now
Is your local hedge a haven for beetles, birds, mice and other wildlife? Learn more about a hedge near you and the animals it supports. Discover ways to improve it and compare your results with other hedges around the country.
Water survey - join in now
How healthy is your local pond or lake? The animals that live there can give important clues about the water quality. Record what you discover and contribute to valuable national research.
Air survey - join in now
Discover what lichens can tell us about air pollution. Record tar spot on sycamore leaves to learn about air quality near you.
Soil and earthworm survey - join in now
Discover more about earthworms and the soils they live in. Contribute to important scientific research and help update our national record on earthworm distribution.