The Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center · 201 North Findley Street · Punxsutawney, PA 15767 · (814) 938-1000 · info@weatherdiscovery.org
Recent News from the Weather Center
Weather Center Unveils New Exhibit
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
| Weather Center unveils new exhibit featuring one side for adults, another for children |
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| Written by Tom Chapin |
| Tuesday, 26 January 2010 |
Jim Sliver of Marketech installs the finishing touches on the Weather Wizard/Seasonal Smart Lab at the Punxsutawney Discovery Weather Center Monday. (Photo by Tom Chapin/The Punxsutawney Spirit)
PUNXSUTAWNEY — Who says the Punxsut -awney Weather Discovery Center is fun for only youngsters who seek hands-on displays and fun?
The newest exhibit at the center has one side for youngsters, and another side for adults who want to learn about the more complicated parts of weather, as well.
One side of the new exhibit — delivered and installed Monday by Jim Sliver of Marketechs of York — is called The Weather Wizard, which displays a map of the United States and color-coded descriptions of weather that is common in certain areas, such as cool temperatures in Montana and Minnesota, and warm temperatures in southern California and the southern states.
Children working with the exhibits must roll the proper color of three blocks so they match with the color of the corresponding region. There are also several question-and-answer doors that can be opened and closed.
On the other side is the Seasonal Smart Lab, geared toward older guests at the center.
On two different computer monitors, users may utilize controls to see what happens when they tilt the Earth’s axis, or experiment with changes in orbit; the hours of daylight; noon sun elevation or daily solar energy surface temperatures.
Using another program, users may create their own forecasts or weather conditions — favorable or not-so-favorable — for any part of the country.
The programs for the Smart Lab were created by Riverside Scientific. Ed Ferderbar, Principal/COO of Marketech, explained that before the exhibit was shipped to the Weather Discovery Center, it was test-driven by five children and grandchildren — including Sliver’s three grandchildren — to see how it works.
Accompanying the new users was meteorologist Dr. John Scala of WGAL in Lancaster, who answered questions and provided free services during the development of the fact and figures displayed in the piece.
“They tested it before it was shipped, which I thought was neat,” said Mary Jean Johnston, project administrator at the center.
The Weather Wizard and Seasonal Smart Lab is the 21st exhibit installed at the Weather Discovery Center since 2007. The first exhibits were the weather balloon in the lobby of the center, and Phil’s Burrow, which details the history and some media events of Groundhog Day. |
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