Have you ever tried to figure out when it might stop raining just by looking at the radar? That’s just one of the things you’ll learn in this Introduction to Meteorology course. 


This 90-minute course is for: 

  • Professionals in safety and operations roles where weather often plays a critical role
  • Earth Networks customers ready to get even more value out of their professional weather map, Sferic Maps
  • Students excited to learn forecasting and analyzing tips from our veteran weather scientists


Examples of things you'll learn


Identify today's potential weather problems

Lesson 1: How to Do a Weather Briefing

Figure out when it will stop raining at your location

Lesson 3 : Using Radar to Determine Precipitation End Times

Determine if nearby
lightning is a threat

Lesson 8: Determining Severe Weather Using Lightning and Cell Tracks

After you take this course, you will: 

  • Become a weather map expert and learn how to think like a meteorologist when looking at things like radar, satellite, and temperature rates
  • Identify several conditions like heat waves, cold fronts, severe storms, and more 
  • Plan for upcoming dangerous weather by estimating arrival times, accessing NWS alerts, and determining flood risk
  • Understand how to use real-time lightning data to estimate storm strength, direction, and speed

Meet a Few of the Instructors


Mark Hoekzema

Chief Meteorologist

Julie Gaddy

Senior Meteorologist, CCM


Chad Merrill

Senior Meteorologist

About Earth Networks


Earth Networks, part of the Advanced Environmental Monitoring family of innovators, has been Taking the Pulse of the Planet® for more than 20 years. We help organizations mitigate financial, operational and human risk by providing environmental intelligence from the world’s largest hyperlocal weather network. Schools, airports, sports teams, utilities and government agencies rely on our early warning solutions to safeguard lives, prepare for weather events and optimize operations. Companies across all industries use our weather data to automate decisions regarding risk management, business continuity and asset protection.