1. Weather and Climate.docx

Climate change # 1 Weather and Climate

Meteorologist

  • a scientist who studies the weather and forecast the weather for specific areas.

Weather

  • atmospheric conditions, in a particular location over short period of time.

(ex" a high of 25o, sunny, scattered clouds, probability of rain 30% ")

  • weather information has been collected and recorded daily since 1800s. Methods of collections weather data include: weather stations, weather balloons and satellites.

Climate

  • average seasonal weather patterns of a region over a long period of time (30 years or more)
  • the climate of a region gives you information about what you might expect at a certain

time of the year.

  • the climate of a region also determines the types of plants and animal that are in there.
  • Temperature: The degree or intensity of heat present in a substance or object Units: Celsius (oC)
  • Precipitation: Condensed water that falls to the ground. (e.g., snow, rain, sleet, drizzle, etc.) Units: millimetres (mm)
  • Clouds: Condensed water/ice too small to fall to the ground.
  • Humidity: The relative amount of water vapour in the air. Units: %
  • Wind: Movement of air over the Earth’s surface. Units: km/h
  • Atmospheric Pressure: A measure of the force per unit of area produced by the particles of gas in the atmosphere. Units: kilopascal (kPa)
  • Low Pressure: cloudy, rainy weather.
  • High Pressure: clear, sunny weather.

What Causes Weather?

1) Energy (heating) from the Sun

2) Interaction between water and air on Earth

Energy from the Sun :

  • heats Earth's atmosphere
  • creates winds

Interaction between water and air in Earth causes:

  • evaporation
  • condensation (clouds formation)
  • precipitation