Weather
What do we know about weather?
How do people measure and predict the weather?
Meteorologist
• A scientist who studies the weather• What kind of tools do they use?
Thermometer
• Used to measure temperature• measures the kinetic energy of air
molecules• Fahrenheit & Celsius thermometers
Anemometer
• Measures wind speed• a system of gears converts the number of
turns per minute into wind speed
Hygrometer
• Measures humidity• the moisture in the air
Weather Vane
• Measures wind direction• changes in wind usually lead to change in
weather
Barometer
• Measures air pressure• high pressure = clear cool skies• low pressure = cloudy skies, moist air• extreme low pressure = stormy weather
Cloud Conditions
• Observing clouds can tell a lot about the weather
Cumulus
• White & puffy• fair weather
Cirrus
• High in the sky• white• thin & wispy• fair weather
Stratus
• Low in the sky• thick & gray• usually bring rain
Cumulonimbus
• Tower high into the sky• gray to black• Thunderstorms, hail, tornadoes• anvil shaped
How can rising air pressure lead to a prediction about weather?
Air Mass
• A large body of air that has the same temperature and humidity throughout
• take on the characteristics of the region over which they form
• 4 types in the the USA
Air Masses
– Categorized by moisture content and temperature– Moisture categories: m = maritime (wet) and c =
continental (dry)– Temperature categories: P (polar; cold), T
(Tropical; warm)
Continental Polar
• Cool dry weather
Continental Tropical
• Hot dry weather
Maritime polar
• Cool humid weather
Maritime Tropical
• Warm wet weather
Front
• Border where two air masses meet• most weather changes occur along a front• cold front = cold air mass moves under a
warm air mass creating cumulonimbus clouds
• warm front = a warm air mass moves over a cold air mass forming stratus clouds
What kind of air mass causes hot humid weather?
Climate
• The regular weather pattern for a region• precipitation & temperature determine
climate• seasonal patterns• all patterns are driven by the sun• proximity to the equator determines
temperature patterns
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• What is the cause of the seasons?• What are two major factors of climate?• What kind of climate would you find near
the equator?• What kind of climate would you find at the
poles?
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