How are they similar, how are they different? Weather and Climate How are they similar, how are they different?

What do you think? For each example given, go to the “weather” or “climate” side of the classroom

Weather or Climate? Everybody agreed that the day was just right for a picnic and swim. What a bright, sunny morning! The sun was beating down on the desert landscape Antarctica has been freezing cold, even in summer time, for tens of thousands of years The cold front came from the west. England has cooler summers and wetter, warmer winters.

Weather The condition in the atmosphere at a given place and time. What atmosphere layer has the majority of weather?

What does weather cover? Air Temperature Wind Humidity (amount of moisture in the air) Clouds Precipitation

Air Temperature Can cause water to vaporize when warm and to condense when cold (evaporation and precipitation) Affects changes in air pressure and density, winds, currents

Air Temperature and Evaporation Warmer air can hold water because the air molecules move around faster and don’t stick together to form water molecules (vaporize) Imagine you are on fire Would you walk or run? If you are running full speed, how many people could you hug? Lots or only a few? Could you create a raindrop?

Air temperature and precipitation Colder air can’t hold water because the air molecules move around slowly and have more time to stick together to form water molecules (condense) Imagine you are almost frozen. Would you walk or run? If you are walking slowly, how many people could you hug? Lots or only a few? Could you create a rain drop?

Air Temperature and pressure/density Warmer air molecules move around faster and have more speed and force to push other molecules around …more PRESSURE… MORE air pressure = more density (more collisions restricts individual movement) Bumper cars More collisions=less movement and higher “density” or crowding

Air Temperature and pressure/density Colder air molecules move around slower and have less speed and force to push other molecules around …less PRESSURE… LESS air pressure = less density (fewer collisions means less crowding) Bumper cars Fewer collisions=more movement and less “density” or crowding

Climate The average weather conditions of an area over a long period of time, in terms of temperature and precipitation.

Factors of Climate Latitude Elevation Water Mountains

Latitude: distance north or south of equator Tropics Zone: 23.5N to 23.5S Very Hot, humid, lots of rain Temperate Zone: 23.5N-66.5N, 23.5S-66.5S Warm summer, cold winter Polar Zone: North and South of 66.5 Very Cold, dry

Climate types Tropical: hot wet or wet and dry (Costa Rica Rainforest) Dry: dry, desert like (Sahara Desert in Africa) Polar: freezing cold, near poles (Antarctica) Mild: moderate temperatures, usually along coastlines (Mediterranean) Continental: large temperature differences between summer and winter (Wisconsin)

Climate Biomes

Elevation and water The height above sea level affects climate Air higher up has less molecules, there are less molecules to absorb heat from Earth’s surface = colder climates Water takes longer than land to heat up and cool down so heat is stored better Land heats faster than water but also cools faster than water Currents contribute to the weather (temperature) on land

Mountains Mountains affect rain patterns Warm moist air bumps into mountain and rises Air cools down and water condenses to create rain on side of mountain Air is left dry on other side of mountain and creates a dry climate “rain shadow”

Climate Weather -Measured over short amount of time -Day to Day state of atmosphere -Reported as daily forecast -Looks at day or week Climate -Measured over long period -State of atmosphere over 30 years of collected data -Reported as yearly averages -looks at charts of data over 30 years Both measure Temperature Precipitation Winds

Weather or Climate? Everybody agreed that the day was just right for a picnic and swim. What a bright, sunny morning! The sun was beating down on the desert landscape Antarctica has been freezing cold, even in summer time, for tens of thousands of years The cold front came from the west. England has cooler summers and wetter, warmer winters.

Weather or Climate? W C