CLIMATE AND WEATHER Is there a difference?

What determines climate? Amount of solar radiation (sunlight) Amount of rainfall.

CLIMATE Climate: The average weather conditions over a large geographic area over a long period of time. http://www.epa.gov/climatestudents/basics/past.html Global climate change graph

WEATHER Weather: Local or short-term conditions over a small geographic area.

Climate Conditions for Patchogue, LI Weather vs. Climate Climate = Average conditions of an area “WHAT YOU EXPECT!” Climate Conditions for Patchogue, LI http://www.city-data.com/city/Patchogue-New-York.html Weather = Condition of the atmosphere from day to day “WHAT YOU GET!”

Factors that Affect Heating (Temperature) Angle (Height in the sky) of the Sun Duration (Time) of the Sun June 21st Path: MORE HEAT Sun is out longer and is higher in the sky More direct angle Less direct angle Dec. 21st Path: LESS HEAT Sun is not out as long and is lower in the sky

The climate in these areas is warm in the The winters are very cold and the summers cool to cold. The climate in these areas is warm in the summer and cold in the winter. This area has hot climates all year long.

DO NOW How does the angle of the suns rays affect the temperature of the earth? The smaller the angle the less heat Which angle provides the most solar radiation? 90 degrees What are the three climate zones called? Polar, temperate, tropical

Climate zones based on Rainfall Water Budget: The amount of water entering, being stored and leaving a region. Water entering (P) Water leaving (Ep) The ratio of P/Ep describes the water budget

Zones based on Water Budget Arid: Very dry. P/Ep ratio is less than 0.4 Semiarid: “Kind of” dry. P/Ep 0.4-0.8 Subhumid: “below” humid. P/Ep 0.8-1.2 Humid: Wet. P/Ep over 1.2

How would you describe the climate at each of the following? 1. Desert: Tropical Arid 2. Rainforest: Tropical Humid Long Island Temperate subhumid Antartica: Polar Arid

Temperature and Moisture Affects on Moisture: Temperature Warmer = Hold More Water Air Molecules are Farther Apart Same Amount of Water HIGHER RELATIVE HUMIDITY LOWER RELATIVE HUMIDITY Smaller Space Larger Space

Weather includes: Temperature Rainfall (precipitation) Wind Cloud cover

What causes weather? The uneven heating of the Earth’s surface. This creates density differences in the air creating Convection currents.

Meteorologists https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F1AhnWAhHc

DO NOW Weather is caused by the ______________ heating of the earth’s surface. Changes in __________ cause hot air to rise/fall and cold air to rise/fall. What factors include weather? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCO90hvEL1I

Moist air rises at the Earth’s equator It cools as it rises, cool air holds less Moisture so it dumps moisture on the Equator. The cool air divides north and south It falls at the tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer. As this air drops it warms and is able to Hold more moisture therefore it does not rain and these areas are very dry.

How does the earth’s rotation affect wind? Objects moving away from the equator curve eastward; objects moving towards the equator curve westward. Moving away from the equator, the land underneath rotates more slowly, and vice-versa.

Coriolis Effect Wind is deflected by the rotation of the earth. (The earth rotates from west to east.) Northern Hemisphere: to the right Southern Hemisphere: to the left The earth rotates faster at the equator than at the poles.

DO NOW How does the angle affect the concentration of light? Smaller angle, less concentrated. What affect do you think a smaller angle will have on temperature? Smaller angle, cooler

Explain why latitudes further from the equator have cooler climates. Exit Pass Explain why latitudes further from the equator have cooler climates. **Include the energy and angle of the Sun in your answer. 29

1. Temperature = = Heat moves from where it’s HOT to where it’s NOT! Measure of the average kinetic energy of molecules or a substance More Kinetic Energy = Faster Molecular Movement Less Kinetic Energy Slower Molecular Movement = Heat moves from where it’s HOT to where it’s NOT!

Absorption and Reflection of Heat White and Smooth = Dark and Rough = REFLECTS ABSORBS Dark/Rough Roof Light/Smooth Roof

WATER HAS A HIGHER SPECIFIC HEAT! Specific Heats Specific Heats Land vs. Water Land heats/cools quicker Water heats/cools slower LAND WATER REMEMBER: WATER HAS A HIGHER SPECIFIC HEAT!

Sea Breeze and Land Breeze Less Dense More Dense Less Dense More Dense What are sea and land breezes caused by? Density Differences caused by different Specific Heats!

What factors affect temperature? Time of year, how high the sun is. Sun is higher in summer, lower in winter Water takes longer to heat and cool. Water has a higher specific heat. Altitude decreases temperature.

Weather forecasting Meteorologists use weather stations located around the world to study weather. Weather satellites orbit the earth collecting data that is sent to the stations.

Weather Maps Weather maps are created using all the data collected. They show: temperature wind speed barometric pressure humidity What is humidity?

Humidity How much moisture is in the air. High humidity is very damp, moist air. Low humidity is very dry air.

Barometric Pressure The force exerted on a surface by the weight of the air above. A barometer is used to measure air pressure.

Pressure Weight of the atmosphere Affects on Pressure: Most Pressure = Troposphere Affects on Pressure: Altitude Temperature Moisture

What does a barometer tell us? Warm, moist air is less dense than cool, dry air, therefore: Will warm air exert more or less pressure than cool air?

Less Pressure! So, a low pressure system will have warm, moist air. A high pressure system will have cool, dry air.

FALLING BAROMETER = RAINY WEATHER More Altitude = Less Pressure Greater Temperature = Less Pressure More Moisture = Less Pressure LOW PRESSURES: Warmer More Moisture Couterclockwise and Inward L FALLING BAROMETER = RAINY WEATHER

RISING BAROMETER = FAIR WEATHER Less Altitude = More Pressure Lower Temperature = More Pressure Less Moisture = More Pressure HIGH PRESSURES: Cooler Less Moisture Clockwise and Outward H RISING BAROMETER = FAIR WEATHER

High vs. Low Pressures LOW PRESSURE: HIGH PRESSURE: AIR RISES forming clouds (condensation) and precipitation HIGH PRESSURE: AIR SINKS causing drier, calmer weather = LESS Pushing Down = MORE Pushing Down

Altitude and Pressure Sea Level = 100 ; Tropopause = 10-1 Pressure Decreases as Altitude Increases Sea Level = 100 ; Tropopause = 10-1

Isolines Isoline: Connects points of equal value Isotherm: Connects points of equal temperature Isobar: Connects points of equal pressure

Predicting Weather Studying a series of weather maps show patterns in the weather. This is how predictions are made. (which are only sometimes correct!) Computer models have made weather prediction easier and more accurate.

Air Masses Meteorologists study the motion of air masses to help forecast the weather. Air Mass: A large area of air with similar characteristics. What might an air mass over the ocean be like?

Moist While an air mass over a desert will be dry. Maritime: An air mass over the water. Continental: An air mass over land.

An air mass in the north will have cold air and an air mass in the south will have warm air. Arctic: Cold air mass Tropical: Warm air mass Polar: Not as far north as arctic

FALLING BAROMETER = RAINY WEATHER More Altitude = Less Pressure Greater Temperature = Less Pressure More Moisture = Less Pressure LOW PRESSURES: Warmer More Moisture Couterclockwise and Inward L FALLING BAROMETER = RAINY WEATHER

RISING BAROMETER = FAIR WEATHER Less Altitude = More Pressure Lower Temperature = More Pressure Less Moisture = More Pressure HIGH PRESSURES: Cooler Less Moisture Clockwise and Outward H RISING BAROMETER = FAIR WEATHER

DO NOW What is an air mass? A large area of air with similar characteristics. Describe the following air masses mT cT mP cP

Weather Front Where two air masses meet. Often associated with weather changes with precipitation.

Cold Front Forms when a cold air mass meets a warm air mass. Since the cold air mass is more dense than the warm mass, it pushes the warmer air up. The moisture in the warm air condenses forming clouds and often thunderstorms.

Warm Front Occurs when warm air catches up with cold air. The less dense warm air glides over the cold air. This happens slower and may be associated with light rain if there is enough moisture.

Occluded Front When a cold front quickly takes over a warm front lifting it quickly. This causes a large amount of precipitation.

Stationary Front A cold front and a warm front meet, but move very slowly. This can last for a long time until another air mass moves it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7Ewqm0YHUI

Atmosphere Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5ViCNJAkHg