Ch. 14: Weather and Climate Vocabulary: weather, temperature, humidity, precipitation, climate, temperate climate

What is Weather? Weather is the way the air around you is at a certain time and place. Is the air wet or dry? Warm or cold? Windy or calm? Cloudy or clear? Is there precipitation falling? Is there a thunderstorm, tornado, or hurricane howling across the land? Weather changes every day, minute by minute.

Forms of Weather

Reporting the Weather Weather reports are broadcast by meteorologists. They include information, like temperature, humidity, and precipitation. Temperature is how hot or cold an area is. Humidity is how much water is in the air around you. Precipitation is water that falls from the sky in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

Measuring the Weather Temperature is measured by thermometers. Humidity is measured by a hydrometer. Precipitation is measured by a rain gauge.

What is Climate? Climate is the word used for the average weather in a place over a long period of time. Climate is different from weather. For example: –The climate of the Mojave desert is hot and dry. –The weather on any particular day in the Mojave desert may be raining, sunny, cloudy, cold, or any other form of weather. –Usually though the weather in the desert is hot and dry, therefore the climate of the desert is hot and dry.

The World’s Climate Zones There are three major climate zones on the planet. Polar zones are at the top and bottom of the world. Polar areas are cold and dry. Tropical zones are found near the equator. Tropical areas are hot and wet. Temperate climate zones are found in between the polar and tropical zones. They are usually not too hot or too cold. Tennessee is in a temperate climate zone.

The World’s Climate Zones

Questions About Chapter 14 1.How would you describe weather? 2.What climate zone is Tennessee in? 3.Describe the climate usually found in a desert. 4.Write down 3 different forms of weather. 5.What is the climate like in a tropical rainforest?