1. Weather & Climate
Intro to Weather Clip

2. Weather by Brainpop 1) What cycle is the basis of our weather?
2) What causes precipitation to occur?
3) Where do storms usually occur?

3. Weather
Temporary behavior of atmosphere (what’s going on at any certain time)
Small geographic area
Can change rapidly

4. Weather --The study of weather is meteorology
--Someone who studies weather is called a meteorologist

5. Climate Long-term behavior of atmosphere (100+ years)
Large geographic area
Very slow to change

6. POLAR
90o -60o latitude
Cool summers, cold year-round
Dry

7. TEMPERATE 60o-30o latitude True Seasons Variety of climate patterns
Moderate precipitation (rain/snow)

8. TROPICAL 30o - equator No winter, warm year-round
High temp, rainfall, humidity

9. What Factors Affect Weather & Climate?
The Sun
The Water Cycle
The Atmosphere
The Ocean

10. How Does the Sun Affect Weather?
It warms the atmosphere & oceans
It creates climate zones
It keeps the water cycle going
It affects weather patterns

11. How does the atmosphere affect weather?
The atmosphere is a mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth
Has five different layers; each has different properties
We’ll label them in just a minute…
Air Temperature and Pressure change with altitude
Weather occurs in the layer closest to Earth (troposphere)

12. Write in the labels! Exosphere Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere
Ozone layer
Stratosphere
Troposphere

16. = body of air with a certain temperature and moisture level
Air Masses
= body of air with a certain temperature and moisture level
Can be warm or cold
Can contain a lot of moisture or not a lot of moisture

17. Fronts = places where air masses meet
4 Types: Warm, Cold, Occluded, Stationary
Each kind can bring different kinds of weather

18. Occluded Front:
Stationary Front:

20. Science Saurus 221/222 & Reading a Weather Map Worksheet

21. How does Air Pressure affect weather?
How much the earth’s atmosphere is pressing down on us
Measured with a BAROMETER
If it CHANGES, then new weather is on the way:
Falling Air Pressure = stormy weather coming
Rising Air Pressure = fair weather coming
Steady Air Pressure = no change is coming

22. Rainbows Caused by sunshine on raindrops
White light (all colors) is refracted (bent) into colors as it enters and exits the drop
To see a rainbow you must have the sun behind you and raindrops in the air
Diagram:

23. Rainbow by Brainpop

24. How does the Ocean affect weather?
Ocean currents affect the temperature of the land they pass by
Cold ocean currents = cooling effect
Warm ocean currents = warming effect
Temperature changes affect pressure – which then creates WINDS
Winds blow this cooling or warming effect over the land

25. Science Saurus Sections 203-204-205-206

26. Types of Storms

27. Thunderstorms Requires a mature cumulonimbus cloud
Signs
Sudden reversal of wind direction
Noticeable increase in wind speed
Sudden drop in temperature

28. Thunderstorms Possible weather: a. heavy rains (flash floods)
b. lightning (forest fires)
c. thunder (frightens animals)
d. hail (crop damage)
e. tornadoes
f. strong, gusty winds
Thunderstorm by Brainpop

29. Safety Rules Stay indoors Prepare for lightning, strong winds
Listen on radio/TV for tornado watch/warning
Thunderstorms don’t last long

30. Lightning Storm
Cumulonimbus cloud becomes electrically charged and ground below has opposite charge

32. Thunder is the shock wave caused by the explosive expansion of heated air
Sound about 1100 ft/sec in air
5,280 ft in one mile
Distance from you to lightning = number of seconds between seeing the flash and hearing the thunder divided by 5.
(5,280 ft / 1100 ft/sec = 5 seconds)

33. Types of Lightning Streak or bolt Single or branched lines of light
Common in Puget Sound area

34. Sheet a. shapeless flash over wide area
b. is cloud-to-cloud bolt hidden by the clouds
c. common in Puget Sound area

35. Other types of lightning
a. heat, ribbon, beaded (types of bolt)
b. ball (only other shape lightning can have)

36. Stories of people hit by lightning
Lightning Strikes
(17 minutes)
Stories of people hit by lightning

37. Tornado (a.k.a twister, cyclone)
Counterclockwise column of rotating air extending from cumulonimbus cloud
Per square foot, is the most destructive atmospheric event
Rated by wind speed (F1 to F5)
“Tornado season” = April, May, June
Tornadoes that form over water are called “waterspouts”

38. Behavior of a tornado is unpredictable Typical tornado will:
1. Occur between 3-7 pm
2. Travel 4 miles
3. Be m wide
4. Travel mi/hour
5. Have wind speeds up to 300 mi/hr
6. Produce extremely low pressure
7. Be dark due to debris picked up
Tornado by Brainpop

39. Lie flat in nearest ditch, etc. At home a. open windows, doors
b. seek shelter in basement or under heavy table in middle of house
On the trail of a tornado

40. Tropical Cyclone Nicknames 1. Atlantic: hurricane
2. SE Asia, Japan: typhoon
3. Australia: willy-willy
4. Indian Ocean: cyclone

41. Tropical Cyclone Rated by wind speed (category 1 to 5)
Starts and grows over warm ocean water
Composed of bands of thunderstorms spiraling counterclockwise around a low pressure center

42. Characteristics Several hundred miles wide Last many days (even weeks)
Winds from mi/hr
Contains an “eye”
Small region of low pressure
Surrounded by highest winds
Calm, peaceful, sunny weather
Last for about 1 hour as hurricane passes by
Hurricances by Brainpop