Weather and Climate

Weather and Climate

1. Weather: condition of the atmosphere, changes day to day

2. Climate: Average weather conditions over longer periods in a particular area

3. Meteorology: study of weather and climate

4. Meteorologist: studies weather/climate

5. What do we measure?

   • Wind speed and direction
     • Wind blowing FROM! compass/wind vane
     • Wind direction: measure anemometer
       • Strength of wind measured on Beaufort Scale
         • Beaufort number 0: calm/ Beaufort Number 12: hurricane
   • Humidity:water/moisture in air
     • units are measured in percentages
     • measured with hygrometer
     • uses wet and dry bulb thermometer
   • Sunshine
     • measured with pyranometer
   • Precipitation(rain, hail, snow)
     • Rain Gauge/Automatic tipping bucket gauge
       • Funnel with graduated container/measure mm of rainfall
   • Temperature
     • Measured by thermometer (should have air circulating around it and away from direct sunlight)
       • Stevenson Screen:wooden box with slatted sides/legs to keep off ground/sloping roof/painted white to reflect sunlight
   • Air pressure
     • measured by Barometer measured in millibars (higher number means higher air pressure)
     • air is light but because so much above us, it exerts a pressure
     • Anticyclone: high pressure, air falls --> no clouds/clear sky (In summer: clear sky/settled fine weather, Winter:clear sky/cold temp)
     • Depression: low pressure area/, air rises ---> rain/unsettled weather
   • Cloud cover and visibility
     • measured using units called Oktas (1 okta = 1/8 sky covered by clouds)

6. Synoptic chart: summarises weather symbols at that time, using weather stations, satelites, planes, balloons

7. Cloud types: according to height and shape

   • circulonimbus
   • stratus: look layered
   • nimbus: bring rain
   • cumulus

8. UK Climate

   • 4 seasons
   • Mild climate (as in temperate climate zone)
   • different temperature/rainfall in different parts of UK
   • South: warm Summer/ North: cool Summer
   • West: mild Winter/ East: cold Winters
   • West:wetter/ East: drier
   • why does it rain more in the west?
     • winds from atlantic ocean bringing moist air
     • lots of highland areas in the west

9. What affects temp in UK?

   • Altitude
     • Temperature decreases with altitude (as you go higher) as air higher up is less dense. (1 degree drop in temp as you go up 100m altitude)
   • Latitude
     • further North --> less sun (high on Equator) therfefore cooler temp as you up North
   • Ocean currents
     • depends on whether the ocean current is a warm or cold one
   • Distance from sea
     • affects temperature of areas on coast. keeps area cooler in summer and warmer in winter (why: because sea takes longer to warm up and cool down than land area)
   • Prevailing winds

10. Types of Rainfall

    • Convectional Rainfall
    • Relief Rainfall
    • Frontal Rainfall

11. Weather hazards: extreme weather event

    • tornado
    • fog
    • storms/floods
    • droughts
    • tropical storm
    • Effects
      • Deaths/injuries to humans/animals
      • poer cuts
      • damage to buildings
      • homeless
      • land damage eg farm land
      • damage to environment
      • affects economy
      • affects tourism

12. Why does it rain?

13. Isotherm

    • a line of equal temperature