Notes on WeatherA. Weather is the short term condition of the atmosphere over

a small area.B. Weather is described by its conditions, or variables that

change every day.1. temperature - indicates the amount of heat in the atmosphere and is measured with a

thermometer2. Air pressure- air has mass; it is the force that

presses down on eartha. Caused mainly by changes in

temperature and altitude.b. The force is measured with a

barometer in either inches of mercury or millibars

3. Humidity - the amount of water vapor in the air

a. Warm air absorbs more water vapor than cool air; so air temperature determines how much water vapor can be absorbed

b. Relative humidity - a comparison of the actual amount of water vapor in the air with the maximum amount the air could absorb at that temperature

1. psychrometer - instrument used to measure relative humidity; a wet and dry bulb

thermometer is one type

4. Wind - the horizontal movement of air over the Earth’s surface

a. Wind speed - a measure of how fast the air is moving, in miles or

kilometers per hour1. anemometer - instrument

used to measure wind speedb. Wind direction - the direction from

which the wind is coming 1. weather vane or wind sock - instrument used to determine

wind direction

5. Precipitation - water, in any form that falls from the atmospherea. Temperature determines the type of

precipitation producedb. Types:1. Rain - most common2. Sleet - rain that falls through a layer of

air below freezing; smaller than 5mm3. Hail - ice larger than 5mm; updrafts push

small ice pellets to higher parts of the cloud where a new layer of ice may form; when too heavy it falls

4. Snow - water vapor in a cloud that form ice crystals

c. Rain Gauge - instrument used to measure the amount of precipitation in inches

Notes on CloudsA. Clouds

1. Clouds are millions of tiny droplets of water or ice crystals2. Clouds form:

a. When condensation occursb. Temperature at which condensation occurs is the dew point.c. Water vapor condenses around small particles

such as dust (soil) salt, smoked. Water vapor that condenses on grass or on your

car is called dew.

3. Cloud Types- clouds are described by height and shapea. Height 1. Cirro – high clouds 2. Alto – middle clouds 3. Strato – low cloudsb. Shape 1. Cirrus – have a feathery look 2. Cumulus – means “heap” or “mass” 3. Stratus – means spread outc. Fog – clouds that form near the groundd. Nimbus – means rain

CLOUDS

Notes on WeatherA. ___________ is the short term condition of the atmosphere

over a small area.B. Weather is described by its conditions, or variables that

change every day.1. ______________ - indicates the amount of heat

in the atmosphere and is measured with a ______________

2. _____________ - air has mass; it is the force that presses down on earth

a. Caused mainly by changes in temperature and altitude.

b. The force is measured with a ________________ in either inches of _____________ or ________________

4. _________________ - the horizontal movement of air over the Earth’s surface

a. _______________ - a measure of how fast the air is moving, in miles or kilometers per hour

1. ________________ - instrument used to measure wind speed

b. ______________ - the direction from which the wind is coming

1. _______________ - instrument used to determine wind direction

3. ________________ - the amount of water vapor in the air

a. Warm air absorbs more water vapor than cool air; so air temperature determines how much water vapor can be absorbed

b. ________________- a comparison of the actual amount of water vapor in the air with the maximum amount the air could absorb at that temperature

1. ________________ - instrument used to measure relative humidity; a wet and dry bulb

thermometer is one type

5. ________________ - water, in any form that falls from the atmosphere

a. Temperature determines the type of precipitation produced

b. Types:1. ___________ - most common2. ___________ - rain that falls through a layer of

air below freezing; smaller than 5mm3. ___________ - ice larger than 5mm; updrafts

push small ice pellets to higher parts of the cloud where a new layer of ice may form; when too heavy it falls

4. ___________ - water vapor in a cloud that form ice crystals

c. ________________ - instrument used to measure the amount of precipitation in inches