Weather & Climate

Geography project April 2012

Matthew Ben Hamed 3.2

Observing & Recording the Weather

• Weather is the condition of the air around us over a short period of time ex. Rainy or cloudy.

• Meteorology is the study of the atmospheric conditions & air circulation.

A meteorologist is a person who studies the weather & works at the meteorological (met) office.

The met station is the place where they forecast the weather.

There are a number of instruments which help in the forecast of the weather.

Weather & Measurements

Description of weather 1. Temperature - how hot or

cold it is.2. Precipitation - how water

from the air falls to the ground.

3. Wind Speed – How strong the wind is blowing.

4. Wind Direction – From where the wind is blowing

Measurements used1. Thermometer (⁰C)

2. Rain Gauge (mm)

3. Beaufort Scale (force)

4. Wind Vane

Weather & Measurements(cont)

5. Cloud Cover - The amount of sky covered by clouds.

6. Cloud type - this is based on the shape, size & height of the cloud.

7. Visibility - the distance that can be seen.

8. General weather – Description in words of the weather.

5. Octa (Factors of eight)

6. Cumulonimbus, cumulus, stratus & cirrus

7. Meters

8.Sunny, rainy, cloudy, etc.

Weather Map

Features affecting Temperature & Wind

• Microclimate is the climate conditions of a small area which is different from the general surrounding.

• What causes Microclimate?Physical features - Forest, Hills, Lakes & SeasShelter - Walls, Trees, Hedges, BuildingsSurfaces - The color of the ground surface Buildings - Provide shade from sun & shelter from windAspect – The direction in which a place is facing

Hilltops are usually cool and windy

Water areas such as lakes have a cooling effect and my also produce light winds

Places facing the sun will be warmer than those in the shadow

How does it rain?

The water cycle (hydrological cycle) begins by Evaporation & Evapotranspiration (water changes from liquid to gas). As the moist air rises it cools & water droplets form. Then condensation occurs & cloud forms. As the water droplets grow larger they become too heavy & fall to the ground - precipitation which usually happens in the form of rain. Then the surface runoff goes back to sea.

Types of rainfall

• Frontal rainfall happens when a mass of warm air meets a mass of cooler air.

• Warm air is lighter then cooler air & is forced to rise.

Types of rainfall(cont)

• In Relief rainfall the warm moist air is forced to rise over mountains.

• When the air rises, it cools, condensate & rain falls.

Types of rainfall(cont)

• In Convectional rainfall the sun warms up the ground, which warms up the air above it.

• The warm air rises, it cools, condensates & rain falls.

Anticyclones

• Anticyclones are high pressure weather system, which usually gives good weather.

• The air sinks, clouds do not form and therefore no rain occurs.

• In summer, anticyclones bring hot and sunny weather, whilst in winter they bring clear skies, low temperatures with a risk of fog or frost.

Depressions

• Depressions are low pressure weather systems that produce cloudy and rainy weather.

• Depressions develop when warm air meets cold air and bring a sequence of weather changes as they pass overhead.

• Due to the rising of air caused by the movement of the fronts and interaction between the warm and cold air there are lots of clouds and precipitation.

Thank you for your time

The end