Welcome! Welcome! Jr. Meteorologist!Jr. Meteorologist!

Why do we need to study weather?Why do we need to study weather?

How would you like to attend an outdoor picnic in How would you like to attend an outdoor picnic in the rain? the rain?

Do you like to know when a severe storm is coming? Do you like to know when a severe storm is coming?

We get this information from television, radio, We get this information from television, radio, newspapers, and weather radios. newspapers, and weather radios.

We receive this information from trained individuals We receive this information from trained individuals called meteorologists.called meteorologists.

A meteorologists is a scientist who studies the A meteorologists is a scientist who studies the atmosphere and its changes in order to predict daily atmosphere and its changes in order to predict daily

weather. weather.

Weather or Not Become a Jr. Meteorologist!

You will research air, atmosphere, climate and weather patterns. As, you explore (read) take down the key information (see underlined words) on your organizer then be ready to be a Jr. meteorologist!

Weather and ClimateWeather and Climate

What is the weather like today?What is the weather like today?

Is it like this EVERY day? Why? Or why not?

Prediction: What is the difference between WEATHER and CLIMATE?

The Layers of the The Layers of the AtmosphereAtmosphere The layers of the atmosphere are

defined by changes in temperature. For example, -sphere means “ball,”

which suggests that each layer of the atmosphere surrounds the Earth like a hollow ball. Tropo- means “turning” or “change,” and the troposphere is the layer where gases turn and mix. Strato- means “layer,” and the stratosphere is the sphere where gases are layered and do not mix very much. Meso- means “middle,” and the mesosphere is the middle layer. Finally, thermo- means “heat,” and the thermosphere is the sphere where temperatures are highest.

Layer by LayerLayer by LayerThe The tropospheretroposphere is is

the first layer above the first layer above the surface and the surface and contains half of the contains half of the Earth's Earth's atmosphere.atmosphere. WeatherWeather occurs in occurs in this layer. this layer.

The AtmosphereThe Atmosphere

BIG IDEABIG IDEA: : Earth’s Earth’s atmosphereatmosphere is a mixture is a mixture of of gasesgases that distributes that distributes heat and enables life to heat and enables life to

exist on Earth. exist on Earth.

What makes up DRY air in the What makes up DRY air in the atmosphere?atmosphere?

– 78% 78% nitrogennitrogen---used to make protein-used to make protein

– 21% 21% oxygenoxygen (from photosynthesis)—(from photosynthesis)—processes that use oxygen: processes that use oxygen: cellular respiration (plants and animals)cellular respiration (plants and animals) oxidation (like rust, tarnish)oxidation (like rust, tarnish) combustion*combustion*

----1% 1% other gasesother gases (argon, (argon,

carbon dioxide, other)carbon dioxide, other)

What makes up air (atmosphere)?What makes up air (atmosphere)?

WeatherWeather

Weather is constantly Weather is constantly changing, and it refers to changing, and it refers to the state of the the state of the atmosphereatmosphere at a given at a given time and placetime and place

In other words…In other words…

In other In other words…what it’s words…what it’s like OUTSIDE, right like OUTSIDE, right HERE, right NOWHERE, right NOW

MeasureableMeasureableproperties of weather properties of weather

air temperatureair temperaturehumidityhumidity type and amount of type and amount of

precipitationprecipitationair pressureair pressurespeed and direction of windspeed and direction of wind

Climate – Climate – The long-term The long-term environmental conditions across environmental conditions across

a large area and long time.a large area and long time.

Climate, however, is based on the Climate, however, is based on the average, year-after-year average, year-after-year

conditionsconditions of temperature, of temperature, precipitation, winds, and clouds in precipitation, winds, and clouds in an area.an area.

Climate helps describe Climate helps describe a place or regiona place or region

Reading Check:Reading Check:

What is the difference between

WEATHER and CLIMATE?

What affects weather and climate?What affects weather and climate?

There There are two major factors that affect the are two major factors that affect the overall environment and overall environment and climateclimate……

-The tilt of the Earth in relation to it’s orbit around the Sun

- The direction of that tilt that changes as the Earth travels around the Sun

First, some basic vocabulary…First, some basic vocabulary…

RevolutionRevolution – – one ORBITone ORBIT, or trip around the , or trip around the Sun. This takes the Earth Sun. This takes the Earth 365 ¼ days365 ¼ days

Rotation – one SPIN of the Earth on it’s axis. This takes about 24 hours…one DAY.

Earth’s Earth’s TILTTILT

The Earth is not vertical (straight up-and-The Earth is not vertical (straight up-and-down) in relation to it’s orbital path, it’s down) in relation to it’s orbital path, it’s tiltedtilted

23 ½ degrees from vertical23 ½ degrees from vertical..

This tilt means that the Sun’s energy doesn’t hit the Earth equally.

Earth’s Earth’s TILTTILT

This This tilt results in uneven heating of the tilt results in uneven heating of the Earth’s surfaceEarth’s surface..

“Direct” sunlight

“Indirect” sunlight

Distributing the Sun’s Heat - Distributing the Sun’s Heat - WINDWIND RULE #2 OF NATURE – Nature seeks

balance (equilibrium)

Create Wind is the movement

of air from High pressure to Low pressure

HOT air

RISES

COLD air

SINKS

Precipitation – Nature’s ThermostatPrecipitation – Nature’s Thermostat There are There are 3 basic causes for rain3 basic causes for rain. They are:. They are:

– Convection – due toConvection – due to evaporation evaporation and and coolingcoolingSun’s energy causes surface water to Sun’s energy causes surface water to

evaporate and become humidity evaporate and become humidityAs the day cools off, the air cools and As the day cools off, the air cools and

condenses, causing storms and rain condenses, causing storms and rainUsually in tropical environmentsUsually in tropical environments

PrecipitationPrecipitation–Frontal Frontal – due to changes in temperature– due to changes in temperature

Starts with warm, moist air at the Starts with warm, moist air at the surface and abovesurface and above

As a cold front approaches, it stays As a cold front approaches, it stays low, forcing the moist air aloft low, forcing the moist air aloft

This cools and condenses the air, This cools and condenses the air, creating rain on the “leading creating rain on the “leading edge” of the frontedge” of the front

Usually in mid-latitudes where warm Usually in mid-latitudes where warm and cold air systems collideand cold air systems collide

Precipitation cont. Precipitation cont. Orographic – due to changes in elevationOrographic – due to changes in elevation

– Moist air travels over land and approaches a steep rise in Moist air travels over land and approaches a steep rise in elevationelevation

– As the air is forced up the side of the rise, the air cools, As the air is forced up the side of the rise, the air cools,

causing causing precip. on the “windward” side of the precip. on the “windward” side of the mountainmountain

– As the (now dry) air continues over and down the As the (now dry) air continues over and down the

“leeward” side of the mountain“leeward” side of the mountain,, it warms up and it warms up and absorbs any available absorbs any available moisture, creating a moisture, creating a

“rain “rain shadow desert”shadow desert”– Found in areas of Found in areas of

mountains or other mountains or other rapid elevation change rapid elevation change

LatitudeLatitude Due to the Earth’s tilt, the amount of sun Due to the Earth’s tilt, the amount of sun

energy changes over the earth’s surface…energy changes over the earth’s surface…

Tropical (Low Latitude) zone – year-round direct sunlight, always hot

Temperate (Mid-Latitude) zone – seasonal, most varied climates

Polar (High Latitude) zone – either mild temps. or extreme cold

RULE: The HIGHER the latitude, the COLDER the temps.

Altitude (Elevation)Altitude (Elevation) Higher elevation = Higher elevation = thinner less thinner less

air, therefore less air to hold heat makes it colder.

RULE – The HIGHER the elevation, the COLDER the temperatures.

Nearness to WaterNearness to Water Land heats up and cools down QUICKLY.Land heats up and cools down QUICKLY. Water heats up and cools down SLOWLY.Water heats up and cools down SLOWLY.

Therefore, water acts like a blanket… Therefore, water acts like a blanket… holdingholding heatheat and and releasingreleasing it it slowlyslowly..

This results in This results in smallersmaller daily and seasonal daily and seasonal temperature changes near large bodies of water.temperature changes near large bodies of water.

““CoastalCoastal” areas are ” areas are humidhumid, “continental” areas , “continental” areas are dryare dry

30 degree change in Houston

45 degree change in Denver

Direction of CurrentsDirection of Currents Global wind and ocean currents Global wind and ocean currents transfertransfer heat heat

and moisture around the world, and moisture around the world, andand help carry help carry moisturemoisture from the from the oceansoceans to the land to the land– Warm water moving Warm water moving towardtoward the land brings moisture the land brings moisture

(H(H22O)O)

– Warm water moving Warm water moving parallelparallel to the coast brings to the coast brings heat, no Hheat, no H22OO

– Cool water brings cool, dry air -> mild or desert Cool water brings cool, dry air -> mild or desert climatesclimates

Reading checkReading check

How do humans impact the

atmosphere and how does this affect our

lives?

Climate ZonesClimate Zones Climate zones are divided into regions: The Climate zones are divided into regions: The

three climate zones of the world are the tropical three climate zones of the world are the tropical zone, the temperate zone, and the polar zone. zone, the temperate zone, and the polar zone.

There are There are twotwo key characteristics differences: key characteristics differences:– Amount of moisture (rain), andAmount of moisture (rain), and– Typical temperature range through the yearTypical temperature range through the year

These two characteristics are affected by These two characteristics are affected by balancing the effects of four factors:balancing the effects of four factors: LLatitude atitude AAltitude ltitude NNearness to waterearness to water DDirection of atmosphere and ocean currentsirection of atmosphere and ocean currents

How it Works...How it Works...Tropical Wet ClimateTropical Wet Climate

Latitude – in the tropics HOT

Altitude – low land doesn’t stop air flow until mtns. in the west

Nearness – flat land “acts coastal”, allows moisture inland

Direction – air flow

brings in warm, moist air

from the ocean which then hits the mountain and rains

The Tropical ZoneFigure 1 Biomes of the Tropical Zone

Temperate and Polar Zones

The Polar Zone

Reading checkReading check

Why are there different climates on the earth? Explain

with details.

Are you ready to be a Are you ready to be a Jr. Meteorologist!Jr. Meteorologist!

Meteorology is the study of weather Meteorology is the study of weather and the forces and processes that and the forces and processes that cause it. cause it.

Why do we need to study Why do we need to study weather? weather?

Now its’ your big chance. Share what Now its’ your big chance. Share what you have discovered with the class you have discovered with the class

Student led closingStudent led closingThe The arrows arrows in the cross section below show in the cross section below show windswinds moving across moving across

northern New York State into Vermont during the summer.northern New York State into Vermont during the summer. Compared to the Compared to the climate of location Aclimate of location A, the , the climate of location B is… Why?climate of location B is… Why?

a. warmer and wettera. warmer and wetter c. cooler and drier c. cooler and drier

b. cooler and wetterb. cooler and wetter d. warmer and drier d. warmer and drier

The map shows an imaginary continent on Earth. Arrows represent wind The map shows an imaginary continent on Earth. Arrows represent wind direction. Letters A through D represent locations on the continent. direction. Letters A through D represent locations on the continent.

Locations A and B are at Locations A and B are at the same the same latitude and at the same elevation at latitude and at the same elevation at the base of the mountains.the base of the mountains.

The climate at The climate at location C location C is much drier than at is much drier than at location Dlocation D. . This This differencedifference is is best explained by the fact that best explained by the fact that location Clocation C is located….is located….

a. at a latitude that experiences longer average annual daylight a. at a latitude that experiences longer average annual daylight

b. at a latitude where air is sinking and surface winds diverge b. at a latitude where air is sinking and surface winds diverge

c. farther from any mountain range c. farther from any mountain range

d. closer to a large body of water d. closer to a large body of water