Meteoroloxía: Tempo e Clima

Weather vs. Climate

• Weather: The state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place. It can change quickly.
• Climate: A pattern of weather over a long period in a large region.

Climate Elements

• Wind: Air in motion, driven by the sun's heat. (Creates thermal gradients and transports energy)
• Humidity: Amount of water vapor in the air, related to temperature. (Higher temperatures hold more moisture). Evaporated water forms water vapor.
• Precipitation: Water falling from the atmosphere (rain, snow, hail). Factors impacting distribution include latitude, altitude, and continentality.
• Temperature: Measure of air's warmth. (Related to latitude, altitude, and continentality.) Equator has higher temperatures than polar regions.
• Atmospheric Pressure: Force exerted by the air. (Altitude and temperature affect the pressure).

Wind

• Wind Direction: Measured with a wind vane (N, S, E, W).
• Wind Speed: Measured with an anemometer (km/h).
• Wind Origin: Sun's heat warming the Earth unevenly.
• Wind Circulation: Transports heat from warmer to cooler areas.

Humidity

• Humidity: Amount of water vapor in the air. Warm air holds more moisture than cold air.
• Measurement: Measured by a hygrometer.
• Condensation: When warm, moist air cools, it releases water vapor, forming clouds or precipitation.

Precipitation

• Precipitation: Water falling from the atmosphere (rain, snow, hail).
• Distribution: Uneven due to latitude, altitude, and continentality.
• Measurement: Rainfall measured by a rain gauge (L/m²).

Temperature

• Latitude: The equator receives more direct sunlight and has higher temperatures.
• Altitude: Temperature generally decreases with increasing altitude.
• Continental Effect: Land areas experience greater temperature variations than water bodies.
• Measurements: Taken using thermometers (°C).

Atmospheric Pressure

• Pressure: Weight of air pressing down on the Earth's surface.
• High Pressure: Associated with stable weather.
• Low Pressure: Associated with stormy weather.
• Measurement: Measured by a barometer (hPa, millibars).
• Factors: Altitude, temperature, and humidity affect pressure.

Climate Zones

• Tropical Zones: High temperatures, little seasonality. Located near the equator.
• Temperate Zones: Moderate temperatures, four seasons. Between tropical and polar regions.
• Polar Zones: Low temperatures, minimal seasonality. Located near the poles.

Climate Types

• Categorized based on temperature and precipitation patterns.
• Examples: Tropical, Temperate, Polar, are further subdivided and specified.