Understanding Weather Conditions

• Weather describes the sky's appearance and outside conditions, involving factors like sunshine, clouds, temperature, precipitation, and wind.
• Weather is dynamic, changing from day to day due to the sun, air, and water vapor.
• Weather forecasts are essential because of its constant variability.

Precipitation

• Different forms of water, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, falling from the sky.

Temperature

• Indicates how hot or cold it is, measured using thermometers.
• It is the average kinetic energy of a substance.

Sunlight

• Includes the light and warmth from the sun, influencing temperature.

Humidity

• Measures the amount of water in the air: high humidity feels wet, while low humidity feels dry.

Cloud Cover

• Refers to the extent the sky is covered by clouds.
• Clouds form when water vapor condenses on particles like dust or pollen.

Wind

• Represents a large mass of moving air.

• Climate is long-term weather patterns, detailing average temperature, precipitation, humidity, and wind conditions of a region over many years.

• Climate is gauged using long-term data collected via instruments.

• Climate helps predict long-term weather conditions.

• Weather is measured across a small area, climate is measured across a large area.

Weather vs. Climate

• Weather describes short-term atmospheric conditions, while climate describes long-term patterns.

Geographical Location

• A location's proximity to the equator affects temperature, with equatorial regions being warmer and polar regions being colder.

Landforms

• Landforms like mountains and plains influence climate, mountains can induce colder, wetter conditions, while plains can result in hotter conditions.

Altitude

• Higher altitudes typically experience cooler temperatures due to less atmospheric insulation.

Proximity to Bodies of Water

• Closeness to water bodies can moderate temperatures, leading to milder climates with stable and consistent temperatures.

• Geographic location, landforms, altitude, and proximity to water bodies combine to determine a region's climate.

Tropical Zone

• Consistently warm and located near the equator.
• Features rainforests, high rainfall and dense vegetation, and savannas, tall grasses with scattered trees.

Dry Zone

• Receives minimal rainfall, includes deserts (sand and rocks) and semi-dry regions (sparse vegetation).

Temperate Zone

• Experiencing four distinct seasons: winter, spring, summer, and fall.
• Has moderate temperatures, experiences changing foliage in autumn, and occasional winter snowfall.

Polar Zones

• Characterized by extreme cold, with substantial ice and snow cover.
• Home to penguins and polar bears.

Polar Marine Zone

• Cold regions located near oceans.
• Experience slightly warmer temperatures due to the ocean's influence.

Continental Zone

• Features hot summers and cold winters.
• Exhibits substantial temperature variations between seasons.
• Located far from large bodies of water.

Highland Zone

• Temperatures decrease with increasing altitude.
• Mountain peaks are typically freezing

Meteorologists

• Scientists who study and forecast the weather using knowledge of the Earth's atmosphere.
• They use tools and data in the form of maps, tables, and graphs to understand the weather better

Maps

• Use colors to show temperature differences, like red for hot areas and blue for cooler areas.

Tables

• Organize weather information such as temperatures for different locations.

Graphs

• Show data like rainfall or wind speeds using lines or bars.

Thermometers

• Measure temperature.
• They use liquid or metal coils.

Wind Vane

• Measures wind direction.
• They have a symbol atop a shaft.

Wind sock

• Measures wind direction and speed.
• When inflated it shows wind strength and direction

Anemometers

• Measure wind speed.
• Use spinning cups.

Barometers

• Measure air pressure.
• Predict weather changes.

Rain or Snow Gauge

• Measures precipitation amounts.
• Collects rain or snow.

Hygrometers

• Measures air moisture.
• Shows humidity levels.

Weather websites and Apps

• Websites and apps provide weather forecasts with temperatures and precipitation.
• Weather apps give quick weather updates for user locations.

First Nations, Metis and Inuit Communities and Weather

• First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities have deep ties to the land which includes a strong understanding of the environment, weather patterns, and animal behaviours.
• Traditional knowledge is passed down through stories and traditions.
• They closely observe nature and the environment.

Harmony With the Land

• These communities believe in living in balance with the lands.
• They understand environmental indicators like animal behavior and plant appearance.

Story Telling

• They hand down knowledge to generations often contain wisdom about when to plant crops, when to expect certain weather patterns, and when animals might migrate.

Tradition and Modern Life

• They combine old teachings with modern technology.
• They respect their traditions while using new science.

Agriculture

• Climate influences which crops can be grown.
• Farmers need to understand the climate to know what and when to plant.

Infrastructure

• Climate affects buildings and roads.
• Extreme weather can damage things like buildings.

Clothing

• Climate affects the clothes people wear.
• Warmer and colder climates affect the fabrics and materials people wear.

Transportation

• Weather can impact transportation safety.
• It can make driving conditions more difficult.

Recreation

• Weather can affect peoples fun.
• Outdoor activities can depend on the climate.

Migration Patterns

• Animals move to other places at different times of year.
• Changes in weather such as colder temperatures can signal animals to migrate to warmer areas where they can find food and survive.

Accessing Food

• Weather affects the availability of food among animals.
• Changes in climate can impact how plants grow or the availability of the creatures they hunt for food.

Timing of Reproduction

• Animals often have babies based on the weather.
• Good weather might signal the right time for babies to be born.

Crops

• Climate influences the type of crops farmers can grow.
• Some crops need hot dry weather and some enjoy cool temperatures.

Animals

• Climate affects the health and access to good for animals.
• Extreme weather might harm certain animals.

Soil

• Climate affects soil conditions.
• Heavy rain can wash nutrients/ very hot dry weather can hurt the soil.

Water

• Changes in weather can affect the water for farming.
• Too much or too little water can hurt farming.

Crop Rotation

• Crop rotation is a game plan for the fields.
• Instead of planting the same crop in the same place every year, farmers switch things around.

Minimal Tillage

• This practice is about being gentle with the soil.
• Instead of digging up the soil up a lot, farmers disturb it as little as possible.

Cover Crops

• Farmers plant certain plants to cover the soil like a shield when the main crops aren't growing.
• They protect the soil from bad weather and help keep it healthy.

No Chemicals

• Farmers don't use chemicals and use natural methods.
• They use compost or organic fertilizers to help the plants grow healthily.

Drought

• A drought is caused by a lack of rain for a long time.
• Farmers give plants enough water.

Flooding

• When its too rainy soil is washed away and plants can drown.
• Farmers redirect water away from fields.

Fires

• Wildfires are prone to occur at certain times.
• Farmers must take steps to prevent fires.

Windstorms

• Strong winds can damage plants in the soil.
• Farmers use windbreaks.

Crop rotation

• Rotating crops helps soil stay healthy.
• Soil stays strong for a long time with this method.

Companion Farming

• Some plants are good to grow together.
• Some can keep soil healthy

Seasonal Migration

• Animals move from on place to another.
• This happenes at certain times of year.

Weather Patterns

• By keeping an eye on the weather, one can get to know any cyles that may exist.
• By observing these patterns there is an opportunity to plan and prepare for what can happen next.