Weather and Climate Module 1

Module 1: Weather and Climate

• Key Terms:
  • Atmosphere: The layer of gases surrounding the Earth.
  • Air pressure: The force exerted by the air.
  • Troposphere: The lowest layer of the atmosphere.
  • Stratosphere: Layer above the troposphere
  • Mesosphere: Layer above the stratosphere
  • Thermosphere: Layer above the mesosphere
  • Radiation: Energy transferred through space.
  • Conduction: Energy transferred through direct contact.
  • Thermal energy: Heat energy
  • Convection: Energy transferred through fluid movement.
  • Global warming: A gradual increase in the Earth's temperature.
  • Greenhouse effect: Natural process of trapping heat in the atmosphere.
  • Temperature: A measure of how hot or cold something is.
  • Global winds: Large-scale wind patterns around the world.
  • Local winds: Wind patterns within a smaller area.
  • Coriolis effect: Causes moving air and water to curve.
  • Water cycle: Natural process of water moving between the Earth's surface and atmosphere.
  • Jet stream: Strong winds in the upper atmosphere.
  • Humidity: Amount of water vapor in the air.
  • Relative humidity: Ratio of water vapor to total amount of water air can hold.
  • Evaporation: Liquid to gas
  • Condensation: Gas to liquid
  • Cumulus: Cumulus clouds are puffy, white clouds.
  • Stratus: are layered clouds
  • Cirrus: Wispy clouds
  • Barometer: Measures air pressure
  • Meteorologist: A scientist who studies weather.
  • Precipitation: Any form of water that falls from the atmosphere.
  • Air mass: Large body of air with similar temperature and humidity characteristics.
  • Front: Boundary between air masses with different characteristics .
  • Climate: The average weather conditions over a long period of time.
  • Anemometer: instrument used to measure wind speed.
  • Thunderstorm: A storm with thunder and lightning.
  • Tornado: A rapidly rotating column of air.
  • Hurricane: A severe tropical storm with high winds.

Earth's Atmosphere

• Earth's atmosphere is composed of gases that are in a correct balance to support life.
• Atmospheric layers are labeled and organized by altitude from about 0-250 miles above sea level, listing approximate altitude in miles (km)

Convection, Conduction, and Radiation

• Energy transfer between Earth's surface and atmosphere.
• Methods: Convection, conduction, radiation.
• Definition of each: Convection = heat transfer through fluid movement; Conduction = heat transfer through direct contact; Radiation = heat transfer through space or electromagnetic waves.
• Convection in atmosphere: Convection cells are formed through heating and cooling differences that cause air to rise or sink .
• Conduction characteristics : Good conductors quickly transfer heat energy.
• Radiation: the only type of energy that can transfer through a vacuum.

Understanding Weather and Climate

• Weather: Short-term atmospheric conditions.
• Climate: Long-term weather patterns.
• Difference: Weather describes current conditions while climate describes average conditions over a long time.
• Factors affecting climate: Distance from sea, ocean currents, prevailing winds, landforms.
• climate zones are based on average temperatures and precipitation levels.

Winds

• Wind: Air moving from high to low pressure areas.
• Formation of winds: Uneven heating of Earth causes differences in pressure that drive wind movement.
• Convection currents: movement of a fluid that results from temperature differences.
• Types of winds: Global, local prevailing.

Experiencing Weather

• Weather forecast information is collected by meteorologists, and forecasts give a predictive summary of atmospheric conditions for an area.

Clouds

• Types of clouds: Cumulus, stratus, cirrus.
• Cloud formation: Air direction affects cloud shape.
• Types of clouds based on height: High, middle, low.

Air Masses and Fronts

• Air mass: Large body of air with similar temperature and humidity characteristics.
• Front: Boundary between air masses with different characteristics.

Precipitation

• Precipitation can be rain, snow, sleet, and hail.
• Types of precipitation: Rain, snow, sleet, hail, freezing rain.

Weather Patterns

• Types of storms: Thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, snow storms.

Safety Rules

• Thunderstorms form where air rises dramatically.
• Lightning and thunder are part of thunderstorms.