Weather & Climate

Benchmark:

•SC.6.E.7.6 Differentiate between weather and climate.

Weather:–Combination of

temperature, precipitation, cloud cover, and winds experienced daily.

Climate:–Weather conditions of

a place averaged over a long period of time.

Know the Difference

• Meteorologists often point out that

"climate is what you expect and weather is what you get."

Or, as one middle school student put it,

"Climate helps you decide what clothes to buy, weather helps you decide what clothes to wear."

Why do some regions have a hot climate, and others cold?

Why do some regions have a hot climate, and others cold?

• Answer:

Latitude:Distance from the Equator is a key factor in

determining whether a climate is hot or cold.

• Places closer to the North and South poles = colder temperatures

• Places near the equator = warmer temperatures

Ocean Currents:

• Temperature of an ocean current affects the temperature of air that passes over it.

Wind & Air Masses:

• What is an AIR MASS?• An air mass is a large

volume of air that takes on the climatic conditions of the area where it is formed.

Elevation:

• The Higher in Altitude, the Colder in Temperature.

• As the air rises, it expands because of the lower air pressure.

• As the air expands, it cools.

Relief:

• Precipitation created when an air mass rises to cross a mountain barrier

Near Water:

• In the summer the water acts like an air conditioner to keep the air temperatures cool

• In the winter water acts like a heater to keep the temperatures from getting too cold

• Continental Climate (Away from water)• Maritime Climate (Close to water)

• SC.6.E.7.5 Explain how energy provided by the Sun influences global patterns of atmospheric movement and the temperature differences between air, water, and land. (MAMA)

• SC.6.E.7.1 Differentiate among radiation, conduction, and convection, the three mechanisms by which heat is transferred through Earth’s system. (BABY)

Benchmark Break ↓SC.6.E.7.5 Explain how energy provided by the Sun

influences global patterns of atmospheric movement and the temperature differences between air, water, and land.

Rewrite…KNOW: The Sun heats land and water at different

rates. This difference causes global atmospheric movement.

DO: EXPLAIN How weather is created due to heat differences.

Specific Heat• Specific Heat is how much energy it takes for a

substance to increase by 1⁰C.Substance Heat Rate What it means

Air Air heats up FAST over land and SLOWLY over water

Differences in air temp. causes WIND.

Land Low Specific Heat Heats up & gives heat away QUICKLY

Water High Specific Heat Heats up & gives heat away SLOWLY

High and Low Pressure• High pressure occurs at

COOLER temperatures. The air particles are close together.

• Low pressure occurs at HOTTER temperatures. The air particles are farther apart.

Sea Breeze

• During the day, the land is HOTTER than the ocean.

• A breeze moves from the cool air over water (HIGH pressure) to the warm air over land (LOW pressure).

Land Breeze

• At night, the ocean is WARMER than the land.

• A breeze moves from the cool air over land (HIGH pressure) to the warm air over the ocean (LOW pressure).

Uneven Heating Sketch

Uneven Heating Review:Areas near the EQUATOR:• More direct rays• More concentrated sunlight

Areas near the POLES:• More INdirect rays• Less concentrated sunlight

Say (then write) this Phrase!

•Air likes to go from HIGH to LOW!! (pressure)

UNEVEN Heating!- Day

• What substance would heat up more DURING THE DAY? The least?

UNEVEN Heating!-Night

• What substance would stay warmest AT NIGHT? The least?

What Creates Wind?

• The Sun heats up the land and water UNEVENLY.• The air over the water heats up slower than the air over

land. • The high pressure air moves towards the low pressure.

(This is WIND!)

Weather Map

Part Three Agenda:

•Conduction Review•Radiation Review•Convection Review•Identify the Heat Transfer

Conduction Review:• When heat is transferred between two

objects (hot→cold) that are TOUCHING!• Most commonly, at least one object is a solid,

and the others liquids or gases.

Radiation Review:

• When heat is transferred between two objects (hot→cold) through EM thermal radiation WAVES)

• Can travel through the vacuum of space (from Sun) or through all forms of matter.

Convection Review:• When heat is transferred by the movement of the

matter (fluids) from hot→cold locations.• Fluids are substances that are able to “flow” easily.

(liquids or gases).• Convection currents are formed from hot→cold

locations.

IDENTIFY the heat transfer: