Weather & ClimateWeather & Climate

““Climate is what you expect; Climate is what you expect; weather is what you get”.weather is what you get”.

Rotation & RevolutionRotation & Revolution

Earth’s axis tilted Earth’s axis tilted 23.5° from 23.5° from perpendicular.perpendicular.

Earth rotates on its Earth rotates on its axis as it revolves axis as it revolves around the sun.around the sun.

Earth's Orbit

SeasonsSeasonsEarth’s tilt & revolution around the sun Earth’s tilt & revolution around the sun cause different places to receive varying cause different places to receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year.amounts of sunlight throughout the year.

Earth/Sun RelationshipsEarth/Sun RelationshipsSolstices- days when the sun‘s direct rays fall at Solstices- days when the sun‘s direct rays fall at the Tropics of Cancer & Capricorn the Tropics of Cancer & Capricorn

Summer= Jun. 21; Winter= Dec. 21 Summer= Jun. 21; Winter= Dec. 21

Earth/Sun RelationshipsEarth/Sun RelationshipsEquinoxes- markers for seasonal change Equinoxes- markers for seasonal change

The sun’s direct rays fall at the Equator.The sun’s direct rays fall at the Equator.

Spring= Mar. 21; Fall= Sep. 23Spring= Mar. 21; Fall= Sep. 23

Greenhouse EffectGreenhouse Effect

The trapping of the The trapping of the sun’s energy by the sun’s energy by the earth’s atmosphere in earth’s atmosphere in the form of heat.the form of heat.

Caused by Carbon Caused by Carbon Dioxide (CODioxide (CO22)& other )& other greenhouse gases.greenhouse gases.

Weather- daily Weather- daily conditions of the conditions of the bottom layer of the bottom layer of the earth’s atmosphere.earth’s atmosphere.

Atmospheric (Barometric) Atmospheric (Barometric) Pressure-Pressure-

The weight of the The weight of the atmosphere overheadatmosphere overhead

Rising warm air creates Rising warm air creates low pressure & stormy low pressure & stormy weather. weather.

Sinking cool air causes Sinking cool air causes high pressure & clear high pressure & clear weather.weather.

Winds are named from Winds are named from where the originate.where the originate.

PrecipitationPrecipitationAny form of water that falls Any form of water that falls to the Earth's surface. to the Earth's surface.

Occurs when warm air Occurs when warm air cools & water vapor cools & water vapor condenses to form water condenses to form water droplets.droplets.

Depending on conditions it Depending on conditions it can fall as rain, snow, can fall as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. sleet, or hail.

Convectional Convectional PrecipitationPrecipitation

Heating of the earth's Heating of the earth's surface causes air to surface causes air to rise rapidly. rise rapidly.

As the air rises, it cools As the air rises, it cools & water vapor & water vapor condenses into droplets. condenses into droplets.

Common near the Common near the Equator & during Equator & during summer at higher summer at higher latitudes.latitudes.

Orographic Orographic PrecipitationPrecipitationWarm moist air is forced Warm moist air is forced to rise over a high to rise over a high landform. landform.

Air mass cools as it rises, Air mass cools as it rises, water vapor condenses, & water vapor condenses, & precipitation results on precipitation results on the windward side.the windward side.

Warming, dry air on the Warming, dry air on the leeward side picks up leeward side picks up excess moisture causing a excess moisture causing a rainshadow.rainshadow.

Common along seacoasts.Common along seacoasts.

windward

Frontal Frontal PrecipitationPrecipitationResults when the leading Results when the leading edge (front) of a warm air edge (front) of a warm air mass meets a cool air mass meets a cool air mass.mass.

A warmer air mass is A warmer air mass is forced up over cooler air. forced up over cooler air.

Warm air cools as it rises, Warm air cools as it rises, water vapor condenses, & water vapor condenses, & precipitation forms.precipitation forms.

The most common type of The most common type of precipitation.precipitation.