Download Unit 4 Weather and Climate

Unit 4
Weather and
Climate
Big Idea: Air pressure, temperature, air
movement, and humidity in the
atmosphere affect both weather and
climate.
Unit 4 Lesson 1 Elements of Weather
What is weather?
• Weather - condition of Earth’s atmosphere at a
certain time & place.
Temperature - measure of how hot or cold something is.
-thermometer
Humidity -amt of H2O vapor in the air.
-psychrometer/hygrometer
Precipitation -any form of H2O that falls from clouds.
-rain gauge, meterstick
Air pressure –the force of air molecules pushing on an
area. (cut out pic pg 160)
-barometer
Wind -air that moves horizontally, or parallel to ground
-anemometer or wind vane/wind sock
Visibility –measure of the distance an object or light can
be clearly seen. Uses 3 or 4 landmarks (cut out fog and bottom of pg 161)
Unit 4 Lesson 2 Clouds & Cloud Formation
Watching Clouds
• Cirrus clouds -made of ice and appear feathery or
wispy.
• Cumulus clouds -appear as heaps or piles. They form
in fair weather but can produce thunderstorms.
• Stratus clouds -form flat layers that can block out
the sun and produce steady rain.
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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cloud_types.jpg
Unit 4 Lesson 3 What Influences Weather?
Cut and paste water cycle pgs 182-183
Putting Up a Front
How do air masses affect weather?
• Air mass-large volume of air in which
temperature & moisture content are
nearly the same throughout. CUT OUT PAGE 185.
• Front- forms between air masses with
differing densities.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3539/4603842045_3b55b9f463_z.jpg
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https://youtu.be/huKYKykjcm0
Unit 4 Lesson 3 What Influences Weather?
Cut bottom pg 187 & 190
Feeling the Pressure!
• Areas of different air pressure cause changes
in the weather.
High-pressure system - air slowly sinks down and
spreads outward. (happy highs) MORE DENSE
Low-pressure
system - air rises and
cools (lousy lows)
LESS DENSE
Isobars-the closer
they are more windy
it is.
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Unit 4 Lesson 4 Severe Weather & Weather Safety
Take Cover!
Thunderstorm-an intense local storm that forms strong
winds, heavy rain, lightning, thunder, and sometimes hail.
•Thunderstorms are a type of severe weather. Severe
weather can cause property damage and sometimes death.
There are three basic stages to a thunderstorm.
•Stage 1 – Warm humid air rises in an updraft, creating
cumulus clouds.
Cut pg 196-pictures with definition
•Stage 2 – Ice particles
may form at the top of the
cloud. They fall and pull
cold air down, creating a
downdraft and heavy rain
or hail.
•Stage 3 – The storm slows
or ends as the downdraft
prevents more warm air
from rising.
Unit 4 Lesson 4 Severe Weather and Weather Safety
What do we know about
thunderstorms?
• Lightning - an electric discharge that
happens between positively and
negatively charged areas. (pg 197)
http://taylorlightning.blogspot.com/p/my-images.html
• Electrical charges build up near the
tops and bottoms of clouds as pellets
of ice move up and down through
the clouds.
• Thunder is the sound created by the
rapid expansion of air along a
lightning strike.
http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/lightnin
g/faq/
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http://www.sciencemadesimple.co.uk/curriculum-blogs/primary-blogs/the-science-of-lightning
Unit 4 Lesson 4 Severe Weather and Weather Safety
Plan Ahead!
• Hurricane tropical low-pressure
system with winds blowing at speeds
of 119 km/h (74 mi/h) or more.
• Hurricanes form from
thunderstorms fueled by evaporation
of warm ocean water.
http://i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/151001041356hurricane-joaquin-4a-thursday-large-169.jpg
• .
Winds spiral around
the low-pressure
center of a
hurricane
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/101videos/hurricanes-101?source=relatedvideo
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Unit 4 Lesson 4 Severe Weather and Weather Safety
Secure Loose Objects!
• Tornado destructive, rotating column of air w/ very high wind
speeds that is often visible as a funnel-shaped cloud.
• Horizontal winds at high altitudes can cause a thunderstorm
to spin and create a tornado.
http://video.nationalgeo
graphic.com/video/101videos/tornadoes101?source=searchvid
eo
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https://scied.ucar.edu/webweather/tornadoes/where-tornadoes-happen
Unit 4 Lesson 4 Severe Weather and Weather Safety
What can people do to prepare for
severe weather?
1. Plan ahead; supplies, leave?
2. Listen for storm updates
• Watch is given when conditions are ideal for severe weather.
• Warning is given when severe weather is spotted or expected w/in 24 hrs
3. Follow flood safety rules
4. Seek shelter, stay away from tall buildings, trees, &
water.
5. Avoid using electricity
6. Go to a place w/out windows
7. Avoid areas where flying objects may cause harm.
8. Outside? Lie in a ditch or low-lying area and protect
your head
9. Secure loose objects and prepare your home.
10.If told to evacuate, do so immediately.
Unit 4 Lesson 5 Weather Maps and Weather Prediction
• Weather forecasting -analysis of scientific data to predict
future weather conditions.
Cloudy with a Chance of …
• Meteorology - study of weather and Earth’s
atmosphere
Doppler radar is important for detecting and tracking
severe storms and tornados.
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Unit 4 Lesson 5 Weather Maps and Weather Prediction
• What can you conclude from this weather map about the
weather happening in different parts of the United
States? (cut out pages 216-217)
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Unit 4 Lesson 6 Climate
• Climate -describes the weather conditions in an area over a
long period of time.
How’s the Climate?
1. Climate is usually determined by temperature and
precipitation.
(cut out page 228)
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Unit 4 Lesson 6 Climate
Climate Factors
Latitude- Earth’s surface divided into three temperate
zones: Tropical, Polar, Temperate
Altitude- air temp decreases as altitudes increases
Water- large bodies of water influence temperature
along with ocean currents that cool or warm air.
Prevailing winds-winds carry warm, moist air or cool
air over land.
Mountains-mountain ranges in path of winds influence
where precipitation falls.
Seasons-sea and land breezes over large regions that
change direction.
Unit 4 Lesson 6 Climate
1. Tropical
Climates of Earth
tropical wet- year-round heat & heavy rainfall, dense forests
wet& dry- have less rainfall & distinct dry & rainy seasons; savannas or tropical
grasslands
2. Dry
arid region- deserts gets less than 25 cm of rain every yr.
semiarid - steppes, usually located edges of deserts, short grasses
3. Temperate marine
marine west coast- humid air brings cool, rainy summers & mild rainy winters
humid subtropical- wet & warm, but not as hot as tropics
Mediterranean- summers are drier & warmer, winters are cool & rainy
4. Temperate continental
humid continetal- constantly changing weather
subarctic- line north of humid continental; summers are short winters long &
bitterly cold
5. Polar
ice caps- covered with ice & snow & always at or below freezing
tundra-short, cool summers followed by bitterly cold winters
6. Highlands
temp falls as altitude increases, so regions are colder than regions that surround
them.
Unit 4 Lesson 6 Climate
How do Earth’s features affect climate?
• Topography -Surface features on Earth combine to form
an area.
• Elevation -height of an area above sea level.
• Rain shadow -happens when warm, moist air rises over a
mountain and drops its precipitation on one side, leaving
the other side dry.
(cut out page 230)
https://www.youtube.com/watc
h?v=yk3E9yoxH-A
http://gabbiclassblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/rain-shadow-effect.html
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Unit 4 Lesson 7 Climate Change
What are some causes of repeating patterns
of climate change?
• Geologic evidence indicates that ice
ages occur every 200 million years or so,
and each ice age lasts for millions of
years. (cut page 243)
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Unit 4 Lesson 7 Climate Change
• Studies show that the average global surface
temperature has risen by about 0.3 °C to 0.8 °C
over the last 100 years.
• Global warming -gradual increase in average global
temperature. It will affect global sea level, global
weather patterns, and life on Earth. (pgs 246-247 and 252)
• Scientists predict that
storms will increase in
power and frequency,
and as much as half of
Earth’s surface may be
affected by drought.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ
AbATJCugs
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http://www.ecologistnews.com/eco-systems/the-biggest-asias-rivers-are-in-danger-by-global-warming.html
Unit 3 Lesson 3 Nonrenewable Energy Resources
• Energy resource -natural resource that humans use
to generate
energy, and it can be renewable or
Be Resourceful!
nonrenewable.
• Nonrenewable resources -used up faster than they
can be replaced.
• Nuclear energy
• Crude oil/petroleum
• Natural gas
• Coal
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 Renewable resources replaced by
natural processes at least as quickly as
they are used.
 Wind energy
 Hydroelectric energy.
 Solar energy
 Biomass
 Geothermal energy
Unit 4 Lesson 7 Climate Change
How can people reduce their impact on climate
change?
• Clean-energy technologies are being
researched and used in different parts of
the world.
• New biofuels, solar power, wind power, and
water power reduce the need to burn fossil
fuels.
• However, many new technologies are
currently more expensive than fossil fuels.
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