Download Introduction to Weather and precipitation

Introduction to Weather
What is weather?
Weather -is the condition of the atmosphere at a certain time and place
How do scientists know what the weather will be like tomorrow?
 Scientists use all different types of tools to measure the conditions of the atmosphere
 Tools like a rain gauge, wind vane, anemometer, thermometer, and a barometer
Who are meteorologists?
Meteorologist- are scientists who study the weather
What are the elements of weather?
1. Air temperature
2. Air pressure
3. Humidity
4. Precipitation
5. Clouds and fog
6. Wind
You must have all 6 to make weather!
What is temperature?
Temperature- the measure of how warm or cold something is.
 When we talk about temperature as weather condition, it means how warm or cold the air is.
 Meteorologists use thermometers to measure temperature
What is Precipitation?
Precipitation- any form of water particles that falls from the atmosphere and reaches the ground (can be
liquid or solid)
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Clouds are made up of tiny water droplets or ice crystals. These tiny particles are so light that
they remain “hanging” in the air. This is why man clouds do not form precipitation.
Precipitation occurs when cloud droplets or ice crystals join together and become heavy enough to
fall.
They clump around particles of dust in the air.
Each particle is like a nucleus that the water molecules condense around.
Condensation
around
nucleus
Cloud
droplets
Collect
Fall through
Warm air
Condensation
around
nucleus
Cloud
droplets
Collect
Fall through
Air at freezing
temperatures
Condensation
And ice
around
nucleus
Condensation
around ice
nucleus
Super-cooled
water freezes
around ice
nucleus, or
water vapor
changes to ice
crystals
Cloud
droplets
Ice crystals
grow larger
repeat over
and over
Snowflakes
Warm ground
temperature
freezing
Cold ground
temperature
RAIN
SLEET
SNOW
HAIL