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Weather & Climate Cornell Notes Weather (el tiempo) • Weather is the atmospheric conditions and short term changes of a specific area at a specific time. Weather Factors • Weather factors include: 1. Air temperature 2. Wind 3. Precipitation 4. Barometric pressure 5. Humidity 6. Clouds 7. Visibility - Air temperature (temperatura del aire) The measure of the average speed of the air molecules Hot, mild, cold - Wind (el viento) Horizontal movement of air - Precipitation (la precipitación) Water falling from the atmosphere The water can be in its liquid or solid state— such as rain, snow, sleet, and hail. - Humidity (la humedad) The amount of water vapor per volume of air - Clouds (las nubes) Masses of small water droplets or tiny ice crystals that float in the air Spaces on Earth atmo = air hydro = water litho = rock bio = life The Sun’s Energy • Solar radiation causes water in the hydrosphere to evaporate and enter Earth’s atmosphere. • As land and water are cooled, the water vapor in the air condenses. • Water droplets form clouds and precipitation falls from the clouds back to Earth’s surface. Air Mass (la masa de aire) • Body of air that has properties similar to the part of the Earth’s surface over which it develops • Body of air with similar conditions (warm, low pressure, humid, etc.) Front (el frente) • A front is a boundary between two air masses of different density, moisture, and temperature. Warm Front (el frente cálido) • Forms when lighter, warmer air moves over heavier, colder air. Warm Front Cold Front (el frente frío) • Occurs when colder air moves toward warmer air. Cold Front Highs and Lows • An area of low pressure is created when warm air rises causing a decrease in pressure close to the Earth’s surface. – Often associated with cloudy, stormy weather • An area of high pressure is created when cold air sinks causing pressure to increase as more air moves down. – Often associated with dry, clear weather Weather Maps • Weather maps provide information on the atmospheric conditions over an area of interest. Climate (el clima) • The long-term average of the weather patterns of an area • Earth is classified into climate regions based on temperature, precipitation, and vegetation. Climate California Climate • Mediterranean climates are characterized by mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. • Highland climates are characterized by cool-tocold temperatures and are found in the mountains and on high plateaus. Climate Controls • Air and ocean currents influence the different climate regions. • Other factors include: – Distribution of land and water – Presence or absence of mountain barriers – Altitude – Latitude Climate Controls Land and Water • Land surfaces heat and cool rapidly whereas ocean surfaces heat and cool slowly. Ocean Currents • Ocean currents help to redistribute heat from Sun’s energy on Earth. – The Gulf Stream moves warm water away from the equator and carries the heat to higher latitudes. – The cold California Current carries cold water off the California coast.