Download Weather and Climate Pacing Guide

OBJECTIVE: 3.01
Investigate the water cycle including the processes of: evaporation, condensation, precipitation
and run-off.
SUGGESTED CONTENT
A. The water cycle is one of earth’s cycles that sustains life.
B. The water cycle is a vital component in the creation of weather and climate.
C. The cycling of water is composed of several different phases that include evaporation,
condensation, precipitation and run-off.
D. The sun is the primary energy source for powering the water cycle.
E. Water on earth is evaporated into the air where it condenses and falls back to the earth in
the form of liquid, frozen or mixed precipitation.
F. Evaporation is the change of liquid into gas or vapor.
G. Condensation is the change of gas or vapor into liquid.
H. Precipitation occurs when clouds loose water.
I. Excess precipitation results in run-off or flow of water over the land.
OBJECTIVE: 3.02 (see Science Goal Objective 3.03)
Discuss and determine how the following are affected by predictable patterns of weather:
Temperature, Wind direction and speed, Precipitation, Cloud cover, Air pressure.
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Climate is predictable patterns of weather over time.
Weather is not random, it occurs in predictable patterns.
Weather depends on the elements of temperature, air pressure, wind and moisture.
Various atmospheric factors interact to influence the different and predictable patterns of
weather such as the degree of heating and cooling of earth’s surface.
Temperature indicates the relative warmth or coolness of a substance as measured by
thermometers.
Clouds are formed when air containing water vapor starts to condense into droplets of
moisture. Cloud cover is the amount of sky covered by clouds.
Cloudiness or cloud cover is one of the variables of climate.
There are different types of clouds that may cover all or parts of the sky.
Precipitation is solid or liquid moisture falling from the sky.
Wind is air in motion. Winds are named for the direction from which the wind blows.
Air pressure is the weight of air particles pressing down on the surface of the earth. Air
pressure may be high or low. A high pressure system is associated with cooler temperatures
and clear skies. A low pressure system is associated with warmer weather, storms or
precipitation.
OBJECTIVE: 3.03
Describe and analyze the formation of various types of clouds and discuss their relation to weather
systems.
SUGGESTED CONTENT
A. Clouds are made of tiny vapors of water. A cloud is the result of invisible water vapor in the air
becoming visible.
B. Visible water vapor in the sky is clouds; visible water vapor near the earth is fog.
C. Cloud cover is the amount of clouds that are coving the sky.
D. There are different types of clouds which signal different kinds of information about the weather.
a. Cirrus: Feathery-like plumes, wispy, high altitude, clouds and are generally white in color,
b. Stratus: Uniform, grey, low attitude clouds that blanket the whole sky, and lead to grey days
c. Cumulus: dense, white puffy, cotton-like, thick, detached clouds that are generally associated
with fair weather
d. Cumulonimbus: Huge, grey and towering; clouds that usually suggest bad weather conditions.
OBJECTIVE: 3.04
Explain how global atmospheric movement patterns affect local weather.
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When cool and warm air collide it creates wind
The collision causes warm air to rise.
When warm air rises it gets cooler
Cooler air causes the water vapors in the atmosphere to condense or form water droplets.
When water droplets become heavy enough, they fall as precipitation (remember the water
cycle). Cool air can not hold as much moisture as warm air.
There are many types of wind patterns that affect global weather patterns. The wind pattern
that affects our state are the Prevailing Westerlies named so because they blow in from the
West
The Prevailing Westerlies move weather from west to east;
There are four different types of air masses that may blow in and affect the local weather:
o Air masses that are cold and dry.
a. Air masses that are hot and dry.
b. Air masses that are cool and moist.
c. Air masses that are warm and moist.
Scientist use satellites, computers and many other instruments to track and analyze
conditions of the weather.
Weather in your area may be different from weather in another part of the state or country.
OBJECTIVE: 3.05
Compile and use weather data to establish a climate record and reveal any trends.
SUGGESTED CONTENT
A. Weather can be observed and information about weather can be collected, measured and
recorded, analyzed and presented.
B. Weather information is collected and analyzed using many different tools, techniques, and
strategies. (Including maps, charts, computers, satellites, balloons and storm chasers).
C. Predictions about weather are based on historical climate trends and current data which is
updated regularly as more information is received.
D. Forecasts about weather are made on short range and extended forecasts.
E. Computers are used to analyze information in preparing for weather forecast reports.
OBJECTIVE: 3.06
Discuss and determine the influence of geography on weather and climate:
 mountains
 sea Breezes
 water bodies
SUGGESTED CONTENT
A. Geological features influence weather patterns.
B. Mountains and large bodies of waters such as oceans and huge lakes have the most affect on
weather patterns.
C. Wind blowing against a mountain causes the air to rise, cool, and condense (cool air can hold
less moisture than warm air).
D. Wind that flows over the mountain and down the other side cause the air to become warmer
and takes up moisture through evaporation.
E. Land absorbs heat from the sun faster than bodies of water; therefore as the warm air of the
land rise, it is replaced by the cooler air from the water that we call sea breezes.
F. Urbanization also affects weather conditions such as, it is typically hotter and rainier in large
cities than in rural areas; factors contributing this are: pavement, huge buildings,
transportation systems, factories, etc.