WEATHER VS. CLIMATE

WEATHER Average condition of the atmosphere over a short period of time in a particular place.

CLIMATE The typical weather condition in a particular place during a long period of time.

FACTORS AFFECTING WEATHER

AIR TEMPERATURE Due to the heat air absorbs from or gives off to the environment. SPECIFIC HEAT – amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of a substance. Thermometer

AIR PRESSURE The force exerted per unit area due to the gravitational pull of the Earth. Barometer

HUMIDITY Amount of water vapor present in the air. RELATIVE HUMIDITY – ratio of the air’s water vapor present in the air.

PRECIPITATION Sin The transfer of water from the atmosphere to the Earth’s surface. Rain Gauge Drizzle, Rain, Snow, Hail, Sleet

FORM OF PRECIPITATION DESCRIPTION Rain Rain is formed when snow melts as it falls and when water droplets became heavy. Snow Water vapor changes directly into solid crystals. Sleet Snow melts but falls through layers of cold air where it refreezes. Hail Sleet is pushed up and down in the atmosphere until it grows larger and then falls.

WIND Sin Generated by the differences in temperature that occur on Earth’s surface. Wind Vane Anemometer

AIR MASS A large section of the Earth’s atmosphere near the Earth’s surface that has the same temperature and contains the same amount of moisture as the surface.

MARITIME AIR MASS CONTINENTAL AIR MASS Air masses that originate from the sea and therefore moist. CONTINENTAL AIR MASS Air masses that originate from land and therefore dry.