1. Unit 7 Lesson 2 What Is Weather?
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2. Unit 7 Lesson 2 What Is Weather?
A World of Weather
Earth is surrounded by a layer of gases. This layer of gases is Earth’s atmosphere.
Oxygen is one of the gases in Earth’s atmosphere.
Most living things need oxygen to survive.
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3. A World of Weather Conditions in the atmosphere can change.
Unit 7 Lesson 2 What Is Weather?
A World of Weather
Conditions in the atmosphere can change.
Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at any one place and time.
If the atmosphere over your school is warm and dry in the morning, your weather is warm and dry.
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4. A World of Weather Unit 7 Lesson 2 What Is Weather? 4
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5. Unit 7 Lesson 2 What Is Weather?
A World of Weather
However, the atmosphere, and your weather, could change.
The weather could be cool and rainy by the afternoon.
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6. Unit 7 Lesson 2 What Is Weather?
Types of Clouds
There are many types of clouds. Each has a different shape.
The types of clouds in the sky can tell you what kind of weather may be coming.
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7. Types of Clouds Cirrus clouds are thin and feathery.
Unit 7 Lesson 2 What Is Weather?
Types of Clouds
Cirrus clouds are thin and feathery.
Cirrus clouds form high up in the atmosphere, where temperatures are cold.
They are often a sign that the weather is about to change.
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8. Types of Clouds Cumulus clouds have flat bottoms and are puffy on top.
Unit 7 Lesson 2 What Is Weather?
Types of Clouds
Cumulus clouds have flat bottoms and are puffy on top.
They look like piles of cotton.
Cumulus clouds usually mean fair weather, but they can develop into cumulonimbus clouds.
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9. Unit 7 Lesson 2 What Is Weather?
Types of Clouds
Cumulonimbus clouds are often tall and have a flat top.
They sometimes look like mushrooms and often produce thunderstorms.
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10. Types of Clouds Stratus clouds look like thin blankets.
Unit 7 Lesson 2 What Is Weather?
Types of Clouds
Stratus clouds look like thin blankets.
Often, they hang low in the atmosphere.
Stratus clouds can mean that light rain or snow is coming.
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11. Types of Clouds Unit 7 Lesson 2 What Is Weather? 11
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12. Unit 7 Lesson 2 What Is Weather?
Measuring Weather
Temperature is a measure of how hot or cold something is.
The tool we use to measure temperature is a thermometer.
Air temperature is measured in degrees Celsius (°C) or degrees Fahrenheit (°F).
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13. Unit 7 Lesson 2 What Is Weather?
Measuring Weather
The temperature of the atmosphere affects the kind of precipitation that falls.
Above 0 °C, rain is likely.
Below 0 °C, the air is so cold that rain, sleet, or snow may fall.
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14. Unit 7 Lesson 2 What Is Weather?
Measuring Weather
A rain gauge is a tool that collects rain and shows how much has fallen.
If the wind is blowing, we can tell the direction it’s coming from with a wind vane.
A wind meter tells how fast the wind is blowing.
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15. Measuring Weather Unit 7 Lesson 2 What Is Weather? 15
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16. Why It Matters Being Ready For Weather
Unit 7 Lesson 2 What Is Weather?
Why It Matters
Being Ready For Weather
To stay safe and comfortable, we wear clothing that is right for the weather.
When it’s raining, we stay dry with a raincoat, boots, and umbrella.
The weather also affects the activities we can do. We can ski only when it’s cold enough for snow.
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17. Being Ready For Weather
Unit 7 Lesson 2 What Is Weather?
Being Ready For Weather
To help us, scientists try to predict the weather.
When we know what kind of weather is coming, we can make plans to dress right, and we can choose the right kinds of activities.
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18. Watch Out for Weather! Weather can be severe and even dangerous.
Unit 7 Lesson 2 What Is Weather?
Watch Out for Weather!
Weather can be severe and even dangerous.
A hurricane is a tropical storm with winds of 119 kilometers (74 miles) per hour or more.
Hurricanes form over warm ocean water. Hurricanes can blow trees over and cause large areas of flooding.
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19. Unit 7 Lesson 2 What Is Weather?
Watch Out for Weather!
Thunderstorms are strong storms that have thunder and lightning. Often thunderstorms bring heavy rain and strong wind, too.
Tornadoes are small, spinning columns of very strong wind.
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20. Watch Out for Weather! Unit 7 Lesson 2 What Is Weather? 20
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21. Unit 7 Lesson 2 What Is Weather?
Watch Out for Weather!
A blizzard is a snowstorm with strong wind and a very low temperature.
To be safe in severe weather, follow directions from a teacher, parent, or other adult who knows what to do.
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22. Watch Out for Weather! Unit 7 Lesson 2 What Is Weather? 22
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23. Watch Out for Weather! Unit 7 Lesson 2 What Is Weather? 23
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