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Introduction to Weather and Climate Weather. Contents. Why do geographers study the weather? What is the difference between ‘weather’ and ‘climate’? European climate – decision-making Climate graphs What is the water cycle? What is precipitation? Why does it rain? Summary activities.
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Contents • Why do geographers study the weather? • What is the difference between ‘weather’ and ‘climate’? • European climate – decision-making • Climate graphs • What is the water cycle? • What is precipitation? • Why does it rain? • Summary activities The key concepts covered are: Space, Scale and Physical and human processes.
Why do geographers study the weather? Why do geographers study the weather? By the end of this section, you will: • Understand what study of the weather is called. • Know how the weather affects us in our daily lives. • See how changes in the weather can affect people at their work.
Why study the weather? The study of weather is known as meteorology. Specialists in this area are known as meteorologists. Every day they forecast what the weather will be like. For many people, this has only a small impact on their lives, but for others it is very important. Fishermen and pilots, for example, could not do their job without weather reports. How is the weather important to you in your daily life?
2 more to think over and explain • Helicopter pilot • Clerk of the course (for the TT it is Gary Thompson) • What weather issues would they have?
What is the different between weather and climate? What is the difference between ‘weather’ and ‘climate’? By the end of this section, you will: • Know what the difference is between weather and climate. • Be able to identify the six major climate zones. • Be able to give more information about these different climates.
What is weather? Weather is the day to day changes in the atmosphere. What might this include? Temperature Precipitation Wind speed Humidity Wind direction Cloud cover Air pressure Sunshine
What is climate? Climate is the pattern of weather, usually based over 30 years. When working out the climate of a location, the average results of the changes in the atmosphere will be noted. Climate talks about general information: • warm, dry summers • cold, dark winters • hot and dry all year round. How would you describe the climate of the UK?
European climate – decision-making European climate – decision-making By the end of this section, you will: • Know how to analyse climate information. • Be able to give informed advice based on evidence. • Be able to make a good decision based on set criteria.
European climate Climate can make a big difference to people’s holidays and their choices about where they want to visit. What type of climate would suit people on these holidays?
Travel help Many people call upon the services of travel agents when deciding where to go on holiday. Travel agents need to give their customers good advice and relevant information to help them find a suitable holiday. They need to know what type of climate different places have so they can give their customers what they want. What sort of climate do you like when you go on holiday?
Analysing needs Imagine that you are a travel agent and your customer would like to go away on a city break in Europe. They have a list of criteria that need to be met. • The holiday must take place in October. • The customer doesn’t want to visit a city where there will be a lot of rain. • The city needs to have a nice temperature for that time of year. • It must be at least 15ºC. Can you recommend a suitable location?
Climate graphs Climate graphs By the end of this section, you will: • Know what a climate graph is. • Understand how climate graphs are used to measure rainfall and temperature. • Be able to plot your own climate graph.
What is the water cycle? What is the water cycle? By the end of this section, you will: • Know what the water cycle is and how water is recycled. • Be able to name and identify the different processes that constitute the water cycle.
The water cycle Over 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. The vast majority of this is stored in the oceans and seas of the world. Water is neither created nor destroyed. It is cycled round over and over again in the Earth’s atmosphere. This recycling of water is called the water cycle.
What is precipitation? What is precipitation? By the end of this section, you will: • Know what is meant by the term precipitation. • Be able to name various different types of weather that fall under the category of precipitation.
What is precipitation? Precipitation is any water that falls to the Earth’s surface from the atmosphere. Precipitation occurs when the air becomes saturated with water vapour. The vapour condenses and falls from the sky. The state it reaches the Earth's surface in depends on a number of different factors such as altitude and temperature. What different types of precipitation can you think of?
Why does it rain? Why does it rain? By the end of this section, you will: • Be able to identify the three main types of rainfall. • Know why rain forms in these different scenarios. • Know the differences between the three types of rainfall.
Why does it rain? There are three types of rain: relief rainfall, convectional rainfall and frontal rainfall. • In all three situations, rainfall occurs because air rises. • Air contains water vapour. As the air rises it cools and condensation can occur. • This means that the water vapour turns into droplets of water and falls as rain. What are the differences between the three main types of rainfall?
Summary activities Summary activities By the end of this section, you will: • Be confident in your knowledge of weather and climate. • Know how to use and spell important terminology relating to weather and climate.
