On 14th October 2012, Felix Baumgartner set a world record by jumping from the furthest point ever in the earth’s atmosphere.
He jumped from 39km up and reached a maximum speed of 1,357.64 km/h (843.6 mph).
What are the layers of the atmosphere?
What are the key elements of weather and climate?
Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular place over a short period of time, whereas climate refers to the weather pattern, using statistical data, of a place over a long enough period to have averages.
Climate is an important physical element because it indicates the atmospheric condition of heat, moisture and circulation; it plays a dominant role in shaping vegetation and soil; and it ultimately affects all forms of life.
There are many elements that make up both the weather and the climate of a geographical location. The most significant of these elements are temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, solar irradiance, humidity, precipitation, and topography.
Climate is an important physical element because it indicates the atmospheric condition of heat, moisture and circulation; it plays a dominant role in shaping vegetation and soil; and it ultimately affects all forms of life.
There are many elements that make up both the weather and the climate of a geographical location. The most significant of these elements are temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, solar irradiance, humidity, precipitation, and topography.
TASK
Use the key word links to define them in more detail using the wikipedia page information. Try and do this using 3 or 4 bullet points.
Add the key terms atmosphere, troposphere, stratosphere and tropopause and define them using an internet search.
You can see how they relate to each other from the diagrams below.
Use the key word links to define them in more detail using the wikipedia page information. Try and do this using 3 or 4 bullet points.
Add the key terms atmosphere, troposphere, stratosphere and tropopause and define them using an internet search.
You can see how they relate to each other from the diagrams below.
What do we mean by weather?
Often, we see weather as a daily event; cold, wet, sunny, etc. We have already seen that it is caused by factors far more complex than this, but it does have some basic elements. These tend to be temperature, wind strength, precipitation, cloud cover, etc.
Below are climate graphs for Geneva. They are the average of what elements of weather are expected at different times of the year.
Study them carefully and then answer the task questions below.
Below are climate graphs for Geneva. They are the average of what elements of weather are expected at different times of the year.
Study them carefully and then answer the task questions below.
TASK 1. The temperature in Geneva on February 23rd 2020 reached a high of 20 degrees C. How much above the monthly average was this? 2. How does the weather today compare with the expected average conditions? 3. Opposite is the monthly data for February in Geneva 2020. Calculate the average temperature for February this year. 4. How far outside of the expected norm were we this year? 5. Describe the weather today. Refer to:
6. Create a graph of temperature readings for February in Geneva. This can be a bar chart or line graph. |
How does the jet stream affect weather?
How do we measure and record weather?
Weather affects us in many ways. It affects what we do and what we wear, how we travel and even our moods. Meteorologists measure weather conditions in different places and use this information to report and make forecasts about future weather conditions. This is useful because people can be warned about hazardous weather conditions such as storms and floods...or clouds.
On a more serious note, extreme weather and its prediction can help save property, communities and lives. Long term climate changes can also help in better managing future events, such as drought and flooding.
What do we measure?
- Temperature
- Precipitation, eg rainfall
- Wind speed and direction
- Cloud cover and visibility
- Air pressure
- Humidity (amount of water vapour in the air)
- Sunshine
Temperature is measured in Celsius (°C) using a thermometer. The thermometer must be shaded from direct sunlight and should have air circulating around it. The thermometers can be placed in a Stevenson Screen. This is a wooden box with slatted sides, a sloping roof and legs to keep the screen off the ground. It is painted white to reflect the sun.
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TASK
1. Why is a Stevenson Screen painted white?
2. Why is it placed in an open space away from buildings?
1. Why is a Stevenson Screen painted white?
2. Why is it placed in an open space away from buildings?
A Six's thermometer measures both maximum and minimum temperatures for a particular day.
This set of data can give us daily temperature ranges (max minus min temp), mean daily temperature (max temp plus min temp divided by two), mean monthly temperature (total average daily temperatures divided by the number of days in the month) and mean annual temperature (total of the monthly means divided by 12)
The greatest temperature variation recorded in a day is 56 degrees C (100degrees F ) (a fall from 7C (44F) to -49C (-56F)) at Browning, Montana, USA on 23-24 Jan 1916.
The greatest temperature variation recorded in a day is 56 degrees C (100degrees F ) (a fall from 7C (44F) to -49C (-56F)) at Browning, Montana, USA on 23-24 Jan 1916.
Precipitation is measured using a rain gauge. This is a funnel inside a graduated container. The depth of the rain in millimetres can be read from the side of the container.
Wind direction is reported by the direction it is blowing from, according to the compass. Wind blowing from the west is travelling eastwards so is called a westerly wind, not an easterly wind.
TASK
1. Suggest at least 2 reasons why knowing the direction of prevailing wind would be important.
1. Suggest at least 2 reasons why knowing the direction of prevailing wind would be important.
Wind speed can be measured using an anemometer. The strength of the wind is measured on the Beaufort scale.
TASK
1. Give two examples where knowing accurate wind speeds would be important. Explain your answer.
1. Give two examples where knowing accurate wind speeds would be important. Explain your answer.
The Beaufort Scale
Air pressure. Air is light but because there is so much of it above us, it exerts a pressure on us. Air pressure is measured by a barometer. The units used are millibars. The greater the reading, the higher the pressure.
Relative humidity is the amount of water vapour in the air compared to the maximum amount there could possibly be at that temperature, written as a percentage (without any units). On a really wet and soggy day, the relative humidity is likely to be 90–100 percent; on a dry day, with a dry wind blowing, and little or no chance of rain, it's more likely to be 60–75 percent. When we talk about "humidity" as a percentage, we mean relative humidity.
The wet bulb is always at a lower temperature than the dry bulb unless humidity is at 100%. Basically, the greater the difference in temperature between the two bulbs, the lower the humidity and the drier the air is.
TASK
Use the relative humidity table opposite to answer the questions. All numbers are in degrees centigrade. 1. Work out the relative humidity when there is a dry bulb reading of 28 and wet bulb reading of 26. 2. Work out the relative humidity when there is a dry bulb reading of 6 and wet bulb reading of 2. 3. Work out the relative humidity when there is a dry bulb reading of -10 and wet bulb reading of -9. 4. What was the temperature reading of the wet bulb when the dry bulb reading 18 and the relative humidity was 72%? 5. What was the temperature reading of the wet bulb when the dry bulb reading 24 and the relative humidity was 100%? 6. Would we be likely to have snow if the dry bulb reading was minus 4 and the wet bulb reading was minus 8? |
Sunshine is measured using either Campbell-Stokes sunshine recorders or modern sunshine sensors.
TASK
Let's do some weather. Download these apps on your phone:
Make a cloud cover oktas recorder out of a piece of paper.
Take readings using all of the measuring devices.
Describe the weather today in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Let's do some weather. Download these apps on your phone:
- Barometer
- Wind speed and direction
- Humidity
- Thermometer
Make a cloud cover oktas recorder out of a piece of paper.
Take readings using all of the measuring devices.
Describe the weather today in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Synoptic chart symbols
A synoptic chart is any map that summarises atmospheric conditions over a wide area at a given time. It displays information on temperature, precipitation, wind speed and direction, atmospheric pressure and cloud coverage, all observed from many different weather stations, aeroplanes, balloons and satellites.
A synoptic chart is any map that summarises atmospheric conditions over a wide area at a given time. It displays information on temperature, precipitation, wind speed and direction, atmospheric pressure and cloud coverage, all observed from many different weather stations, aeroplanes, balloons and satellites.
Synoptic symbols used on weather charts
Combining synoptic chart symbols
TASK
Using the previous recordings from the phone apps for Lausanne, create a synoptic symbol report for the weather that day.
When complete and checked with a peer, complete the synoptic symbols exercise below.
Using the previous recordings from the phone apps for Lausanne, create a synoptic symbol report for the weather that day.
When complete and checked with a peer, complete the synoptic symbols exercise below.
Cloud types and extent
Main types of cloud
TASK
In your own words, write a paragraph that clearly describes the processes in the formation of a tropical storm.
In your own words, write a paragraph that clearly describes the processes in the formation of a tropical storm.
TASK
Watch the video and make notes on the connections between weather and climate in Africa and Australia.
Watch the video and make notes on the connections between weather and climate in Africa and Australia.
TASK
Having read and watched the video information on desertification, write a brief paragraph that summarises what you consider to be the most important cause of this on-going environmental and social problem.
This could be broken down into ideas such as political inaction, economic gain, environmental changes or extremes, population and resource pressures, etc.
Justify your thinking making logical links between your evaluations and the geographic issues and theory.
Having read and watched the video information on desertification, write a brief paragraph that summarises what you consider to be the most important cause of this on-going environmental and social problem.
This could be broken down into ideas such as political inaction, economic gain, environmental changes or extremes, population and resource pressures, etc.
Justify your thinking making logical links between your evaluations and the geographic issues and theory.
TASK
Watch the video and create 5 extended bullet points describing and explaining the most important management strategies and solutions for the reduction of desertification.
Watch the video and create 5 extended bullet points describing and explaining the most important management strategies and solutions for the reduction of desertification.