Weather: condition of the atmosphere,
changes day to day
Climate: Average weather conditions over longer
periods in a particular area
Meteorology: study of weather and climate
Meteorologist: studies weather/climate
What do we measure?
Wind speed and direction
Wind blowing FROM! compass/wind vane
Wind direction: measure anemometer
Strength of wind measured
on Beaufort Scale
Beaufort number 0: calm/ Beaufort
Number 12: hurricane
Humidity:water/moisture in air
units are measured in percentages
measured with hygrometer
uses wet and dry bulb thermometer
Sunshine
measured with pyranometer
Precipitation(rain, hail, snow)
Rain Gauge/Automatic tipping bucket
gauge
Funnel with graduated
container/measure mm
of rainfall
Temperature
Measured by thermometer (should
have air circulating around it and
away from direct sunlight)
Stevenson Screen:wooden box with slatted
sides/legs to keep off ground/sloping roof/painted
white to reflect sunlight
Air pressure
measured by Barometer measured in millibars (higher number means higher air pressure)
air is light but because so much above us, it exerts a pressure
Anticyclone: high pressure, air falls --> no clouds/clear
sky (In summer: clear sky/settled fine weather, Winter:clear
sky/cold temp)
Depression: low pressure area/, air rises ---> rain/unsettled weather
Cloud cover and visibility
measured using units called Oktas (1 okta = 1/8
sky covered by clouds)
Synoptic chart: summarises weather
symbols at that time, using weather stations,
satelites, planes, balloons
Cloud types: according to height and shape
circulonimbus
stratus: look layered
nimbus: bring rain
cumulus
UK Climate
4 seasons
Mild climate (as in temperate climate zone)
different temperature/rainfall in different parts of UK
South: warm Summer/ North: cool Summer
West: mild Winter/ East: cold Winters
West:wetter/ East: drier
why does it rain more in the west?
winds from atlantic ocean bringing moist air
lots of highland areas in the west
What affects temp in UK?
Altitude
Temperature decreases with altitude (as you go higher) as air higher up is
less dense. (1 degree drop in temp as you go up 100m altitude)
Latitude
further North --> less sun (high on Equator) therfefore cooler temp as you up North
Ocean currents
depends on whether the ocean current is a warm or cold one
Distance from sea
affects temperature of areas on coast. keeps area cooler in
summer and warmer in winter (why: because sea takes longer
to warm up and cool down than land area)