7 Elements of Weather: Temperature, Cloud, Wind, Sunshine, Pressure, Humidity, Precipitation

7 Elements of Weather: Temperature, Cloud, Wind, Sunshine, Pressure, Humidity, Precipitation YouTube Lecture Handouts Part 1

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Title: Weather & Climate

Illustration: Weather & Climate
  • Weather forecast by meteorological department on radio, TV
  • Weather instruments gather data based on weather maps – ships, weather rockets, weather balloons and weather satellites
  • GEOS – Geostationary operational environmental satellites (GOES) – continuously monitor conditions of tornado, flash floods, hailstorms,
  • Weather
    • Small area
    • Short time
    • Change frequently
    • Day to day conditions with regard to temperature, humidity, wind, pressure, rainfall
  • Climate
    • Large area
    • Long time
    • Average weather conditions
    • Time of 20 to 30 years

7 Elements of Weather

Weather - Temperature

  • How hot or cold
  • Depends on latitude, altitude, distance from sea, terrain, soil, ocean current, wind, time of day, vegetation

Weather: Pressure

  • Atm pressure is pressure exerted by weight of atmosphere on earth surface – varies with time and place
  • Occurs due to differential heating – cause movement of wind which serves as means of transporting heat and moisture
  • Pressure at point is determined by temperature and density
  • Atmospheric pressure decreases with increase in altitude and also inversely proportional to temperature
  • Measured by mercury barometer
  • Standard pressure is 29.92 inches or 76 cm of Mercury column

Weather: Wind

  • Wind direction affects temperature
  • Winds from warm areas will increase temperature

Weather: Humidity

  • Amount of water vapor in atmosphere
  • Absolute humidity – actual amount of water vapor in the atmosphere – in gm/cubic meters
  • Relative humidity – ratio of actual amount of water vapor to the total amount air can hold at a given temperature – in %

Weather: Precipitation

  • Water in liquid or solid form falling on earth
  • Snow, hail, rain, sleet, drizzle
  • Explained as deposition of atmospheric moisture and important part of hydrological cycle

Weather: Sunshine

  • Sunshine is determined at latitude, amount of cloud cover and seasons
  • Places near tropics have higher sunshine
  • Summers have longer hours of sunshine
  • Haze, mist and fog reduce sunshine

Weather: Clouds

  • Cloud is mass of water droplets or ice crystals that float in air
  • When temperature is below dew point water condenses into droplets such as dust or smoke – called as condensation nuclei – help to form clouds
  • Cloud appears white because droplet and crystals scatter light
  • When cloud block sunlight they appear grey
Illustration: Weather: Clouds
  • Cirrus – feathery at 5 to 10 km – tiny ice crystals like wisps of cotton floating in sky
  • Cumulus – cauliflower like - great vertical height and flat base – cause lightning or thunder – white or grey in color.
  • Stratus – sheet like clouds – low level 2 km high – grey and dull
  • Nimbus – real rain clouds, thick, dark, black and cause continuous rains

Weather Instruments

Weather instruments collect climate data and help prepare maps and charts. It is observed by:

  • Temperature- Thermometer - /
  • Atmospheric Pressure -Barometer -Millibars
  • Wind (Direction) -Wind Vane -Cardinal points
  • Wind (Velocity) - Anemometer -Km/hr
  • Rainfall -Rain Gauge- mm/cm
  • Humidity – wet and dry thermometer
  • Sunshine - sundials

✍ Manishika