Sec 1 Chapter 11: Weather & Climate

Chapter 11: Weather & Climate Notes

In Summary....... 

1. Difference (W-CS/C-PL)
2. Elements of Weather = Tom Ran West (TRV)
3a. Climate Type and it's conditions = Tom Rides Lexus Expensive Car (TRLEC)
3b. How to read and describe Climograph = Tom Ate Donut (TAD)
4. Impacts = Tom Ran West, plus minus (TRV+-)

1. Difference between Weather & Climate

• Weather refers to the condition of the atmosphere at a particular place over a short period of time. (Eg. Weather forecast that tells you if it is going to be a Hot day wtih High temperature OR a Cold rainy day with Low temperature)

• Climate refers to the weather pattern of a place over a long period of time, usually 30 years or more. (Eg. Hot & Wet climate in Singapore , Hot & Dry climate in Sahara Dessert; 4 seasons) 

• Difference?  Weather is changeble; happens over a short period of time & Climate is predictable; over a long period of time.

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2.  Elements of Weather & Climate  

(T.R.W) = Tom Ran West = Temperature Rainfall Wind

• Temperature is the degree of hotness and coldness of the air
• Varies from place to place depending on the location on Earth (altitude & latitude). North & South poles are extremely cold with very low temperatures and places nearer the equator are warmer with moderate temperature between 28-32 degree Celsius
• Measuring Temperature





• using a Maximum and Minimum Thermometer
• A Max Min Thermometer is placed in a  Stevenson Screen which is a white wooden box with louvres (allows air circulation & prevents direct sunlight/heat). It is placed about 1 meter above ground (to avoid heat radiated from ground to affect temperature) in a open field where air can circulate freely.
• Daily Maximum & Minimum Temperature                                                                    = Readings should be taken from the bottom of the Metal index.
• Mean Daily Temperature                                                                                                       = (Daily Max temp + Daily Min Temp) / 2
• Mean Monthly Temperature                                                                                                          = (Sum of Mean Daily Temp in the Month) / no. of days in the month
• Mean Yearly Temperature                                                                                                       = (Sum of Mean Monthly Temp in the year) / 12
• Daily Temperature Range                                                                                                        = Daily Max temp - Daily Min Temp

• Rainfall refers to the amount of rain that an area receives over a period of time
• Measuring Rainfall 
• using a Rainguage - placed in an open area where there is no obstructions.                                                                                              (click on the figure below to see the labelled diagram of a rainguage)
• The water will be measured using a measuring cylinder after 24 hrs/daily. This recordings will be then transferred to a Climograph.
• Climograh shows the Mean monthly temperature and the monthly rainfall in a place over a year. 
• With this you can now calculate;
• Daily Rainfall, Monthly Rainfall (add all daily rainfalls) & Annual Rainfall
• Rainfall is calculated in millimeters

• Wind :  How is Wind formed? 

• Wind is formed when air from a high pressure area rushes into an area of low pressure. Cool air (above ocean) sinks creating high pressured area. Concurrently, warm air above ground rises creating a low pressure area. This allows the air from the high pressure area to gush in forming WIND.. 
• Wind Direction 
• A Wind Vane - an instruments that is used to study Wind Direction (the direction from which the wind is blowing OR the direction to where the wind is blowing)
• The arrow points to the direction from which the wind is blowing (NW
• The back of the arrow points to where the wind is blowing (SE)

• Where to place a Wind Vane 
• High, open space, no obstruction & visible to people
• Wind Rose (TB, Pg 143)
• records the wind direction
• The no. of calm days is recorded in the center circle.
• Calm days = days with not much wind
• The rectangle boxes represent each day of a month. So you are able to know the direction of the wind for all the days of the month.
• Calculating Wind Speed = Using an Anemometer

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3a.  Major Climate Types and it's Conditions 

 *** Conditions of a climate = (TRLEC) = Tom Rides Lexus Expensive Car

T=Temperateure, R=Rainfall, L-Location/latitude, E=Example of country within that latitude, C=Climate

• Tropical Climate

             Conditions of Tropical Climate

• Located between the latitudes 23.5N ans 23.5S
•  Does not experience 4 seasons,
•  High Temperature (between 26 -32/34 degree Celsius) & High Annual Rainfall throughout the year. 
• Temperature range is very small.
• Eg: Singapore

• Temperate Climate

             

             Conditions of Temperate Climate

• Located between the latitudes 23.5N/S ans 66.5 N/S
• Experiences all 4 seasons, 
• Moderate temperature compared to tropical climate (between 34 - 0 degree Celsius)
• very high & very low Temperatures
• Temperature range is large.
• Moderate Annual Rainfall 
• Eg: United Kingdom

• Polar Climate

• Characteristics of Polar Climate
• Located between the latitudes  66.5N & 90N and 66.5S & 90S
• Also known as tundra climate
• Extremely Cold; Very Low Temperature
• Temperature below 0 degrees Celsius
• Low Rainfall in the form of precipitation
• Eg: Antarctica, Greenland & Iceland  (No humans live there!)

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3b.  Reading and Describing Climograph 

• using TAD (Tom Ate Donut)

• T - Time (when / period)                                 

•  

• A- Adjective (high,low,moderate)
  

• D - Data (figures)

• • But First, you need to find out 3 data/figures; 2 for Temperature & 1 for Rainfall

  
  
            Temperature 

• STEP 1: Mean Annual Temperature = (highest temp + lowest  temp) / 2

• STEP 2: Annual temperature range = Highest temp - Lowest temp

• Rainfall 

• STEP 3: Total Annual Rainfall = Add all monthly rainfall readings                                                      

•           STEP 5: Now using the 3 data from step 1-3, Write 3 statements with TAD!

Example: Describing a Climograph

a) Look at the Climograph below and describe the temperature and rainfall pattern of this particular country.
b) From the data that you have collected, can you tell which climate type this country belongs to?

a) Step 1: Mean Annual Temperature = (highest temp + lowest  temp) / 2

                    = (30°C+27°C) / 2 
                    = 57/2   = 28.5°C 

   Step 2: Annual temperature range = Highest temp - Lowest temp = 30°C-27°C = 3°C

   Step 3: Total Annual Rainfall     200mm+200mm+200mm+210mm+160mm+170mm+155mm+180mm+190mm+ 195mm+200mm = 2060mm/year

    Step 4:  TAD x 3

   The mean annual(T) temperature is high(A) at 28.5°C(D).                                                                     
   The annual(T) temperature range is small(A) at about 3°C(D).                                                             
   The annual(T) rainfall is high(A), about 2060mm(D).

b) This country belongs to the Tropical Climate as it shows high temperature and rainfall throughout the year. 

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4. Impacts of Weather (TRV+-)

          Tom Ran West, plus minus

How does weather affect us positively and negatively? 

• Temperature
• High Temp = Good or Bad & WHY?

              Eg. Singapore gets more hotter... what will happen?

                     For Singapore it is bad as there will be Less outdoor activities,  

                     more use of electricity (install more air-cons, fans)
                     &

                     Good for people in a colder country would prefer a  

                     higher temperature.   

                   

• Low Temp = Good or Bad & WHY?

                  In Singapore it is Good as People use lesser electricity, more outdoor    

                  activities such as picnics, kite flying and it may also attract more 

                  tourist to the country. 

• Rain
• Too much rain = Good or Bad & WHY?

                 Good as it can help countries with lower annual rainfall for         

                 agriculture and as a water resource.
                 &
                 Bad as it may cause floods. This can destroy lives and properties.

• Too Little Rain

                  Good for countries with more annual rainfall (Tropical Climate) as it  

                  can prevent flooding.
                  &

                  Bad for for countries with less annual rainfall (Temperate Climate)  

                  as it can affect the growth of crops / be too hot during summer and too cold during    
                  winter. 

• Wind
• Too much Wind

                  Good as strong wind can be be used to generate electricity. (Windmills)

                  &

                  Bad as it can be a natural disaster (Eg. Tornados) which causes loss of lives and  
                  properties.