Candidates should be able to:
Describe how weather data
are collected
2.4 Weather Make calculations using
Further guidance information from weather
Describe and explain the instruments
characteristics, siting and use
made of a Stevenson Screen Rain Use and interpret graphs
gauge, maximum-minimum
thermometer, wet-and-dry bulb
and other diagrams showing
thermometer (hygrometer), weather and climate data
sunshine recorder, barometer,
anemometer and wind vane, along
with simple digital instruments
which can be used for weather
observations; observations of
types and amounts of cloud
What is weather?
Weather describes the
state of the atmosphere
at any particular time.
Weather can be
described in terms of
temperature,
precipitation (snow, rain
& hail), wind speed and
direction, visibility and
cloud amounts.
What is Climate?
Climate describes the
average weather of a
particular part of the
world at different times
of the year
In Britain we would
expect cool summers
and mild winters with
moderate rainfall
throughout the year
The Weather Station
A weather station
makes continuous
measurements of
different aspects of the
weather.
Weather stations use
standard instruments
so that their readings
can be compared.
Instruments
Rain gauge
maximum-minimum thermometer
wet-and-dry bulb thermometer (hygrometer)
sunshine recorder
barometer
anemometer and wind vane,
HOWEVER…
You can make weather measurements with equipment
a lot cheaper and simpler than the kit shown on the
previous slide which is an official Met Office station.
Please see www.metlink.org for more information.
Temperature
Temperature is
recorded using
thermometers housed
inside a Stevenson
screen
Weather stations record
both air temperature
and the temperature of
the ground
Temperature: The Stevenson Screen
Why is the screen
painted white?
Why is it raised on legs
above the ground?
Why has it got louvred
sides?
Precipitation
Rainfall, snow, hail and
fog.
Rainfall is measured in
a raingauge.
Some raingauges
record rainfall
automatically whilst
others are emptied
everyday by an
observer
Wind
The direction and
strength of the wind are
both measured
A wind vane measures
direction
An anemometer records
strength
Wind strength can also be
measured using the
Beaufort Scale
The Beaufort Scale
Pressure
Pressure is the weight of
the atmosphere
When air rises pressure
falls
When air sinks pressure
increases
Pressure controls the type
of weather
Barometers and
barographs record
pressure
Recording pressure
Sunshine
A note is made of the
number of hours of
bright sunshine each
day
Sunshine is traditionally
measured using a
Campbell-Stokes
sunshine recorder
Cloud
The amount of the sky
obscured by cloud
Different types of clouds
Sometimes even the
speed and direction in
which the clouds are
moving are recorded
using a nephoscope
Classification of clouds
Clouds are classified according to their height above and
appearance (texture) from the ground.
Stratus/strato: flat/layered and smooth
Cumulus/cumulo: heaped up/puffy, like cauliflower
Cirrus/cirro: high up/wispy
Alto: medium level
Nimbus/Nimbo: rain-bearing cloud
High clouds (CH)
High cloud types
Cirrus
Cirrocumulus
Cirrostratus
High-level clouds occur above about 20,000 feet and are given the
prefix "cirro-". Due to cold tropospheric temperatures at these levels,
the clouds primarily are composed of ice crystals, and often appear
thin, streaky, and white (although a low sun angle, e.g., near sunset,
can create an array of color on the clouds).
Medium clouds (CM)
Base usually between 6,500 and 20,000 ft.
Medium cloud types
Altocumulus
Altostratus
Nimbostratus
Low clouds (CL)
Base usually below 6,500 ft
Low cloud types
Stratocumulus
Stratus
Cumulus
Cumulonimbus
Cloud Types -
Cumulonimbus
Cloud Types - Cumulus
Cloud Types - Stratus
Cloud Types - Cirrus
eather
i tain’s W
Br
Seasons
The
Temperature
In summer it gets
warmer the further
south you go
In winter it gets warmer
the further west you go
In Britain temperature is
affected by latitude
and the sea
Temperature: Latitude
Temperature: Summer &
Winter
In winter the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the
sun so the sun’s rays are weaker
In summer the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the
sun so the sun’s rays are stronger
Temperature: Summer &
Winter
During the course of
the year the Earth tilts
towards and away from
the sun
The mid-points of this
cycle are called the
equinoxes (spring and
autumn)
Temperature: The Sea
The North
Atlantic Drift is
a warm ocean
current
originating in the
Caribbean
It moves across
the Atlantic
keeping the west
of Britain warmer
than the east in
winter
Winter in Canada & Britain
Rainfall
In Britain it rains the
most in the west and in
mountainous areas
Rain is brought across
Britain from weather
systems called
depressions
In summer showers
result from convection
on warm days
How it rains
The surface is heated by
the sun
Air rises
Air expands and cools
Air condenses
Water droplets grow to
form raindrops
Air can rise in different
ways
Relief rainfall
Cyclonic Rainfall
Depressions are areas
of low pressure formed
when cold and warm air
meet
The warm air rises
above the cold air to
form a front
There are two types of
fronts depending on the
way in which the air
masses are moving.
Cyclonic Rainfall: Fronts
Warm fronts form
where warm air moves
towards cold air
Cold fronts form where
cold air moves towards
warm air
As air rises at fronts
both are responsible for
rain
Convectional rainfall
Common on hot summer
days inland
Hot air rises quickly and
condenses to form
cumulonimbus
Water freezes at the top
of the cloud forming hail
Associated with lightning
Fair Weather
Fair weather is produced
by high pressure
High pressure forms
anticyclones
Air sinks and prevents the
formation of rain clouds
Anticyclones cause
heatwaves in summer and
frosty/foggy mornings in
winter
Forecasting the Weather
Modern forecasts use
computers to simulate
the likely weather
based on careful
observations from 100s
of weather stations
round the world
Satellite images and
radar give a better
picture of the weather
over a wide area
A Satellite Image
A Radar Image
Cyclonic rainfall
moving in from the
west
The brighter the
colour, the heavier
the rainfall
Mountains intensify
the rain such as over
the Scottish
Highlands
The Weather Map
Weather maps
summarise the weather
over a wide area using
symbols
What symbols are used
for: pressure, wind
direction & strength,
cloud cover and
rainfall?
Weather
This Powerpoint presentation was produced specially
for the Department of Geography & Geology at
Northamptonshire Grammar School
May 2005
© M J Lewis
