Dynamic Earth : Weather Systems © 2008 Michael Doig Day 1 - Weather Instruments

Dynamic Earth: Weather Systems

© 2008 Michael Doig

Day 1 - Weather Instruments


•The term weather describes the state of the air at a particular place and time.

•Weather can change from minute-to-minute, hour-to-hour, day-to-day, and season-to-season.

Weather


Climate


•The normal pattern of weather experienced in a particular area over a long period of time is known as the climate.

•For example, tropical countries have hot climates and the Antarctic has a cold climate.



•Temperature, pressure, air movement, and moisture are the four critical factors that determine weather.

4 Weather Factors


•Latitude, proximity to water, proximity to mountains and elevation are four critical factors that determine climate.

4 Climate Factors

Daily Weather Variables


•Date & Time - Calendar & Chronograph

•Temperature - Celsius Thermometer

•Air Pressure - Barometer

•Relative Humidity - Psychrometer

•Dew Point - Dew Point Apparatus

•Rain - Rain Gauge

•Wind Speed - Estimate

•Wind Direction - Weather Vane

•Visibility - Estimate


Temperature




Air Pressure



Humidity




•Page 31

•0 mph - Smoke rises

•1-3 mph - Smoke drifts

•4-7 mph - Flags stir

•8-12 mph - Leaves move

•13-18 mph - Tree branches move

•18-24 mph - Trees sway

•25-31 mph - Flags beat

•32-38 mph - Flags extend

Estimating Wind Speed

Station Models


•A station model is a symbolic illustration showing the weather occurring at a given reporting station.

•Meteorologists created the station model to plot a number of weather elements in a small space on weather maps.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_station



Documents

Dynamic Earth : Weather Systems © 2008 Michael Doig Day 1 - Weather Instruments