*Digital weather recording instruments

Instrument Benefits Disadvantages

Digital hand held hydrometer

Digital maximum-minimum thermometer

Tipping bucket rain gauge

Nowadays there are digital instruments which can give us more accurate weather data. Complete the table to show a description of how it works and the advantages and disadvantages of each. Due Thursday 27th November – page 175 (big textbook)

L/O: to be able to interpret weather and climate data and give reasons for the location of particular climates

* Interpreting weather and climate data

Where to put it!On grassIn the middle of an open area – not sheltered by buildings or trees – WHY?

Date: 4th March 2011 Weather station A Weather station B

City/town/country

Ecosystem/climate

Max daily temp

Min daily temp

Daily temp range

Mean daily temp

Pressure (high/low)

Wind direction

Strongest wind

Precipitaion total

Precipitatiomn distribution

Weather event

*Lines of longitude and latitude

Lines of latitude and longitude are divided into degrees

On your world map:

a) Find 30°N and 31°E

The 08’ and the 24’ are the minutes as each degree is divided into 60 minutes for more accuracy.

b) Find the country at 1°N and 103°E

1

Egypt?

Singapore

World Climate Zones• Although there are

many climates in the world we are mainly interested in

• Equatorial• Desert• Savannah• Mediterranean• Marine west coast

These may be called something else on the map however they can be characterised by similar rainfall and temperatures.

What climate do our TWO countries have?

Egypt: Arid (very dry) Singapore: Tropical wet

*Weather data

* Ecosystem / climate zone / biome – use an atlas to find out the climate

* Maximum temperature – the highest temperature

* Minimum temperate – the lowest temperature

* Mean daily temperature – the average temperature

Add all the temps together and ÷ by the total number of temps

* Range of temperatures – the highest temperature to the lowest

* Humidity – how much water vapour there is in the air shown as a % or total amount of water there could be before it must rain/snow

* Pressure – the weight of the atmosphere

a) below 1013mb = low (worse weather) b) above 1013mb = high (fairer weather)

* Precipitation distribution – largest amount of water (rain/snow) to smallest amount

* Precipitation daily total – addition of all rain/snow fall

* Weather event – any particular weather recorded?

World Climate Zones or biomes• Although there are

many climates in the world we are mainly interested in

• Equatorial• Desert• Savannah• Mediterranean• Marine west coast

These may be called something else on the map however they can be characterised by similar rainfall and temperatures.

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/pd/oceans_weather_climate/media/climate_zones.swf

What causes differences in Climate

1. Latitude.• The further places are

away from the equator the colder they are.

• On the equator there is a lot of rainfall because the heat of the sun causes a lot of evaporation. This is why rainforests are found here – the equatorial climate.

Other Factors2. Altitude/ relief: as air rises it falls by 1 degree centigrade for every 100m. This means it is cooler in mountainous areas and more likely to rain as water condenses.

3. Prevailing Wind: This means the main wind direction.

If it comes from the sea it will bring moist air which will cause rain if the sea is warm enough. Not all areas will benefit however. See the diagram on the right. What is the area called not receiving rain.

Distance from Sea and Effect of Ocean Currents

4. Distance from Sea• Places by the sea often have a

lower temperature range and are wetter than places inland.

• In summer they are cooler but in winter they are warmer than inland.

• 5. Ocean Currents. Places that are near to cold currents are often colder and drier than they should be. Why?

Learning about Climate Graphs• You must be able to describe climate

graphs.• You need to be able to say what type

of climate it is

• Rainfall – What is the yearly total. Is it wet, dry or seasonal

When is the highest and the lowest rainfall.

• Temperature. – is it generally hot, cold or mild. When is the lowest month and the highest. What is the range of temperature. (difference between high and low)

Bars show rainfall

Line graph for temperature

What are the characteristics of each region – give data for each place!

• Equatorial

• Describe the equatorial climate

• Temperature range

• rainfall

Desert Climate

• Describe the climate graph.

• Thinkrainfalltemperaturerange

Mediterranean Climate

• Describe the climate Graph.

• Equatorial• Desert• Mediterranean

*Different climate zones research

You will be given one place in one country and the climate data and you will need to:

1) Use an atlas to find the climate zone of your location

2) Give the longitude and latitude references for your location

3) Create a neat climate graph for your location

4) Use your graph to describe the climate including:a) Temperature range, monthly and anuually

b) Annual rainfall distribution – highest to lowest

c) Average monthly temperatures

d) Average annual rainfall – amount of rain per year

5) Use the climate factors and the physical features from the atlas to explain the reasons for the climate of your area.