CHAPTER 11 WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Let’s think about Singapore

Weather Is All Around Us Meteorologists are people who study the atmosphere Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular place over a short period of time Climate refers to the weather pattern of a place over a long period of time, usually 30 years or more The basic elements of weather and climate: Temperature Rainfall Wind

Meteorologists are people who study the atmosphere

Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular place over a short period of time

Climate refers to the weather pattern of a place over a long period of time, usually 30 years or more

The basic elements of weather and climate:

Temperature

Rainfall

Wind

Temperature Temperature refers to the degree of hotness or coldness of the air It varies throughout the day in a place The temperature rises and falls as the Earth rotates from west to east (seasons) Places nearer the Equator are warmer throughout the year than places farther away

Temperature refers to the degree of hotness or coldness of the air

It varies throughout the day in a place

The temperature rises and falls as the Earth rotates from west to east (seasons)

Places nearer the Equator are warmer throughout the year than places farther away

Temperature The temperature rises during the day and falls at night It also varies from place to place Temperature gets cooler as we go to higher grounds

The temperature rises during the day and falls at night

It also varies from place to place

Temperature gets cooler as we go to higher grounds

Altitude Refers to the height of the land Warm air rises – this air cools as it rises and thus temperature decreases as we increase with height Thus, temperature decreases with increasing height

Refers to the height of the land

Warm air rises – this air cools as it rises and thus temperature decreases as we increase with height

Thus, temperature decreases with increasing height

Latitude Places near the earth’s Equator (e.g.: Singapore, Malaysia) receive a higher concentration of Sun’s rays and thus more sunshine Places further away from the Equator (North pole, South pole) receive a lower concentration of sunshine as the sun’s rays are spread over a larger area. Thus that is why places further away from the equator are cooler.

Places near the earth’s Equator (e.g.: Singapore, Malaysia) receive a higher concentration of Sun’s rays and thus more sunshine

Places further away from the Equator (North pole, South pole) receive a lower concentration of sunshine as the sun’s rays are spread over a larger area.

Thus that is why places further away from the equator are cooler.

Measuring Temperature Air temperature is measured with a thermometer The scale is in degree Celsius ( º C) Daily maximum temperature refers to the highest temperature reading for the day Daily minimum temperature refers to the lowest temperature reading for the day Glass tube Mercury or alcohol

Air temperature is measured with a thermometer

The scale is in degree Celsius ( º C)

Daily maximum temperature refers to the highest temperature reading for the day

Daily minimum temperature refers to the lowest temperature reading for the day

Calculating Temperatures The mean daily temperature is the average temperature of a place on any one day Formula Mean daily temperature = Daily maximum Daily minimum temperature + temperature 2

The mean daily temperature is the average temperature of a place on any one day

Calculating Temperatures The daily temperature range is the difference between the maximum and minimum temperatures recorded in a day Formula Daily temperature range = Daily maximum Daily minimum temperature - temperature

The daily temperature range is the difference between the maximum and minimum temperatures recorded in a day

Calculating Temperatures The mean monthly temperature is the average temperature of a place in a month Formula Mean monthly temperature = Sum of mean daily temperatures for the month Number of days in the month

The mean monthly temperature is the average temperature of a place in a month

Calculating Temperatures The mean annual temperature is the average temperature in a place within a year Formula Mean annual temperature = Sum of mean monthly temperatures in the year 12

The mean annual temperature is the average temperature in a place within a year

Calculating Temperatures The annual temperature range is the difference between the maximum and minimum mean monthly temperatures recorded in a year Formula Annual temperature range = Maximum Minimum mean monthly - mean monthly temperature temperature

The annual temperature range is the difference between the maximum and minimum mean monthly temperatures recorded in a year