Weather and climate for Primary School kids

1. Weather and Climate

2. Weather vs. Climate
∗ Weather- refers to atmospheric conditions at a
specific moment
∗ It’s hot today, it’s going to rain tomorrow, etc.
∗ Climate- typical atmospheric conditions in an area
over a long period of time
∗ It’s hot in the summers, it usually snows in the winter

3. Atmospheric conditions
∗ Temperature- the amount of
heat in the atmosphere
∗ We can measure temperature
with a thermometer

4. Atmospheric Conditions
∗ Precipitation-water that falls
from the sky as rain, snow, or
hail
∗ We can measure precipitation
with a pluviometer, or rain
gauge

5. Atmospheric Conditions
∗ Wind- the movement of
air in the atmosphere
∗ Direction- weather vane
∗ Speed- anemometer
Anemometer
Weather Vane

6. Atmospheric Conditions
∗ Atmospheric Pressurecaused by the weight of
the air in the atmosphere
∗ We can measure this
pressure with a barometer
∗ When there is more air, the
pressure increases and the
weather is usually fair and
stable.
Barometer

10. Quiz
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What does an anemometer measure?
Wind Speed
What instrument can I use to measure precipitation?
Rain Gauge or pluviometer
What instrument can I use to find out the wind
direction?
Weather vane
What instrument can I use to measure temperature?
Thermometer
What instrument do I use to measure pressure?
Barometer

11. Factors that influence climate

12. Factors that influence climate
∗ Latitude
∗ Climate zones that are near
the Equator are usually warm
∗ The polar zones have lower
temperatures because the
Sun doesn’t shine directly on
these zones

13. Frigid Zone
∗ Indirect light all year
long
∗ Coolest temperatures
∗ Winters long, cold,
and dark
∗ Summers short, warm
∗ Low precipitation

15. Temperate Zone
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Indirect Light
Middle Latitude
4 season
Precipitation may be
plentiful, may be dry

17. Torrid zone or The Tropics
∗ Direct Light
∗ Near the equator
∗ Temperatures high all
year long
∗ Rain is plentiful or it is
very dry

19. Factors that Influence Climate
∗ Distance from bodies of water
∗ Water takes longer to heat up than land, and it also
takes longer to cool down again

20. Factors that Influence Climate
∗ Altitude
∗ Places at higher altitudes are usually colder than
places at lower altitudes
∗ At higher altitudes, climate is often wetter
∗ Clouds can’t hold a lot of water when it’s cold, so water
falls to the ground as precipitation

22. Factors that influence climate
∗ Latitude
∗ Distance from Bodies of water
∗ Altitude