The document provides an introduction to weather and climate, particularly focusing on temperature as a key element of weather and its influencing factors such as latitude, altitude, and distance from the sea. It explains the distinctions between weather (short-term atmospheric conditions) and climate (long-term patterns), along with how these elements impact temperature variations in different regions. The lesson concludes with a reflection on key takeaways and areas of uncertainty.

1. Intro to Weather and Climate:
Temperature
Arman Alluwie TP2 SHSS 1

2. Lesson objectives
• By the end of the lesson, we will be able to
– differentiate between weather and climate
– describe temperature as an element of weather
– describe the factors affecting temperature
2

3. Singapore Weather?
3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKa6brIbdYo

4. Weather or Climate?
Sentence describes … W or C?
Some plantation crops like rubber, coffee and oil palm
are grown in places that are hot and wet.
It has been snowing these past few days.
There are many ships docked in the harbor because
of the impending storm.
4
C
W
W

5. Weather or Climate?
Sentence describes … W or C?
A large number of Europeans leave their countries for
holidays during the months of October to December in order
to escape winter.
Heavy thunderstorms are expected over the northern and
western parts of Singapore for the next two weeks.
The hot and wet conditions in tropical countries like Singapore
support the growth of vegetation all year round.
5
C
C
W

6. Weather or Climate?
• Weather
– conditions of the atmosphere at a specific place
over a relatively short period of time
– Changes from day to day
• Climate
– average weather conditions of a specific place
over a considerable period of time, usually 30 to
35 years
6

7. Weather VS Climate
Condition of the
atmosphere at a
particular place
over a short
period of time
Weather
Weather pattern
of a place over a
long period of
time, usually >30
years
Climate

8. Elements of Weather
Temperature
Latitude
Altitude
Distance
From The Sea
Cloud Cover
Relative
Humidity
Condensation
Saturation
Evaporation
Precipitation
Convectional
Rain
Relief Rain
Pressure and
Winds
Sea Breeze
Land Breeze
Monsoon
Winds
8

9. Elements of Weather:
Temperature
• degree of hotness and coldness of a place
• affected by the amount of Sun’s rays that
reaches Earth’s surface
– latitude
– altitude
– distance from the sea
– cloud cover
Arman Alluwie TP2 SHSS 9

10. Factors Influencing Temperature
• Latitude: the distance (in degrees) to the north
and south of the Equator
• Q: Why are temperatures at the Poles & Equator
different?
– Hint: It has something to do with the shape of the Earth!
– A: The Sun’s rays travel different distances & strike the
Earth’s surface at different angles.

11. Temperature:
Latitude
11
Latitude
warmer
cooler
cooler

12. Temperature:
Latitude
12
short long

13. Q: Why are temperatures at the Poles & Equator
different?
• Sun’s rays travel different distances & strike Earth’s surface at
different angles  uneven distribution over Earth’s surface!
– Higher concentration on/near Equator (LOW LATITUDE)
• Sun rays strike Earth’s surface perpendicularly!
• They travel shorter distance spread over small area of land
– Lower concentration near the poles (HIGH LATITUDE)
• Sun rays strike Earth’s surface at an angle!
• Sun rays travel longer distance & directed over bigger area of land.
• Absorbed by atmosphere / reflected back into outer space
Equator Sun’s rays
Sun’s rays
Sun’s rays

14. 2a. Factors Influencing Temperature
• Altitude: the height of a point above the sea
level
• Temperature decreases as altitude increases.
– Normal Lapse Rate / Adiabatic Lapse Rate: On
average, temperature falls by about 6.5C for every
1,000 metres increase in altitude.
• Q: Why?

15. 2a. Factors Influencing Temperature
Altitude
• Places near the sea level (low altitude)
are warmer
– Earth’s surface absorbs heat from the Sun
directly (larger land surface area)
– and heats up the dense air above it through
conduction
• Places further away from the sea level
(high altitude) are cooler
– Air is thin  smaller concentration of gas,
dust and water vapour to trap heat
– Smaller land surface area for conduction
• e.g. Genting Highlands, Cameron Highlands

16. Temperature:
Altitude
16
at lower ground there is a larger area of land,
 much warmer at lower ground
20°C
7.2°C

17. Temperature:
Altitude
17
6000
0 sea level
2000
4000
concentration of gases
increasinggravitationalpull
m

18. Temperature:
Altitude
18
6000
0 sea level
2000
4000
absorbs more heat
absorbs less heat
heat transferred by
conduction and convection
m

19. 2a. Factors Influencing Temperature
• Distance from the sea: the difference in the
rate of heating and cooling of land and sea
has an effect on the temperatures of coastal
areas.
– Land heats up and cools down
more quickly than the sea.
• Q: Why?

20. Temperature:
Distance from the Sea
• how coastal areas are
affected by the
difference in the rate of
heating and cooling of
land and sea
20

21. • Near to the sea – Maritime effect
– Definition: the effect that large ocean bodies have on the climate
of coastal areas
• Q: Summer and winter?
Coastal areas experience cooler summers & warmer winters due
to the maritime effect.
They have a smaller temperature range at an annual scale.
Land Sea
Summer Air heats up
quickly
Air gains heat
slowly
Winter Air loses heat
quickly
Air loses heat
slowly

22. • Far from the sea – Continental effect
Definition: the effect that continental surfaces have on the
climate of inland areas far away from the sea
Inland areas experience warmer summers and cooler winters
as they are not influenced by the sea.
These places have a larger temperature range at an annual
scale.
Land
Summer Air heats up
quickly
Winter Air loses heat
quickly

23. Temperature:
Distance from the Sea
23
Water Bodies
Concept: Water bodies heats up and cools down slower
Land bodies
S L O W E R

24. Temperature:
Distance from the Sea
24
Water BodiesLand bodies
S L O W E R
Summer, air heats up quickly air heats up slowly
 relatively cool

25. Temperature:
Distance from the Sea
25
Water BodiesLand bodies
S L O W E R
Winter, air cools down quickly air cools down slowly
 relatively warm

26. Temperature of Singapore VS
Sahara Desert at night?

27. • Cloud cover: the amount of clouds over an area
• Influences the amount of solar radiation
entering/leaving the atmosphere.
 Places with more cloud cover  smaller difference in day &
night temperatures.
 Places with less cloud cover  larger difference in day &
night temperatures. (e.g. deserts)
Presence of clouds Absence of clouds
Day Less solar radiation
absorbed by land
More solar radiation
absorbed by land
Night Less heat escaping into
outer space
More heat escaping into
outer space
2a. Factors Influencing Temperature

28. You have learnt to:
1. differentiate between weather and climate
2. describe the elements of weather
• temperature

29. 3-2-1!
• 3 things that you learned from this lesson
• 2 things that you are not so sure about
• 1 thing you are still curious about and would
want to know more