This document summarizes different weather phenomena and tools used to study weather. It describes how temperature, wind, and precipitation are measured using instruments like a thermometer, anemometer, and rain gauge. It also explains different types of clouds, air masses, fronts, storms like hurricanes and tornadoes. Key weather terms are defined, such as humidity, high and low pressure systems, and how meteorologists use barometers and study changes in air pressure to predict weather patterns and conditions.

1. Weather Phenomena
SOL 4.6SOL 4.6
Follows along with
Interactive Notebook
notes

2. Weather Includes:
Temperature
Wind
Precipitation

3. Weather Instruments (Tools)
TemperatureTemperature- the measure of the amount of- the measure of the amount of
heat energyheat energy in the atmospherein the atmosphere
Measured using aMeasured using a
THERMOMETERTHERMOMETER

4. Additional Weather Instruments
Wind Speed is measured using anWind Speed is measured using an
ANEMOMETERANEMOMETER
Wind Direction isWind Direction is
measured using ameasured using a
WEATHER VAINWEATHER VAIN..

5. Additional Weather Instruments
AA RAIN GAUGERAIN GAUGE isis
used to measureused to measure
the amount ofthe amount of
precipitationprecipitation..

6. Precipitation Includes:
RainRain
SnowSnow
Formed by ice
crystals*

7. More types of Precipitation:
SleetSleet
HailHail
Formed by ice
crystals*
Mixture of snow and
rain

8. Air Masses and Fronts
Air MassesAir Masses: formed when air in the: formed when air in the
atmosphere is heated at the equator andatmosphere is heated at the equator and
cooled at the poles.cooled at the poles.
FrontsFronts: formed when two air masses of: formed when two air masses of
different temperatures and humidity* bumpdifferent temperatures and humidity* bump
into each other.into each other.
*Humidity*Humidity is the amount of water vaporis the amount of water vapor
in the air.in the air.

9. Types of Fronts
Cold frontCold front
Warm frontWarm front
Cold air mass
pushes into a
warm air mass.
Warm air mass
pushes into a cold
air mass.

10. Additional Weather Tools
Air pressureAir pressure is the result of the mass/weightis the result of the mass/weight
of the air and temperature pushing on itsof the air and temperature pushing on its
surroundings. (atmospheric pressure)surroundings. (atmospheric pressure)
Measured usingMeasured using
aa BAROMETERBAROMETER

11. Do weather forecasters use air
pressure to predict the weather?
High pressureHigh pressure areas are formed whenareas are formed when air isair is
cooled.cooled.
Low pressureLow pressure is formed whenis formed when air is warmedair is warmed..
Weather associated with low pressure areasWeather associated with low pressure areas
are: clouds, rain, and wind.are: clouds, rain, and wind.

12. Storms
Thunderstorms
Tornadoes
Hurricanes

13. Thunderstorms
Strong winds, heavy rain,
thunder, and lightning.
Most
common in
Virginia, but
when?
How are they
formed?

14. Hurricanes
Form over
warm water
Largest Storm on Earth!
How do they
begin?
What are some of
the characteristics
of a hurricane?

15. Tornados
Column of warm
air begins to spin
upward forming a
funnel cloud.
What types of wind
speed and what can
they do?

16. CLOUDS
Clouds are formed when warm airClouds are formed when warm air
carryingcarrying water vapor riseswater vapor rises from thefrom the
Earth and the water vaporEarth and the water vapor cools downcools down
andand connectconnect to each other.to each other.
Are all clouds the same?Are all clouds the same?

17. Cumulus
Fluffy, whiteFluffy, white
clouds withclouds with
flat bottoms.flat bottoms.
CumulusCumulus
clouds usuallyclouds usually
indicate fairindicate fair
weather.weather. (Middle)(Middle)
Resemble?

18. Cirrus
Feathery, wispy,Feathery, wispy,
clouds; associatedclouds; associated
with fair weather.with fair weather.
They often indicateThey often indicate
that rain or snowthat rain or snow
willwill fall withinfall within
hourshours.. (High)(High)
Made from?

19. Stratus
Flat, smooth,Flat, smooth,
gray clouds thatgray clouds that
blanket/coverblanket/cover
the whole sky.the whole sky.
(low)(low)
What type of weather?

20. • Foul weatherFoul weather
storm clouds thatstorm clouds that
bring heavybring heavy
rains andrains and
thunderstorms.thunderstorms.
Cumulo-nimbus
How are they formed?

21. Spot the cloud!
Low and flat …..Low and flat …..
Stratus

22. Spot the cloud!
Middle level,Middle level,
fluffy …..fluffy …..
Cumulus

23. Spot the cloud!
High level,High level,
wispy …..wispy …..
Cirrus

24. Spot the cloud!
Rain bearing,Rain bearing,
storm clouds …..storm clouds …..
Cumulo-Nimbus

25. Let’s Review 
It’s time to play the…It’s time to play the…

26. Cirrus CloudsCirrus Clouds Cold FrontCold Front Wind/WeatherWind/Weather
VaneVane
ThermometerThermometer HurricaneHurricane
High pressureHigh pressure SnowSnow Air MassesAir Masses CumulousCumulous
CloudsClouds
Low pressureLow pressure
PrecipitationPrecipitation BarometerBarometer SleetSleet Cumulo-nimbusCumulo-nimbus
CloudsClouds
HailHail
Rain GaugeRain Gauge Warm FrontWarm Front Air pressureAir pressure CloudsClouds ThunderstormThunderstorm
TornadoTornado AnemometerAnemometer Stratus CloudsStratus Clouds WeatherWeather MeteorologistsMeteorologists

27. The ABC’s of Weather
Draw a letter from the bag. Share a word or phraseDraw a letter from the bag. Share a word or phrase
that begins with the letter to summarize weather.that begins with the letter to summarize weather.
Tara Moore, Elementary Lead Science TeacherTara Moore, Elementary Lead Science Teacher
Suffolk Public SchoolsSuffolk Public Schools
October 2005October 2005
Some cloud slides adapted from John Harris, Radley College, UKSome cloud slides adapted from John Harris, Radley College, UK