This document discusses weather and climate. It defines weather as the short-term atmospheric conditions including temperature, precipitation, wind, and cloud cover. Meteorology is the study of these conditions. A variety of instruments are used to measure and forecast weather, including thermometers, rain gauges, wind vanes, and cloud classification scales. Microclimates within small areas can differ due to physical features, shelter, surface types, and aspect. The water cycle and different types of rainfall like frontal, relief, and convectional rainfall are also explained. High and low pressure systems like anticyclones and depressions impact weather patterns.

1. Weather & Climate
Geography project
April 2012
Matthew Ben Hamed 3.2

2. Observing & Recording the Weather
• Weather is the condition of the air around us
over a short period of time ex. Rainy or cloudy.
• Meteorology is the study of the atmospheric
conditions & air circulation.
 A meteorologist is a person who studies the weather
& works at the meteorological (met) office.
 The met station is the place where they forecast the
weather.
There are a number of instruments which help in the
forecast of the weather.

3. Weather & Measurements
Description of weather Measurements used
1. Temperature - how hot or 1. Thermometer (⁰C)
cold it is.
2. Precipitation - how water 2. Rain Gauge (mm)
from the air falls to the
ground.
3. Beaufort Scale (force)
3. Wind Speed – How strong
the wind is blowing.
4. Wind Direction – From 4. Wind Vane
where the wind is blowing

4. Weather & Measurements(cont)
5. Cloud Cover - The 5. Octa (Factors of eight)
amount of sky covered
by clouds.
6. Cloud type - this is 6. Cumulonimbus,
based on the shape, cumulus, stratus &
size & height of the cirrus
cloud.
7. Meters
7. Visibility - the distance
that can be seen.
8. General weather – 8.Sunny, rainy, cloudy, etc.
Description in words of
the weather.

6. Weather Map

7. Features affecting
Temperature & Wind
• Microclimate is the climate conditions of a
small area which is different from the general
surrounding.
• What causes Microclimate?
Physical features - Forest, Hills, Lakes & Seas
Shelter - Walls, Trees, Hedges, Buildings
Surfaces - The color of the ground surface
Buildings - Provide shade from sun & shelter from wind
Aspect – The direction in which a place is facing

8. Places facing the sun will be warmer
than those in the shadow
Hilltops are usually cool
and windy
Water areas such as lakes have
a cooling effect and my also
produce light winds

9. How does it rain?
The water cycle (hydrological cycle) begins by
Evaporation & Evapotranspiration (water
changes from liquid to gas). As the moist air rises
it cools & water droplets form. Then
condensation occurs & cloud forms. As the water
droplets grow larger they become too heavy &
fall to the ground - precipitation which usually
happens in the form of rain. Then the surface
runoff goes back to sea.

11. Types of rainfall
• Frontal rainfall happens when a mass of warm
air meets a mass of cooler air.
• Warm air is lighter then cooler air & is forced
to rise.

12. Types of rainfall(cont)
• In Relief rainfall the warm moist air is forced
to rise over mountains.
• When the air rises, it cools, condensate & rain
falls.

13. Types of rainfall(cont)
• In Convectional rainfall the sun warms up the
ground, which warms up the air above it.
• The warm air rises, it cools, condensates &
rain falls.

14. Anticyclones
• Anticyclones are high pressure weather
system, which usually gives good weather.
• The air sinks, clouds do not form and
therefore no rain occurs.
• In summer, anticyclones bring hot and sunny
weather, whilst in winter they bring clear
skies, low temperatures with a risk of fog or
frost.

16. Depressions
• Depressions are low pressure weather systems
that produce cloudy and rainy weather.
• Depressions develop when warm air meets
cold air and bring a sequence of weather
changes as they pass overhead.
• Due to the rising of air caused by the
movement of the fronts and interaction
between the warm and cold air there are lots
of clouds and precipitation.

18. Thank you for
your time
The end