Francisca Gonzalez

Climate and Weather

Climate

•Climate is the average weather pattern in a place over many years. climates are

changing because the Earth is warming. However global climate change is

actually much more complicated than that because a change in the temperature

can cause changes in other weather elements such as clouds or precipitation.

Weather

•the mixture of events that happen each day in the atmosohere including

rainfall, temperature and humidity. Everyday, weather events are recorded and

predicted by meteorologists all around the world.

Weather and Climate

Weather describes the condition of the atmosphere over a short period of

time. Humidity, air temperature and pressure, wind speed and direction, cloud

cover and type, and the amount and form of precipitation are all atmospheric

characteristics of the momentary conditions wich are called weather. “Climate is

what you expect; weather is what you get”.The climate of an area or country is

known through the average weather over a long period of time

Difference

•The difference between weather and climate is a measure of time. Weather is

what conditions of the atmosphere are over a short period of time, and climate

is how the atmosphere “behaves” over relatively long periods of time.

Climate in the zone

Different types of weather

Differnet types of clouds

Cirrocumulus cloud: appear as small, rounded white puffs that appear in long

rows. The small ripples in the cirrocumulus clouds sometime look like the scales

of a fish. Cirrocumulus clouds are usually seen in the winter and indicate fair,

but cold weather. In tropical regions, they may indicate an approaching

hurricane.

Cirrostratus clouds: are thin, sheetlike high clouds that often cover the entire

sky. They are so thin that the sun and moon can be seen through them.

Cirrostratus clouds usually come 12-24 hours before a rain or snow storm.

Cirrus clouds: are the most common of the high clouds. They are composed of

ice and are thin, wispy clouds blown in high winds into long streamers. Cirrus

clouds are usually white and predict fair to pleasant weather. By watching the

movement of cirrus clouds you can tell from which direction weather is

approaching. When you see cirrus clouds, it usually indicates that a change in

the weather will occur within 24 hours.

Altostratus clouds: are gray or blue-gray mid level clouds composed of ice

crystals and water droplets. The clouds usually cover the entire sky. In the

thinner areas of the clouds, the sun may be dimly visible as a round disk.

Altostratus clouds often form ahead of storms with continuous rain or snow.

Altocumulus clouds: are mid level clouds that are made of water droplets and

appear as gray puffy masses. They usually form in groups. If you see

altocumulus clouds on a warm, sticky morning, be prepared to see

thunderstorms late in the afternoon.

Stratus clouds: are grayish clouds that often cover the entire sky. They look like

fog that doesn't reach the ground. Light mist sometimes falls out of these

clouds.

Stratocumulus clouds: are low, puffy and gray. Most form in rows with blue sky

visible in between them. Rain rarely occurs with stratocumulus clouds, however,

they can turn into nimbostratus clouds.

Cumulus clouds: are white, puffy clouds that look like pieces of floating cotton.

Cumulus clouds are often called "fair-weather clouds". The base of each cloud is

flat and the top of each cloud has rounded towers. When the top of the cumulus

clouds resemble the head of a cauliflower, it is called cumulus congestus or

towering cumulus. These clouds grow upward and they can develop into giant

cumulonimbus clouds, which are thunderstorm clouds.

Cumulonimbus clouds: are thunderstorm clouds. High winds can flatten the top

of the cloud into an anvil-like shape. Cumulonimbus clouds are associated with

heavy rain, snow, hail, lightning and even tornadoes. The anvil usually points in

the direction the storm is moving.

Watter vapor whithin clouds is a greenhousegas.it traps heat in the atmosphere

by bouncing energy back towards the Earth.

Atmosphere: All planets have an atmosphere, a layer of gases that surrounds

them. The Sun's atmosphere is made up of hydrogen, while Earth's is made up

primarily of nitrogen and oxygen. Carbon dioxide, ozone, and other gases are

also present. These gases keep our planet warm and protect us from the direct

effects of the Sun's radiation. Without this regulation, Earth could not sustain

life.

Greenhouse effect: The gases in the atmosphere that help retain heat are called

greenhouse gases. These gases, primarily carbon dioxide (CO2), absorb heat

instead of allowing it to escape into space. This "greenhouse effect" makes the

planet a hospitable place. However, greenhouse gases can have negative effects,

too. Human activity has increased the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.

During the past 25 years, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased

by about 8 percent. Humans are envolved in this because along time ago we

started burning fossilfuels, wich are encreasing a lot the greenhouse gasses.

With more CO2 in the atmosphere, more heat is absorbed and retained, causing

global temperatures to rise. Some scientists project that by the next century,

CO2 levels in the atmosphere could be twice what they are today, causing a

global temperature increase of about 3 degrees. Three degrees may not seem

like much, but even a few degrees can have serious consequences. Tropical

diseases could increase, since mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects

thrive in a warmer climate. Sea levels could rise, and coastal cities such as New

Orleans and Washington, D.C., could be battered by storm surges. Prosperous

farmland could dry up and agricultural regions could shift, wreaking havoc on

the global economy.

Climate depends on temperature and temperature depends on precipitation.

MLA

"What on EARTH Affects Climate?" What on EARTH Affecst Climate? Web. 22 May

2012. <http://www.eo.ucar.edu/kids/green/warming5.htm>.

"Weather -- Atmosphere." Weather -- Atmosphere. Web. 22 May 2012.

<http://www.learner.org/interactives/weather/atmosphere.html>.

"Weather Wiz Kids Weather Information for Kids." Weather Wiz Kids Weather

Information for Kids. Web. 22 May 2012. <http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-

clouds.htm>.

"Cloud Types!" Cloud Types! Web. 22 May 2012.

<http://eo.ucar.edu/webweather/cloud3.html>.