Ch 3 - FACTORS AFFECTING CLIMATE AND WEATHER
Objective:
At the end of session the student will be able to
- differentiate between weather and climate
- identify the different instruments used to measure rainfall and temperature
- list down the factors affecting the climate namely distance from the equator
- Moisture in the air and Direction of the wind
- Distance from the sea, Altitude and Moisture in the air
Objective:
At the end of session the student will be able to
- differentiate between weather and climate
- identify the different instruments used to measure rainfall and temperature
- list down the factors affecting the climate namely distance from the equator
- Moisture in the air and Direction of the wind
- Distance from the sea, Altitude and Moisture in the air
Weather is all around us. Weather may be one of the first things you notice after you wake up. Chances are, if it is cold, you'll wear a jacket when you go outside. If it's hot and sunny, you may wear shorts. Sounds pretty simple, right? But what about climate? How is it different from weather? And what is weather, exactly? Weather : Weather describes whatever is happening outdoors in a given place at a given time. Weather is what happens from minute to minute. The weather can change a lot within a very short time. For example, it may rain for an hour and then become sunny and clear. Weather is what we hear about on the television news every night. Weather includes daily changes in precipitation, temperature, and wind conditions in a given location. What is your weather like today? Climate Meteorologists record weather every day. The continuous recording of weather information helps in determining the climate of an area. Climate describes the total of all weather occurring over a period of years in a given place. This includes average weather conditions, regular weather sequences (like winter, summer and monsoon), and special weather events (like tornadoes and floods). Climate tells us what it's usually like in the place where you live. Manali has a cold climate, Mumbai has a humid climate. How would you describe the climate where you live? So, |
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What makes the climate change from place to place? There are a number of factors which affect the climate of a place. Following are the important factors affecting the climate.
1) DISTANCE FROM THE EQUATOR:
For understanding the influence of this factor, first it is important to know the climatic zones of the earth.
1) DISTANCE FROM THE EQUATOR:
For understanding the influence of this factor, first it is important to know the climatic zones of the earth.
There are three climatic zones:
1) Torrid Zone: The areas from 0° to 23½° to the north and south of equator is called the hot or Torrid Zone. The sunrays fall straight on the Torrid Zone and so the places near the equator are extremely hot.
2) Temperate Zone: The areas from 23½° to 66½° to the north and south of the equator is called the Temperate Zone. The slanting rays of the sun fall over a large area and are less hot and so the places in the Temperate Zone are having a moderate climate.
3) Frigid Zone. The areas from 66½° to 90° from the north and the south of the equator is called the Frigid Zone. The sun rays are very slanting at the poles and so it does not receive any sunlight for months together. Therefore, places in the Frigid Zone are extremely cold throughout the year.
Direction of the winds:
The movement of the air from one direction to the other is called wind. The winds while blowing in various direction carry along with them the cool sea breeze or hot air. The temperature of the place becomes cool when winds get sea air or moist winds with them. In the same way when winds carry hot winds with them they raise the temperature of the region they are blowing through. Sometimes, winds cause rains at some places by carrying clouds with them. Thus winds help in modifying the climatic conditions of a place.
1) Torrid Zone: The areas from 0° to 23½° to the north and south of equator is called the hot or Torrid Zone. The sunrays fall straight on the Torrid Zone and so the places near the equator are extremely hot.
2) Temperate Zone: The areas from 23½° to 66½° to the north and south of the equator is called the Temperate Zone. The slanting rays of the sun fall over a large area and are less hot and so the places in the Temperate Zone are having a moderate climate.
3) Frigid Zone. The areas from 66½° to 90° from the north and the south of the equator is called the Frigid Zone. The sun rays are very slanting at the poles and so it does not receive any sunlight for months together. Therefore, places in the Frigid Zone are extremely cold throughout the year.
Direction of the winds:
The movement of the air from one direction to the other is called wind. The winds while blowing in various direction carry along with them the cool sea breeze or hot air. The temperature of the place becomes cool when winds get sea air or moist winds with them. In the same way when winds carry hot winds with them they raise the temperature of the region they are blowing through. Sometimes, winds cause rains at some places by carrying clouds with them. Thus winds help in modifying the climatic conditions of a place.
1) Distance from the sea:
The climate of a place near the sea is neither very hot nor very cold. This is because land heats up and cools down quickly. Therefore the distance from the sea is a very important factor that influences the climate. Mumbai is in the Torrid Zone but is located near the sea coast. All places lying close to the equator suffer extreme type of climate but Mumbai enjoys moderate climate which is neither too hot nor too cold. Nagpur is far from the sea coast and has hot climate. Thus the distance from the sea has altered the otherwise hot climate of Mumbai into moderate type. So the places away from the sea are hotter in summer and colder in winter.
The climate of a place near the sea is neither very hot nor very cold. This is because land heats up and cools down quickly. Therefore the distance from the sea is a very important factor that influences the climate. Mumbai is in the Torrid Zone but is located near the sea coast. All places lying close to the equator suffer extreme type of climate but Mumbai enjoys moderate climate which is neither too hot nor too cold. Nagpur is far from the sea coast and has hot climate. Thus the distance from the sea has altered the otherwise hot climate of Mumbai into moderate type. So the places away from the sea are hotter in summer and colder in winter.
1) Height above the sea level/Altitude of a place:
Altitude means height. The altitude of a place is its height above the sea level. Places at high altitudes in the hills and mountains, like Shimla and Darjeeling, are quite cold, and places which are at sea level, like Mumbai and Chennai, are usually much hotter. This is because as we go higher and higher above sea level, the air gets thinner. So, the rays of the sun pass through it without heating it much, while near the sea level the air is thick and retains the heat from the sun’s rays. Thus, even a mountain on the equator will have snow for a few months in the winter.
Altitude means height. The altitude of a place is its height above the sea level. Places at high altitudes in the hills and mountains, like Shimla and Darjeeling, are quite cold, and places which are at sea level, like Mumbai and Chennai, are usually much hotter. This is because as we go higher and higher above sea level, the air gets thinner. So, the rays of the sun pass through it without heating it much, while near the sea level the air is thick and retains the heat from the sun’s rays. Thus, even a mountain on the equator will have snow for a few months in the winter.
1) Humidity:
The presence of water or moisture in the air is called humidity. It is another important factor which determines the climate of a place. Humid climate causes suffocation and makes us sweat considerably. The quantity of humidity in the air depends upon the nearness of the place to the vast bodies of water (seas, oceans, rivers, etc) and the direction of the winds. The nearer the place is to the sea or ocean, the more humid it is likely to be.
The direction of wind plays a big part in bringing moisture into the air. The winds coming from the oceans or any large body of water are full of moisture. They make the weather humid. On the other hand, the winds blowing from the cold or dry areas decrease the humidity of the air.
The presence of water or moisture in the air is called humidity. It is another important factor which determines the climate of a place. Humid climate causes suffocation and makes us sweat considerably. The quantity of humidity in the air depends upon the nearness of the place to the vast bodies of water (seas, oceans, rivers, etc) and the direction of the winds. The nearer the place is to the sea or ocean, the more humid it is likely to be.
The direction of wind plays a big part in bringing moisture into the air. The winds coming from the oceans or any large body of water are full of moisture. They make the weather humid. On the other hand, the winds blowing from the cold or dry areas decrease the humidity of the air.
weather_instruments.pptx | |
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Measuring temperature and