Weather

What is weather? What are weather instruments and where can they be found?
The temperature, wind, rainfall, cloud cover and air pressure in a specific place on a They are used to measure and record the weather. They can be found in weather
specific day. It’s our day-to-day weather. stations on land, in the ocean, in satellites, in weather balloons and aeroplanes.

What is climate? Why is it useful for a meteorologist to observe clouds?

The average weather conditions over a long period of time. There are different climate Clouds can give us useful information what’s going to happen to the weather. It
zones (tropical, desert and polar). It’s weather patterns over many years, even centuries. helps meteorologists to predict weather

Where does most of our weather occur? Why is it hot and humid at the equator and cold and dry at the polar caps?
The lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere. The atmosphere shields the earth from the sun. The earth moves around the sun. The sunlight hits the earth at different angles.
• At the equator the sunlight is hitting the earth directly which makes it warm.
What is a meteorologist? • The north and south pole receive the least amount of sun which makes it cold.
A person who studies the weather.

What are the 6 main elements of weather?

Temperature, rainfall, cloud cover, wind, humidity and air pressure.

Name a few types of weather.

Hot or cold, wet or dry, clear or cloudy, calm and stormy.

What causes weather to change?

Changes in air pressure, humidity, temperature (the sun), cloud cover, wind and rain can
cause weather to change.

What affects the wind’s speed (3)?

Changes in air pressure, heating of the earth’s surface and rotation of the earth. Wind
speed can be changed by mountains, bodies of water and vegetation.
Key concepts
Why is it warmer at the coast than on top of mountains? 1. Define weather and climate.
2. Define meteorologist.
• Ocean: the ocean absorbs lots of heat during the day and cools down very slowly at 3. Explain the 6 elements of weather.
night. It make the daily temperature more mild. 4. Explain how wind direction works.
• Air pressure / Altitude: Lower air pressure (higher altitude) on the mountains means less 5. What is a weather instrument?
air particles to hold heat than at the coast. 6. What is a weather station?
7. You need to be able to understand a weather map, a climate map and a rainfall map.
8. Why is it useful for a meteorologist observe clouds?
9. Why is it hot and humid at the equator and cold and dry at the polar caps?

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 Rainfall chart, rainfall map and climate chart Rainfall map (measured in mm)

Rainfall chart (measured in mm)

Climate Graph: Shows annual temperature on one side and rainfall in mm

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 Elements of weather
Weather element Definition Instrument to measure Units of measurement Extra information

Air temperature How hot or cold the air is. The faster air Thermometer Degrees Celsius (°C) or Fahrenheit (F) • The minimum and maximum temperatures
molecules move the hotter it gets. Mercury thermometer: Mercury inside are usually shown on a weather forecast.
expands and rises as temperature
increases.
Digital: Uses electronic sensors to
measure temperature

Precipitation The amount of water that falls from Rain gauge collects water to measure Millimetres (mm) • Annual rainfall is the total amount of rain that
(rainfall) clouds like rain, snow and hail. how much falls. falls in a place over a year.
Markings on the side of the gauge shows South Africa’s average annual rainfall is 464mm
how much rain has fallen. (versus 857mm for the world).

Humidity The amount of water vapor in the air. Hygrometer Shown as a percentage on a weather • Too much humidity causes rain.
map (70% humidity). • High humidity can make a person feel sweaty
and sticky.

Wind, • Wind: The natural movement of air • A wind vane measures the direction • Wind direction: Wind named after its • Wind is named according to the direction it
from high-pressure area to a low- of the wind. Arrow points in the direction it’s coming from (south is coming from, not in the direction it is
Windspeed
pressure area. direction wind is coming from. easterly, north westerly). blowing.
• Windsock measures direction and • Example – a wind coming from the north is
• Wind speed is how fast or strong the speed. It blows in the direction the called a northerly wind. A wind coming from
• Wind speed: km/h or mile/h
wind is blowing. wind is going. the south-east is called a south-easterly
• Anemometer spins around and wind.
measures wind speed.

Air pressure Weight of the atmosphere pressing Barometer Atmosphere (atm). • Air pressure and humidity affects all
down on the earth (called atmospheric Atmospheric pressure is higher at sea weather.
pressure). level (1 atm) than on top of mountains. • Low pressure: brings cloud, rain and
There’s less air on top of Mt Everest than thunderstorms.
at sea. Less air means less air pressure • High pressure: brings sunny and good
weather.

Cloud cover • Clouds are tiny drops of water or Measured by observation • Measured in percentage (example: • Clouds give information to predict the
ice in the atmosphere that collect 75% cloud cover). weather (cumulus, stratus and cirrus clouds
together and become visible. • Cloud cover is the percentage of the tell us what weather might come).
• Clouds form at different heights in sky covered by clouds in a specific • Clouds can produce rain, hail and snow.
the atmosphere. place. 23
 Weather instruments
Campbell-stokes sunshine recorder
Six’s thermometer Stevenson screen Rain gauge

Wind vane Anemometer Beaufort wind scale Windsock

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Barometer Cloud cover

Weather stations

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 How does weather affect us?

Positive impact Negative impact

Sun • Sunshine makes us happy. • Sun: sunburn / heat stroke
• Snow / ice: people can slip and get injured, cars can skid.
• Water: flooding can cause car accidents on very wet roads
Farming (agriculture) • Plants needs warm weather, sunlight and good rains to grow. • Too much rain: flooding can destroy crops
• Too little rain: drought and can destroy crops (farmer needs irrigation)
• Hailstorms: damages crops
Transport • Warm, dry and clear conditions are good for visibility. • Snow blizzards: can disrupt all modes of travel (road, train and air)
• Cars prefer warm weather to cold weather. • Strong winds: can disrupt travel (air)
• Sunny weather: people like to get out and this may increase traffic jams
Tourism (travel) • Good weather brings tourists • Bad weather: travel events may be cancelled

Energy • Good weather helps renewable energy • Cold weather: increase in power usages to heat homes (burning more fossil fuels).
• Sunshine: helps solar power stations • Hot weather: increase in power usage for air conditioning.
• Strong winds: help wind and wave power stations
Water • Heavy rains: fill dams and water reservoirs • Drought: can cause dams levels to drop and we can run out of water.

Key concepts
Name a few things about weather that can affect our daily lives.

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 Weather maps and weather forecasts What kind of weather does a low-pressure and a high-pressure system bring?
High pressure system: Usually means sunny weather.
Low pressure system: Usually means clouds and rain.
What is a weather map?
Weather maps show us graphically the weather conditions in an area. Name some extreme weather events.
Weather maps use symbols to show weather conditions. Tornado – violently narrow rotating wind that touches the ground. Usually attached to
• Temperature is shown with colours (warm = red/ orange and cold = blue / purple). thunderstorm. (200m/h)
• Rain → cloud with little rain drops Hurricane – massive storm with violent winds. Can last for days. (100-150 m/h)
• Snow → cloud with snowflakes. Snow Blizzards – bring heavy snow, strong winds and is very cold. Poor visibility.
• Wind → Wind arrows show direction. The longer the line the stronger the wind
What is climate change and give an example.
What is a weather map useful? Climate change means our earth’s climate is changing.
It helps us understand what the weather will be like (gives us a prediction). Example: humans are burning fossil fuels (for power) which increases the greenhouse gases in
our atmosphere (carbon dioxide). These gases have nowhere to go and is slowly heating up our
What is a weather forecast? earth, creating extreme weather conditions.
Meteorologists use weather instruments and weather maps to predict of what the weather
will be like in the next few days or weeks.

Why is a weather forecast important?

1. It can save lives (early hurricane warning) and protect property.
2. It helps farmers plan their planting and harvesting.
3. Helps scientist study climate change.

Who relies heavily on weather forecasts?

Farmers, airline pilots, naval pilots, municipalities to warn the area about extreme weather
conditions (tornadoes, flooding)

What is a weather front?

Where 2 different air masses meet it creates a weather condition.
Cold front: can bring heavy rain and thunderstorms Key concepts
Warm front: can bring light rain and fog 1. What is a weather map?
2. Why is a weather map useful?
3. What is a weather forecast?
4. Why are weather forecasts important and who relies on weather forecasts?
5. What is a weather front?
6. Explain what weather a high and low pressure brings.
7. Describe a few some extreme weather conditions.
8. What is climate change and give an example.
9. You need to be able to read and understand a weather forecasts (map or chart) and its symbols.
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Weather maps and weather forecasts and symbols

% Chance of rain

Wind speed

Wind direction

Minimum
temperature

Cloudy, rain, sunny?

Maximum
temperature

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Weather forecast charts Synoptic weather map

Blue line – cold front

Red line – warm front
L – Low pressure
H – High pressure

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Weather map of the world

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 South Africa’s climate zones

Climate Zone Where in South Africa? What is the climate like? What type industry or vegetation is there?

Mediterranean Western Cape • Summer: dry, warm Grapes grow well in this climate.
Climate • Winter: cool, wet
• Winter rains

Semi-Arid Interior plateau such as • Summer: hot • Few trees due to cold winters, tall and short
Climate the Free State • Winter: cold grass.
• Little rainfall (summer) • Trees have deep roots to find underground
water.
• Extreme temperatures
• Farmers plant maize in the Free State
Subtropical East Coastline such as • Summer: hot and humid • Fruits such as: mangoes, bananas, oranges
Climate KwaZulu-Natal • Winter: mild and sugar cane
• Summer rains

Highveld High-altitude highveld • Summer: hot • Big mining area of South Africa
Climate such as Gauteng • Winter: cold with frost • Part of a grassland biome (lots of grasses
• Summer rains and shrubs)

Desert North-West part of the • Summer: long, very hot • Pecan nuts, table grapes, dried fruit
Climate country such as Northern • Winter: short and mild • Farmers farm sheep in these areas
Cape
• Very little summer rains

Key concepts
Name South Africa’s 3 different rainfall regions? 1. Name the 5 climate zones of South Africa.
• Summer Rains – Most parts of South Africa (north, east, west) 2. Where in South Africa do you find the 5 climate zones?
• Winter Rains – Western Province 3. What is the climate like in each of the 5 zones?
• Year-round rain – All of South Africa can get rain throughout the year. 4. What type of industry or vegetation is there in each climate zone.

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 World climates

Why does the earth experience different climates and rainfall around the world?
Because the earth revolves around the sun.
Certain parts of the earth are exposed to different sunlight which has created bands around the earth
with different climates (example tropical vs polar).

Explain the climate on the equator, just above the equator and at the north and south pole.
• Equator: Sunlight strikes most directly and creates very hot and humid climate. Lots of rain.
• Band just above the equator: Very hot and dry (desert). As one moves away from the equator, the
temperatures become more moderate (temperate). Hardly any rain.
• North and South poles: Receives the least amount of sunlight creating the coldest climates in the
world. Hardly any rain – Antarctica and the North Pole are the 2 largest deserts in the world

Do the northern and southern hemisphere have winter and summer at the same time? No.
January: summer in southern hemisphere, winter in the northern hemisphere.
July: winter in southern hemisphere, summer in the northern hemisphere.

Average temperature and rainfall for the different regions around the world

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