Exploring Factors That Influence Weather and Climate

VARIABLE WEATHER &
CHANGING CLIMATE
G AT E WAY 1 :
W H Y D O D I F F E R E N T P L A C E S E X P E R I E N C E
D I F F E R E N T W E AT H E R A N D C L I M AT E ?

Why do different places
experience different weather
and climate?

WHAT HAS THE
WEATHER IN
SINGAPORE BEEN
LIKE FOR THE
PAST 3 DAYS?

HOW WOULD YOU
DESCRIBE THE
CLIMATE OF
SINGAPORE?

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WEATHER
AND CLIMATE
Weather refers to the
condition of the
atmosphere at a
particular place at a
specific time over a short
period of time
Climate refers to the
average weather
conditions over a long
period of time, usually at
least 30 years

WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT
WEATHER, WE
ARE TALKING
ABOUT 6
DIFFERENT
THINGS
WeatherTemperature
Rain
(precipitation)
Relative
humidity
Air pressure
Clouds
Wind
“Weather refers to the
condition of the atmosphere at
a particular place at a specific
time over a short period of
time”

COOL …
BUT IN THE FIRST
PL ACE, HOW ARE THESE
WEATHER DATA EVEN
CAPTURED?

LET’S DIVE INTO
THE WORLD OF
WEATHER
INSTRUMENTS
(P.170)

TRY TO MATCH
THE
INSTRUMENTS
WITH THE
WEATHER
ELEMENT.
WeatherTemperature
Rain
(precipitation)
Relative
humidity
Air pressure
Clouds
Wind

WeatherTemperature
Rain
(precipitation)
Relative
humidity
Air pressure
Clouds
Wind

WE WILL
SPEND TIME
EXAMINING
EACH OF
THESE 6
ELEMENTS OF
WEATHER AND
WHY IT
DIFFERS FROM
PL ACE TO
PL ACE
WeatherTemperature
Rain
(precipitation)
Relative
humidity
Air pressure
Clouds
Wind

TEMPERATURE
• Refers to the degree of hotness or
coldness of a place
• Measured in degrees Celsius (°C) or
degrees Fahrenheit (°F)
• We usually use an analogue or digital
thermometer to measure temperature
• However, a maximum-minimum
thermometer would be a more useful
instrument as it captures the highest
and lowest temperature of a particular
day

Temperature
Latitude
Altitude
Distance
from sea
Cloud
cover
THERE ARE 4
FACTORS THAT
INFLUENCE THE
TEMPERATURE OF
A PL ACE,
M E A N I N G T H E
C O M B I N AT I O N O F T H E S E 4
FA C TO R S W I L L E X P L A I N
W H Y A P L A C E H A S A
C E R TA I N T E M P E R AT U R E
You can easily remember these factors with a simple abbreviation:
C.L.A.D.

Continental
Effect
Maritime
Effect

Temperature
Latitude
(↑ lat, ↓ temp)
Altitude
(↑ alt, ↓ temp)
Distance from sea
(maritime  low annual range,
continental  large annual
range)
Cloud cover
(cloud present  small diurnal
no cloud  large diurnal range)
THESE ARE THE 4
FACTORS THAT
INFLUENCE THE
TEMPERATURE OF
A PL ACE,
N E X T, W E W I L L TA K E A
LO O K AT H O W
T E M P E R AT U R E C A N B E
C A LC U L AT E D
You can easily remember these factors with a simple abbreviation:
C.L.A.D.

TEMPERATURE CALCULATIONS (P.74)

PRACTICE!
Time Temp (deg C)
6am 25
9am 26
12 noon 28
3pm 28
6pm 27
9pm 26
12 midnight
midnight
26
Calculate the
mean daily
temperature

Calculate the diurnal temperature range of the 2nd and
15th day of the month

Calculate the mean annual temperature and annual
temperature range.
Mean monthly maximum and minimum temperatures in Bangkok, Thailand
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Mean
max
31.7 32.7 33.7 34.6 34.0 32.9 32.3 32.1 31.7 31.4 31.1 31.0
Mean
min
20.3 22.7 24.4 25.5 25.3 25.0 24.7 24.5 24.3 24.2 22.9 20.6

TOO MANY NUMBERS!
IS THERE ANY OTHER
WAY TO VISUALIZE
WEATHER DATA?

THE ANSWER IS A RESOUNDING YES
PLEASE GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THE
WONDERFUL WORLD OF CLIMOGRAPHS

WHAT ARE CLIMOGRAPHS?
• A graphic way of displaying
climate condition
• It shows how mean
monthly temperature and
total monthly precipitation
varies throughout the year
for a particular place

HOW DO I READ A CLIMOGRAPH?
Right Arm:
Amount of
Precipitation
Left Arm:
Temperature
Location
Mean Monthly
Temperature
Mean Monthly
Precipitation

U S I N G G R A P H PA P E R , L E T ’ S P R A C T I C E H O W TO
P L OT A C L I M O G R A P H . T U R N TO P. 9 2 O F Y O U R
T E X T B O O K

LET US PRACTICE
HOW TO READ
AND INTERPRET A
CLIMOGRAPH
T H I S I S A V E R Y E A S Y B U T I M P O R TA N T S K I L L A S I T
W I L L H E L P Y O U G E T A L OT O F M A R K S I F Y O U A R E
A B L E TO M A S T E R I T

THINGS TO WRITE WHEN
DESCRIBING A CLIMATE
• Maximum temperature
• Minimum temperature
• Annual temperature range (state if it is high, low or moderate)
Temperature (°C)
• Total annual precipitation (state whether it is high, low or moderate)
• Pattern of precipitation
• If there are distinct wet/dry seasons, state the months and the amount
• If precipitation is even throughout the year, state the amount
Precipitation (mm)

THINGS TO WRITE WHEN
DESCRIBING A CLIMATE
• Maximum temperature
• Minimum temperature
• Annual temperature range (state if it is high, low or moderate)
Temperature (°C)
• Total annual precipitation (state whether it is high, low or moderate)
• Pattern of precipitation
• If there are distinct wet/dry seasons, state the months and the amount
• If precipitation is even throughout the year, state the amount
Precipitation (mm)
Carelessness will be penalised!
Many students waste the marks they could have
gotten because they “forgot” to put in the units.
Do NOT make this mistake!

RH is the ratio of the actual amount of water
vapour in the air compared with the maximum
amount of water vapour that a unit of air can hold
at that temperature.

amount of water vapour that a unit of air can hold
When it is HOT:
The air expands,
it can hold more water
vapour
When it is COLD:
The air contracts,
it can hold less water vapour

RH is the ratio of the
actual amount of water
vapour in the air
compared with the
maximum amount of
water vapour that a unit
of air can hold at that
temperature.
Let’s say… the actual amount of water
vapour in the air is 2 units.

vapour in the air
compared with the
maximum amount of
temperature.
When it is HOT:
The air can hold 10 units of water vapour.
Therefore, RH is 20%.

vapour in the air
compared with the
maximum amount of
temperature.
When it is COLD:
The air can hold only 5 units of water
vapour.

vapour in the air
compared with the
maximum amount of
temperature.
When it is HOT:
The air can hold 10 units of water vapour.
When it is COLD:
The air can hold only 5 units of water
vapour.

At 4 am the temperature is
low, at __________ and the RH
is ___________.
In the afternoon at 4 pm the
temperature is higher at
___________ and the RH has
increase to __________.

THEREFORE, RH IS
INVERSELY
PROPORTIONAL TO
TEMPERATURE CHANGES
 T E M P E R AT U R E R I S E S
 A I R C A N H O L D M O R E WAT E R VA P O U R
 R H FA L L S

DO YOU KNOW
THAT FEELING
WHEN YOU
STUDIED SO
MUCH, YOUR
BRAIN
COULDN’ T TAKE
IN ANYMORE
INFORMATION?
Everyone should know this
feeling. If you don’t, you haven’t
been working hard enough in
school.

SOME PEOPLE
WOULD SAY
THAT THEIR
BRAIN FEELS SO
SATURATED AND
THEY HAVE
DIFFICULTY
ABSORBING
MORE
INFORMATION
Let’s take this as an analogy
for when RH=100%

WHEN RH=100%...
We call this saturation point.
Like how your brain is at maximum capacity, the air also
cannot hold any more water vapour at that
temperature.
What happens after that?

The process by which water vapour in
the air is changed into liquid water.

Definition
amount of water vapour that a unit of air can
Key phrases to remember
Inversely Proportional
When temperature rises, RH falls
(because hot air expands therefore it
is able to hold more water vapour)
Dew Point Temperature
The temperature at which RH=100%
(and therefore water vapour condenses into
liquid water)
Saturation Point
Happens when RH=100%
(at this point, the air cannot hold any more
water vapour at that temperature)

WITH RAINFALL, WE ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT 2 SPECIFIC TYPES OF RAIN
CONVECTIONAL RAIN RELIEF RAIN/OROGRAPHIC RAIN

RELIEF RAIN/OROGRAPHIC RAIN
4. Most of the moisture is deposited
on the windward side, therefore the
leeward side experiences little to no
rain
1. Moist air from the
sea is blown up a
highland such as a
mountain range.
2. Air is forced up a
slope. It cools and
condenses as it
reaches saturation
point.
3. Clouds form and rain falls
on the windward side of the
slope
5. Air warms as it sinks
and relative humidity is
therefore lower.

AIR
PRESSURE
It refers to the weight of
air on the Earth’s surface.
It is measured using a
barometer, expressed in
millibars (mb).

AIR
PRESSURE
What do you notice about
the air particles in this
photo?
What does it say about air
pressure?

AIR
PRESSURE
What would cause the air
pressure to change?

AIR PRESSURE IS AFFECTED BY TEMPERATURE
High
temperature
Air molecules
move apart
Air expands in
volume
Air becomes
lighter, exerts
less weight
Low air pressure

AIR PRESSURE IS AFFECTED BY TEMPERATURE
Low temperature
Air molecules
moves closer
together
Air molecules
packed into same
amount of space
Air becomes
heavier, exerts
more weight
High air pressure

High
temperature
Low air
pressure
Low
temperature
High air
pressure

INVERSE RELATIONSHIP
High
temperature
Low air
pressure
Low
temperature
High air
pressure

AIR PRESSURE IS AFFECTED BY ALTITUDE

AIR
PRESSURE
It is affected by
temperature and altitude.
It has an inverse
relationship with
temperature and altitude.

WHAT IS WIND?
Wind is moving air.

WHY DOES WIND MOVE?
It moves due to differences in air pressure

Wind moves from an area
of high air pressure to low
air pressure.

4 types of
wind to know
about
Local Wind
Sea Breeze
Land Breeze
Regional Wind
Northeast
Monsoon
Southwest
Monsoon

4 types of
wind to know
about
Local Wind
Sea Breeze
Land Breeze

CHECKLIST!
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE WE START LEARNING
LAND/SEA BREEZE
• Temperature affects air pressure;
– High temperature  ____ air pressure
– Low temperature  ____ air pressure
• Wind moves because of difference in air pressure
– It moves from an area of ____ air pressure to ____ air pressure

Even though we
live in an
equatorial
climate, ever
wondered why
we experience
slightly higher
rainfall from
November to
January?

4 types of
wind to know
about
Local
Wind
Sea Breeze
Land
Breeze
Regional
Wind
Northeast
Monsoon
Southwest
Monsoon

4 types of
wind to know
about
Regional
Wind
Northeast
Monsoon
Southwest
Monsoon

MONSOON WINDS
• Monsoon winds are regional wind patterns that reverse
direction seasonally that bring seasonal changes in
precipitation (p. 87)

CHECKLIST!
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE WE START LEARNING
NE/SW MONSOON
• Temperature affects air pressure;
– High temperature  ____ air pressure
– Low temperature  ____ air pressure
• Wind moves because of difference in air pressure
– It moves from an area of ____ air pressure to ____ air
pressure
• Coriolis effect

LET US TRY TO
UNDERSTAND THE
CORIOLIS
EFFECT
USING AN
ORANGE

NORTHEAST
MONSOON
Diagram on p. 88
Takes place between October to
February
Winter in N Hemisphere (high pressure)
Summer in S Hemisphere (low
pressure)
Air moves from high pressure to low
pressure
In Singapore, this wind brings increased
rainfall as it picks up moisture form the
South China Sea

SOUTHWEST
MONSOON
Diagram on p. 88
Takes place between June and
September
Winter in S Hemisphere (high pressure)
Summer in N Hemisphere (low
pressure)
Air moves from high pressure to low
pressure
In India, this wind brings increased
rainfall as it picks up moisture form the
Indian Ocean

NE Monsoon SW Monsoon
Description Wind blows from the ____________ Wind blows from the Southwest
Season in
N Hemisphere
_______________
(______ temp, _______ pressure)
Summer
(high temp, low pressure)
Season in
S Hemisphere
_______________
(______ temp, _______ pressure)
Winter
(low temp, high pressure)
Air moves from
______ to
_______
____________ Hemisphere to
____________ Hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere to Northern
Hemisphere
When? __________ to __________ June to September
Effects Heavier than normal rainfall in
_____________ as it picks up
from the _________ Sea
Heavy rainfall in India as it picks up
moisture from the Indian Ocean

ENOUGH ABOUT
WEATHER, WHAT
ABOUT CLIMATE?

THERE ARE
3 TYPES OF
CLIMATE
THAT YOU
NEED TO
KNOW
Climate
Types
Tropical
Equatorial
climate
Tropical
Monsoon
climate
Cool
temperate
climate
“Climate refers to the average
weather conditions over a long
period of time, usually at least
30 years”

TROPICAL EQUATORIAL CLIMATE
• Distribution
– Within latitude 10°S and 10°N of equator
– Examples: Amazon Basin (S.America),
Congo Basin (Africa), Southeast Asia
• Temperature
– High mean annual temperature (~27°C)
– Uniform throughout the year (i.e. equal)
– Small temperature range (~2°C)
• Precipitation (Rainfall)
– High humidity (~80%)
– High annual rainfall (>1500mm)
– Regular throughout the year

TROPICAL MONSOON CLIMATE
• Distribution
– Between latitude 5° - 25°S and 5° - 25°N of
equator
– Examples: Indo-China (Vietnam, Myanmar),
S.Asia, W.Africa and NE/SE of Brazil
• Temperature
– High mean annual temperature (~26°C)
– Bigger temperature range (~6°C) than TEC
• Precipitation (Rain)
– High humidity (~80%)
– High annual rainfall (>1500mm)
– Distinct wet and dry seasons

COOL TEMPERATE CLIMATE
• Distribution
– Between latitude 35° - 70°S and 35° -
70°N of equator
– Examples: Canada, USA, New Zealand,
NW Europe, East Asia countries (Korea,
China, Japan)
• Temperature
– Low mean annual temperature (high in
summer, low in winter)
– Large temperature range (~15°C – 30°C,
depending on location)
• Precipitation (Rain and snow)
– low annual rainfall (300 – 900mm)
– 4 Seasons

Exploring Factors That Influence Weather and Climate

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