Measuring Elements Of The Weather Flashcards

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1
Q

Define the term weather.

A

The day to day changes in the conditions of our atmosphere - the weather elements.

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2
Q

Define the term climate.

A

The average conditions of weather, usually based over a period of about 35 years.

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3
Q

Temperature is measured using a…

A

maximum-minimum thermometer

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4
Q

A maximum-minimum thermometer has two sides, one for…

A

hottest and one for coldest temperatures

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5
Q

To find the temperature using a maximum-minimum thermometer, read…

A

the bottom of each marker and then use a magnet to reset the markers

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6
Q

Precipitation is measured using a …

A

rain gauge

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7
Q

To record precipitation using a rain gauge, read off the…

A

level of the water in the measuring cylinder at the same time each day

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8
Q

The measuring cylinder of the rain gauge should be emptied and repositioned…

A

in an open area every 24 hours

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9
Q

Wind direction is measured using a…

A

wind vane

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10
Q

The arrow on a wind vane points to the direction where…

A

the wind is coming from

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11
Q

The units for wind direction are the…

A

eight compass points

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12
Q

Wind speed is measured in…

A

knots

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13
Q

Wind speed is measured using an…

A

anemometer

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14
Q

An anemometer has small cups which…

A

spin around as they catch the wind, creating a digital readout which tells you the current wind speed

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15
Q

Air pressure is measured in…

A

millibars (mb)

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16
Q

Air pressure is measured using a…

A

barometer

17
Q

To find the air pressure, read the…

A

needle on the barometer

18
Q

A barometer may have a …. , which shows…

A

second needle, what the pressure was at a certain time

19
Q

If a barometer has a second needle, the main needle shows…

A

how the pressure has changed

20
Q

Air pressure can also be measured using a…

A

mercury barometer

21
Q

A mercury barometer is a…

A

3 feet tall glass tube that sits upside down in a mercury reservoir

22
Q

The mercury barometer works by…

A

balancing the weight of the mercury in the glass tube against atmospheric pressure

23
Q

If the weight of the mercury in the glass tube is lighter than the atmospheric pressure, …. and vice versa

A

the mercury level in the glass tube rises

24
Q

Cloud cover is measured in…

A

oktas (eighths)

25
Q

Cloud cover is measured by experts who…

A

estimate how many eighths of the sky are covered with cloud

26
Q

To measure air temperature, thermometers are placed in a…

A

Stevenson Screen

27
Q

A Stevenson Screen is designed so that only…

A

air flowing through the box is recorded

28
Q

A Stevenson Screen is painted white to…

A

reflect heat energy

29
Q

The shade inside a Stevenson Screen ensures that…

A

direct sunlight cannot give a false reading

30
Q

Rain gauges must be placed in an…

A

open area

31
Q

Rain gauges must be ……. to the ground, so that they don’t get….

A

anchored securely, blown over by the wind

32
Q

The top section of a rain gauge where the water is collected needs to be…

A

more than 30 cm above the ground to avoid rain splash when the ground is saturated

33
Q

Wind vanes should be placed…

A

on a roof free from shelter (e.g. Church spire)

34
Q

Anemometers should be placed…

A

high up to avoid shelter

35
Q

The problem with anemometers is that they usually require…

A

more than 10 knots of air flow to ensure an accurate reading for wind speed