Weather And Measuring it Flashcards
What is weather?
What is climate?
Weather is the day to day conditions of the lower atmosphere.
Climate is the average annual temperature.
Name several types of weather
Sunny Sandstorms Snowy Rainy Stormy Hailstones Sleet Muggy Mist Blizzard Foggy Tropical Humid Hurricane Tornado Cold Thunder Lightning Warm Cloudy
Give examples of how weather affects our lives?
Sunburn on hot days Thunder/lightning affect electric supply Clothes get wet in rain Floods damage property Fog closes airports Rain stops sports Hurricane and tornado threaten property
What is an anemometer
Three metal cups mounted on a high pole turn when the wind blows. The wind speed is measured on a dial like a speedometer. Measures in mph or kph.
What is a thermometer?
U -shaped tube with two scales to record highest and lowest temperature each day. Mercury inside tube expands when warm and pushes two small pins to mark the high and low points. The pins are reset each day. Measures in Celsius degrees or Fahrenheit degrees
What is a Rain gauge?
A cylinder set in the ground to catch rain as it falls. Rainwater is funnelled into a measuring container. The level of water is read at the same time each day before the container is emptied. Measures in mm.
What is a Wind sock?
Large nylon sock mounted on a pole. Wind blows into sock turning it in direction of wind. A pointer shows origin of wind direction. Measures in mph, kph or knots but strong winds are measured in gale force.
What is a wind or weather vane?
This is a metal image on a pole. The image sits on a horizontal arrow. The wind blows the image and the arrow shows the origin of the wind. Usually there is a 4 point cross of poles below each showing north south east or west.
What is a Stevenson screen
A box of wooden slats standing on legs above ground. This keeps direct sunlight off the instruments inside but allow air to circulate in the box so allows accurate measuring conditions.
What is a barometer?
The mercury in the barometer changes as air pressure changes. The higher the pressure the greater the weight of mercury it can support. The dial reads the air pressure in mb.
What is a Mirror?
A mirror divided into squares is placed on ground to reflect the sky. The number of squares covered by cloud shows proportion of cloud cover as a fraction e.g. 2/8ths
What is meteorology?
The study of weather
What is the met office?
The meteorological office is responsible for measuring the weather in Britain
Name two expensive weather measuring systems?
Satellites
Computers
Some facts about weather satellites?
Harry Wexler scientist, developed weather warning systems, saved lives
Engineers can tell satellites to move
Tiros 1 was the first weather satellite
Orbit around earth - gravitational
