Seasons and Weather

Seasons and Weather

Chapter 3 Section 1

Poll

What is your favorite season?

​Seasons

​ The earth tilts at a 23.5° angle in relation to the sun. As the earth revolves around the sun, different parts of the earth receive the direct rays of the sun for more hours of the day. This causes the changing seasons. For example, the northern half of the earth tilts toward the sun in summer. In the winter, this half is tilted away from the sun.

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​Seasons

​    Two lines of latitude, the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, mark the farthest points north and south that the sun’s rays shine directly overhead at noon. The day that this happens is called a solstice.

Seasons

    Another signal of seasonal change is the equinox. Twice a year the sun is directly over the equator. This is called the equinox. At this time the days and nights all over the world are equal in length. The equinoxes mark the beginning of spring and autumn.

Multiple Choice

In the Northern Hemisphere, the ____________________, the beginning of summer, is the longest day of the year. ____________________, the beginning of winter, is the shortest day of the year.

• Ramen Noodles

• summer solstice; winter solstice

• summer solstice; winter equinox

Multiple Choice

Twice a year on the ____________________, the days and nights all over the world are equal in length. They mark the beginning of spring and autumn.

• full moon

• solstice

• equinox

Weather 

WHAT CAUSES THE WEATHER? 

    Weather and climate are often confused. Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular location and time. Climate is the term for weather conditions at a particular location over a long period of time.

Multiple Choice

A hurricane in Asia

• Cyclone

• Tsunami

• Typhoon

Multiple Choice

____________________ is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular location and time. ____________________ is the term for weather conditions at a particular location over a long period of time.

• weather; climate

• climate; weather

Weather

   Daily weather is the result of several factors. One factor is the amount of solar energy received by a location. Large masses of air absorb and distribute this solar energy.

Weather

    A second factor is landforms and bodies of water at a location. Water heats and cools slowly, while land heats and cools rapidly. So the presence of bodies of water will affect the temperature. A third factor is elevation above sea level. The higher you are the cooler it will be.

Multiple Choice

What are three factors that affect weather?

• amount of solar energy received, land forms and bodies of water, and elevation

• amount of lunar energy received, land forms and bodies of water, and latitude

PRECIPITATION 

What causes precipitation?

    Another factor that affects the weather is the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. This helps determine whether there will be precipitation. Precipitation is water droplets falling in the form of rain, sleet, snow, or hail. Warm air rises, and as it does it cools, losing its ability to hold water vapor. The water vapor condenses, and the water droplets form into clouds. When the amount of water in a cloud is too heavy for the air to hold, it generally rains or snows.

PRECIPITATION 

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•    Geographers classify precipitation as convectional, orographic, or frontal. 

• Convectional precipitation occurs in hot moist climates where the sun quickly heats the air.

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PRECIPITATION 

    Orographic precipitation falls on the windward side of hills or mountains. The mountains block moist air and force it upward. The land on the leeward side is called a rain shadow, because it gets little rain from the descending dry air.

PRECIPITATION 

   Frontal movement causes precipitation. A front is the boundary between two air masses that have different temperature or humidity.

Multiple Choice

What order are the types of precipitation?

• Orographic, Frontal, Convectional

• Frontal, Orographic, Convectional

• Orographic,Convectional, Frontal

Multiple Choice

In contrast, a long period without precipitation or with minimal precipitation is called a ____________________.

• drought

• flood

• blizzard

Weather Extremes

 What is a hurricane?

     Hurricanes are storms that form over warm, tropical ocean waters. In Asia, these storms are called typhoons or tropical cyclones. The storm begins when air flows over ocean water with a temperature of 80° or more. It picks up huge amounts of moisture and heat energy. Winds moving in a hurricane may be as strong as 200 miles per hour.

What causes hurricanes?

The storm begins when air flows over ocean water with a temperature of 80 or more. It picks up huge amounts of moisture and heat energy.

TORNADOES

 How does a tornado form?

   A tornado, or twister, is a powerful funnel-shaped column of spiraling air. They are born from thunderstorms. Unlike hurricanes, tornadoes form quickly and sometimes without warning.
   In a tornado, winds swirl counter-clockwise around a low-pressure center. These winds reach 300 miles per hour. Most tornadoes have small diameters, travel about a mile, and last a few minutes.

Multiple Choice

How do hurricanes and tornadoes differ?

• Hurricanes form slowly and can last a long time. Tornadoes form quickly; are narrow, and last a short time.

• Tornadoes form slowly and can last a long time. Hurricanes form quickly; are narrow, and last a short time.

BLIZZARDS/DROUGHTS/FLOODS 

     A blizzard is a heavy snowstorm with winds of more than 35 miles per hour and reduced visibility. Because of their location, some areas of the country are especially susceptible to snowstorms that produce huge amounts of snow.

BLIZZARDS/DROUGHTS/FLOODS 

   A drought is a long period without rain or with very minimal rainfall. The lack of water results in crop failures, reduced levels in water storage facilities, and the deaths of animals.

BLIZZARDS/DROUGHTS/FLOODS 

   In a flood, water fills streams and rivers until they reach flood stage. This is the point where the banks of a river or stream can no longer hold the water.

Multiple Choice

What is flood stage?

• the point where the banks of a river or stream can no longer hold the people

• the point where the banks of a river or stream can no longer hold the snakes

• the point where the banks of a river or stream can no longer hold the water

Multiple Choice

The land on the leeward side of hills or mountains

• inland valley

• hidden valley ranch

• rain shadow

• storm shadow

• eye shadow