Weather and Climate

Weather and Climate

Explain the geographic factors that influence the movement of groups of people in the world.

I can compare and contrast weather and climate accurately and list factors that affect climate.

Determine the meaning of words and phrases in oral presentations and literary and informational text.

I can define Weather and Climate accurately.

Weather

Weather is the short-term changes in the air for a given place and time. For example: if it is raining outside your window right now, that is the weather.

Open Ended

Look outside your window.

What is the weather like right now?

Climate

Climate is a region's average weather conditions over a long period of time. For example: if summers are usually hot and muggy, it tells you something about climate.

Open Ended

We live in Yakima, Washington.

What are some words you might use to describe our climate during the summertime.

Multiple Choice

"It snowed last night."

Is this talking about Weather or Climate.

• Weather

• Climate

Multiple Choice

"It is usually freezing cold in the winter and very hot in the summer in Yakima, Washington."

Is this talking about Weather or Climate?

• Weather

• Climate

Open Ended

Explain one or more differences between weather and climate. USE COMPLETE SENTENCES.

Factors that effect Climate

• Sun

• Location

• Wind

• Water

• Mountains

Sun and Location

Because of Earth's tilt, movement and shape different places on Earth receive different amounts of sunlight.

Multiple Choice

What is it called when the Earth spins on its axis?

• Revolution

• Rotation

Multiple Choice

What is it called when the Earth revolves around the Sun?

• Rotation

• Revolution

Sun and Location cont.

The Sun's rays are more direct and concentrated on the areas near the equator. These places are hot year-round.

Near the poles, the Sun's rays are more spread out and are cold year-round.

In general, the areas between the poles and the equator have more seasonal change between winter and summer.

Wind

Wind and water carry heat from the sun across the surface of the Earth. Prevailing winds are winds that blow in the same direction of large areas of Earth.

Multiple Choice

Does warm air rise or sink?

• Rise

• Sink

Water

What happens when you mix wind and water together? You get precipitation, or rain, and storms like hurricanes. When two large masses of air that are different temperatures meet they create warm or cold fronts. These fronts can bring on storms like hurricanes, tornadoes, or blizzards.

Multiple Select

Which of the following is NOT a factor that affects climate?

• Wind

• Sun

• Water

• Waves

• Location

Mountains

Even in warm places, mountains will have snow on them because it is colder at a higher elevation. They also create wet and dry areas by forcing the air pushing against it to rise. As the air rises, it cools and causes the moisture in the air to fall. This side of the mountain is often green and lush. Once the air gets to the other side of the mountain it sinks and has little moisture left creating a dry side.

Open Ended

List at least three of the five factors that affect climate.

Open Ended

Do you think Yakima, Washington is in a rainshadow? Why or why not?