FACTORS INFLUENCING

WEATHER

SC.5.E.7.4Distinguish among the various forms of precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, and hail), making connections to the weather in a particular place and time.

SC.5.E.7.3Recognize how air temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, wind speed and direction, and precipitation determine the weather in a particular

place and time..

What is weather?

The condition of the atmosphere

at a particular place and time.

Factors Determining

Weather

Air Temperature Barometric Pressure Humidity Wind Speed and Direction Precipitation

AIR TEMPERATURE

Due to the unequal heating of the atmosphere by the Sun

Measured using a THERMOMETER

Cloud cover affects the temperature of the air

AIR PRESSURE

The measure of the weight of gases in the atmosphere

Measured using a BAROMETER

The pressure decreases as the altitude increases

There is more evaporation when the air pressure is low

HUMIDITY

The amount of water vapor or moisture content in the air at a specific time

Measured using a HYGROMETER

Determines the likelihood of precipitation, dew, or fog

WND SPEED AND DIRECTION

Wind is caused by the uneven heating of the Earth causing air to

flow from high pressure to low pressure zones

Wind speed is measured using a ANEMOMETER

PRECIPITATION

The falling of water from the atmosphere to the surface of the Earth

Temperature, pressure, and humidity affect the rate of precipitation.

Reaches the ground in the form of solid or liquid water

FORMS OF PRECIPITATION

Rain Snow Sleet Hail

RAINPrecipitation in the

form of falling liquid drops

most common type of precipitation in our atmosphere

measured in millimeters using a RAIN GAUGE

SNOWPrecipitation falling from clouds

In the form of ice crystalsForms when water vapor turns into ice without passing through a liquid state

Measured in inches with a RULER

SLEETA mixture of rain

and snow

Raindrops that freeze on

their way down to the Earth’s surface

Measured in inches with a RAIN GAUGE

HAILPrecipitation in the form of spherically

shaped pieces of ice larger than five

millimeters in diameter

Measured in inches with a RAIN GAUGE

CLOUDS

A collection of tiny water droplets or ice crystals floating in the atmosphere at varying

altitudes

CIRRUS CLOUDS

Found at high altitudes madeup of tiny ice crystals

CUMULUS CLOUDS

White, puffy clouds that are referred to as "fair-weather clouds"

STRATUS CLOUDS

Uniform grayish clouds that often cover the entire sky.

CUMULUS CLOUDS

Thunderstorm clouds that are only found at low altitudes