By the end of this lesson, you will be By the end of this lesson, you will be able to: able to:

Define vocabulary words cited.Define vocabulary words cited. Discuss the use and necessity weather Discuss the use and necessity weather

instrumentsinstruments Distinguish between weather and Distinguish between weather and

climate climate

Forecaster:Forecaster: A person who calculates or A person who calculates or predicts the weather in advance.predicts the weather in advance.

Atmosphere:Atmosphere: Climate:Climate: The prevailing weather conditions The prevailing weather conditions

of a particular regionof a particular region Celsius:Celsius: The temperature that registers the The temperature that registers the

freezing point of water as 0C and the boiling freezing point of water as 0C and the boiling point as 100 C under the normal point as 100 C under the normal atmospheric pressure.atmospheric pressure.

Wind vane:Wind vane: A wind vane is an instrument A wind vane is an instrument that measures wind direction. that measures wind direction.

Seasons:Seasons: One of the four equal divisions of One of the four equal divisions of the year. Spring, Summer, Autumn and the year. Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter Winter

Hurricanes:Hurricanes: A cyclone with heavy rains and A cyclone with heavy rains and winds exceeding 75 mile per hour.winds exceeding 75 mile per hour.

Temperature:Temperature: The degree of hotness or The degree of hotness or coldness of a body or environmentcoldness of a body or environment

Thermometer:Thermometer: An instrument for measuring An instrument for measuring temperature temperature

Rain gauge:Rain gauge: rain-measurement device: rain-measurement device: a a device used to measure the amount of rain device used to measure the amount of rain that falls in a locationthat falls in a location

In Book 2 you began to learn about weather. In Book 2 you began to learn about weather. Today Mr. Williams from the Meteorological Today Mr. Williams from the Meteorological Department has come to talk to the class Department has come to talk to the class about climate.about climate.

‘‘Hello boys and girls. I am a weather Hello boys and girls. I am a weather forecasterforecaster. I study the . I study the atmosphereatmosphere and tell and tell everyone, through radio and television, what everyone, through radio and television, what the weather will be. I am also the leading the weather will be. I am also the leading expert on The Bahamas’ climate.expert on The Bahamas’ climate.

‘‘Mr. Williams, what kind of climate do we Mr. Williams, what kind of climate do we have in The Bahamas?’ asks Marlene.have in The Bahamas?’ asks Marlene.

‘‘First, let me explain the word First, let me explain the word climateclimate. . Climate describes the kinds of weather a Climate describes the kinds of weather a place has in general. For example, if a place place has in general. For example, if a place has more dry weather than wet, we say it has more dry weather than wet, we say it has a dry climate. If it has more hot weather has a dry climate. If it has more hot weather than cold, we say it has a hot climate.than cold, we say it has a hot climate.

In the Bahamas we have long periods of sunshine. In the Bahamas we have long periods of sunshine. The temperature usually rises to 32 degrees The temperature usually rises to 32 degrees CelsiusCelsius in the day and falls to about 26 degrees in the day and falls to about 26 degrees Celsius at nights. Our winter temperatures seldom Celsius at nights. Our winter temperatures seldom fall much below 16 degrees Celsius. Our climate is fall much below 16 degrees Celsius. Our climate is warm and sunny.’warm and sunny.’

‘‘has the has the temperaturetemperature ever fallen below 10 ever fallen below 10 degrees Celsius in The Bahamas?’ asks Henry.degrees Celsius in The Bahamas?’ asks Henry.

‘‘Yes,’ said Mr. Williams. ‘In 1977 and 1981 Yes,’ said Mr. Williams. ‘In 1977 and 1981 thermometersthermometers recorded temperatures as low as recorded temperatures as low as 5.5 degrees Celsius. Now look at these 5.5 degrees Celsius. Now look at these photographs – one was taken in the Bahamas, photographs – one was taken in the Bahamas, one in Canada. How do you measure the rainfall one in Canada. How do you measure the rainfall of a country, Mr. Williams?’ asks Paul.of a country, Mr. Williams?’ asks Paul.

‘‘I use a I use a rain gaugerain gauge. This is a can with a funnel, . This is a can with a funnel, which measures the amount of rain that falls in a which measures the amount of rain that falls in a particular place. particular place.

In the Bahamas, rain showers may occur at In the Bahamas, rain showers may occur at any time of the year, but most rain falls any time of the year, but most rain falls between May and October. Rainfall usually between May and October. Rainfall usually comes in the form of heavy showers or comes in the form of heavy showers or thundershowers, which clear up very thundershowers, which clear up very quickly. The average rainfall is about 50mm quickly. The average rainfall is about 50mm each month from November to April, and each month from November to April, and 150 mm each month from May to October.’150 mm each month from May to October.’

‘‘How is wind measured?’ asks Lisa.How is wind measured?’ asks Lisa. ‘‘Wind direction can be measured by a Wind direction can be measured by a wind wind

vanevane. In the Bahamas, the winds blow most . In the Bahamas, the winds blow most often in the winter from the northeast, and in often in the winter from the northeast, and in the summer from the south-east. Wind the summer from the south-east. Wind speeds are not usually more than 18 km per speeds are not usually more than 18 km per hour in any hour in any seasonseason, but wind speeds do , but wind speeds do increase in the winter months.increase in the winter months.

The Bahamas are affected by The Bahamas are affected by hurricaneshurricanes between June and November. We are at between June and November. We are at greatest risk from hurricanes in August, greatest risk from hurricanes in August, September and October. Who knows the September and October. Who knows the date when hurricane Andrew hit the date when hurricane Andrew hit the country? Everyone must know what country? Everyone must know what preparations to make when a hurricane is preparations to make when a hurricane is heading towards us.heading towards us.

I must leave you now, children. Remember to I must leave you now, children. Remember to listen to your radio or watch television for the listen to your radio or watch television for the weather report.’weather report.’

Mr. Williams referred to three instruments to Mr. Williams referred to three instruments to measure certain aspects of weather. Name each measure certain aspects of weather. Name each one and say what each instruments measures.one and say what each instruments measures.

Look at the following figures, which show the Look at the following figures, which show the monthly temperatures for Nassau, then answer the monthly temperatures for Nassau, then answer the questions:questions:

(a) Which months had the lowest (a) Which months had the lowest

temperatures?temperatures? (b) Which months were the hottest?(b) Which months were the hottest? (c) Name four of the summer months.(c) Name four of the summer months. (d) Name two of the winter months.(d) Name two of the winter months.

J an Feb Mar Apr May J un J ul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec21 21 22 23 25 27 28 28 27 26 23 22