mapping, climate and weather. weather, mapping and our atmosphere what is the difference between...

Mapping, Climate and Weather

Weather, mapping and our atmosphere

What is the difference between weather and climate?


Weather is the combination of atmospheric elements, such as temperature, precipitation and humidity, that occur at a specific time and place.


Climate describes the same atmospheric conditions that have been averaged over a long period – often 30 years or more.


Around the planet, a wide range of weatheroccurs at any given time.

Our weather is caused by different conditions in the Earth’s atmosphere.


The Earth’s atmosphere extends to around 1200 km above the surface. It is the first 50 km of the atmosphere that most affects our weather.


There are five layers to Earth’s atmosphere.



Closest to Earth’s surface where things live. It contains about 50% of the air we breathe, and contains all the clouds we see and the weather we experience. From sea level up to about 16 km.

TroposphereTroposphere



The air is thinner, because there are fewer gas particles than in the troposphere. Contains a further 40% of our air. No clouds, contains the ozone layer. From above 16 km to about 50 km.

StratosphereStratosphere



Gas particles become thinner and thinner in this layer. Shooting stars burn up here. From above 50 km to about 80 km.

MesosphereMesosphere



Fewer gas particles and very little effect on Earth’s air.From above 80 km to about 600 km.

ThermosphereThermosphere



The very outer layer, with only a sprinkling of gas particles, many of which escape to outer space.Above 600 km to just over 1200 km.

ExosphereExosphere

Heating places on Earth

Solar radiation from the Sun is the main source of Earth’s energy. Without solar radiation, there would be no plant growth and no weather systems.


Different places on Earth receive different amounts of solar radiation – because of Earth’s tilt.


Fill in the gaps.

An area on Earth at low latitudes (closer to the _________) receives more heat than the same area at high latitudes (closer to the _______).

This is because the Sun’s rays hit places on Earth at _________ angles.

The more direct the Sun’s rays, the ____ distance they travel through the atmosphere to hit the Earth, and the _____ heat is transmitted.

more different Equator poles less

different

Equatorpoles

less

more


Where on Earth do the Sun’s rays hit most directly? Least directly?

Where on Earth do the Sun’s rays hit most directly? Least directly?

What happens to solar radiation?


Heat is reflected from Earth’s surface, and some is trapped by greenhouse gases in the lower layers of the atmosphere.

The main greenhouse gases are:• water vapour• carbon dioxide• methane• nitrous oxide• ozone.


While these gases occur naturally, their levels have been increased by human activities.

Does this situation need to be remedied? Why?

Does this situation need to be remedied? Why?

Which human activities are thought to contribute most to raising the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

Which human activities are thought to contribute most to raising the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?


This is how a greenhouse works for growing plants.


This is a simplified diagram of the Greenhouse Effect on Earth.


How do these diagrams explain the link between the Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming?How do these diagrams explain the link between the Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming?


Global Warming refers to climate change – what does this mean?Global Warming refers to climate change – what does this mean?


What are the likely impacts of Global Warming on the natural environment, and on human activities like agriculture?

What are the likely impacts of Global Warming on the natural environment, and on human activities like agriculture?

Climate graphs and maps

Temperature and rainfall are the two most common measurements of weather conditions.

Records are kept of these and other measurements, and they provide climatic data.

Weather records and climatic data are kept on all continents, in many different places.


This is climatic data for Cairns, in northern Queensland.

Source: Bureau of Meteorology


Mean is the average of a set of measurements.

How is the mean daily temperature calculated?

Answer – Calculate the half-way point between the mean maximum and minimum temperatures.

How is mean monthly rainfall calculated?

Answer – Take an average of the total rainfall received each month of the year, over

an extended period of time (e.g. 30 years).


Does Cairns have a smaller or larger range of temperatures over a year than cities in the southern states of Australia?

Answer – Smaller


Cairns has a tropical climate. Does this mean its temperatures are generally warm or cool?

Answer – Warm


Is its rainfall evenly spread or seasonal?

Answer – Seasonal

Rainfall maps

Rainfall maps use isohyet lines and colours to show the ranges of average precipitation in different areas.

An isohyet is a line on a map that connects places with equal precipitation.


Rainfall maps

Name as many forms of precipitation as you can.

Answer – Rain, hail, snow, sleet, mist


Rainfall maps

Why aren’t things such as dew, frost and fog classified as forms of precipitation?Why aren’t things such as dew, frost and fog classified as forms of precipitation?


Rainfall maps

What are the average rainfall ranges used on this map?


Rainfall maps

Which parts of Australia receive the most rain?


Rainfall maps

Which parts of Australia receive the least rain?


Rainfall maps

Describe the pattern of annual rainfall in Australia.


Temperature maps

Temperature maps use isotherm lines and colours to show the ranges of average temperature in different areas.


Temperature maps

An isotherm is a line on a map that connects places of equal temperature.

It can be indicated by a change in colour.


Temperature maps

Why is it informative to have two temperature maps for Australia – one showing January temperatures and one showing July temperatures?


Temperature maps

Which parts of Australia are hottest in January?


Temperature maps

Suggest reasons for this spread of temperatures.


Temperature maps

Which parts of Australia have the highest temperatures in July?


Temperature maps

Describe the pattern of temperatures in July, from northern Australia to southern Australia.


Weather forecasting

Maps of expected weather conditions appear daily on TV, in newspapers and on the Internet.

This is one type of weather forecasting map:

It summarises expected weather conditions – temperature and rainfall.

Weather forecasting

There are two figures shown for each city and town on the map – what do these mean?

Answer – They show the minimum and maximum temperatures for each city or town.

Weather forecasting

Which areas have the highest probability of rain?

Answer – The areas shaded the darkest green

Weather forecasting

What does a lack of shading mean, regarding the probability of rain?

Answer – That there is little or no possibility of rain (less than 10%)

Weather forecasting

Which three cities or towns are expected to have the lowest minimum temperatures?

Answer – Canberra,Hobart, Adelaide

Weather forecasting

Which four cities or towns are expected to have the highest minimum temperatures?

Answer – Broome, Darwin, Mt Isa, Rockhampton

Synoptic weather maps

A synoptic chart shows the main elements of the weather system at a particular time, such as highs, lows and cold fronts.

Readings of atmospheric measurements are taken at ground level.


High is a short way of describing a high pressure cell, where the air pressure increases towards the centre.

Cold front is the boundary where a mass of cold air is replacing warm air, causing a sharp change in temperature.

Low is a short way of describing a low pressure cell, where the air pressure decreases towards the centre.

Isobars are lines on a synoptic weather map that join places of equal air pressure.


Can you see different high and low pressure systems on this synoptic chart?

Where are they?

What other information is shown by the symbols on this synoptic chart?

Climate change

Many scientists believe that global warming is Earth’s greatest environmental threat.

The global trend shows increasing temperatures, which could be caused by the Greenhouse Effect.

Climate change

What does this graph show?

Answer – The relationship between temperatures and concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over an extended period

Answer – The relationship between temperatures and concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over an extended period

Source: World Data Center for Paleoclimatology

Climate change

Fill in the gaps.

This graph shows that variations in ____________ have occurred consistently over the past __________ years.

There is a distinct relationship between temperature and levels of _______________ gas in the atmosphere.

400 000 carbon dioxide temperature

temperature

400 000

carbon dioxide

Climate change

Fill in the gaps.

Over the past couple of centuries, carbon dioxide levels in the ____________ have been greater than ever before.

This is because in that time __________ activity (particularly the use of ________ fuels) has resulted in many more emissions.

fossil humanatmosphere

atmosphere

humanfossil

Climate change

Fill in the gaps.

This graph shows that the __________ averaged surface temperature has steadily ___________ since 1900. In that time, _______________ levels have also increased.

globally

increasedcarbon dioxide

increased globally

carbon dioxide

Source: World Data Center for Paleoclimatology

Climate change discussion

In what ways are these three groups responsible for climate change?

• individuals

• governments

• business and industry

In what ways could the three groups above contribute to resolving the issues of climate change?

Do people in third-world countries have the same responsibilities for climate change as those in first-world countries? Why?

mapping, climate and weather. weather, mapping and our atmosphere what is the difference between...

Documents

weather slide

atmosphere weather

earths atmosphere

atmosphere climate

troposphere slide

exosphere slide

stratosphere slide

mesosphere slide