Weather Tracking Report
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What you will learn
- 1Distinguish between weather and climate
- 2Describe the stages of the water cycle: evaporation, condensation, and precipitation
- 3Identify the major climate zones and their temperature characteristics
- 4Name common weather instruments and explain what each measures
- 5Read and interpret basic weather data
Mini Lesson
A weather tracking report brings together everything you know about the atmosphere: the difference between weather and climate, how water moves through the environment, the major climate zones of Earth, and the tools scientists use to measure weather conditions.
Weather vs Climate
- Weather is the short-term state of the atmosphere at a specific place and time — it can change hour by hour.
- Climate is the average weather pattern of a region over a long period of time (30+ years).
- Example: a rainy day in a desert is weather; the desert receiving very little rain overall is its climate.
The Water Cycle
- Evaporation — heat from the sun turns liquid water (oceans, lakes, rivers) into water vapor that rises into the air.
- Condensation — as water vapor rises and cools, it changes back into tiny water droplets forming clouds.
- Precipitation — when water droplets in clouds combine and become heavy enough, they fall as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
- Collection — precipitation collects in oceans, lakes, rivers, and groundwater, and the cycle begins again.
Climate Zones
- Tropical zone — near the equator; hot and wet all year round.
- Temperate zone — between the tropics and the poles; four seasons with mild summers and cool winters.
- Polar zone — near the North and South Poles; very cold with little precipitation, mostly ice and snow.
Weather Measurement Instruments
- Thermometer — measures air temperature in degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius.
- Barometer — measures atmospheric pressure; falling pressure often means rain is coming.
- Anemometer — measures wind speed.
- Rain gauge — measures the amount of precipitation that falls.
- Weather vane — shows the direction from which the wind is blowing.
Words to know
weather
The state of the air at a particular time and place.
e.g. Today the weather is sunny and warm.
climate
The usual weather pattern of a place over many years.
e.g. The desert climate is hot and dry.
evaporation
When liquid water turns into water vapor and rises into the air.
e.g. A puddle dries because of evaporation.
condensation
When water vapor cools and turns back into liquid.
e.g. Drops of water on a cold glass form by condensation.
precipitation
Water falling from clouds as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
e.g. Rain is the most common form of precipitation.
thermometer
An instrument that measures temperature.
e.g. The thermometer reads 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tip: remember the acronym T-B-A — Thermometer (temperature), Barometer (pressure), Anemometer (wind speed) — three key weather instruments.
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