Weather and Climate
Students are exposed to weather on a daily basis, whether they are aware of the conditions or not. Throughout this unit students will be completing an in-depth study over weather. The following Grade Level Expectations will be addressed:
- Describe the composition of Earth's atmosphere and how it circulates air masses.
- Describe the role atmosphere in precipitation, reflecting and filtering light from the Sun, and trapping heat energy emitted from the Earth's surface.
- Explain & trace the possible paths of water through the hydrosphere, geosphere, and atmosphere
- Relate the different forms water can take as it moves through the water cycle to atmospheric conditions at a given geographic location
- Explain how thermal energy is transferred throughout the water cycle by the processes of convection, conduction, and radiation
- Explain how the differences in surface temperature are due to the different heating rates of surfaces.
- Describe the characteristics of air masses
- Identify weather conditions associated with cold & warm fronts
- Identify factors that affect weather of a certain region.
- Collect and interpret weather data
- Describe how changes in barometric pressure can cause changes in weather
- Differentiate between weather and climate
- Identify factors that affect climate
- Provide examples of how the availability of fresh water for humans and other living organisms is dependent on the water cycle.