Weather and climate

Oxford University Press 2016

 Weather and climate

Weather Climate
Weather conditions on a Long-term patterns of
particular day. temperature, rainfall,
It is raining heavily etc.
today. The average annual
The temperature today is rainfall is 1,740 mm.
29C. The average temperature
Hurricane Annie is for September is 28 C.
approaching. It is now 600 Eight hurricanes can be
km to the east. expected here each
century. Oxford University Press 2016
 Elements of weather and climate
Temperature: Precipitation:

Air pressure: Humidity:

Winds: Clouds:

Oxford University Press 2016

 Elements of weather and climate
Temperature: usually Precipitation: In the
from 18C to 33C in the Caribbean, precipitation
Caribbean. Note also the falls as rain. In colder
annual and diurnal countries there is also snow
temperature range. or hail, as well as rain.
Air pressure: A cyclone or Humidity: measures
depression is an area of low water vapour in the air. Dry
pressure. An anticyclone air has 0% relative
has high pressure. Isobars humidity. Saturated air has
are lines of equal air relative humidity of 100%.
pressure. Clouds: formed by water
Winds: calm, light breeze, vapour in the atmosphere.
storm or hurricane.
Oxford University Press 2016
Pressure and winds
In the northern
hemisphere, winds blow:
clockwise around an
anticyclone
anti-clockwise around
a cyclone or depression.
A steep change in air
pressure brings strong
winds. In these
conditions, isobars are
close together on a
weather map.
Oxford University Press 2016
How clouds are formed
A pocket of hot air rises.
Air expands and cools as
it ascends.
Cold air can hold less
moisture. Cooling
increases relative
humidity.
Clouds form when relative
humidity reaches 100%.
In contrast, descending
air is compressed. It
produces warm, dry
conditions.

Oxford University Press 2016

Main Cloud Types

Oxford University Press 2016

 Oxford University Press 2016
 Can you recognise these cloud types?

Cumulus. Cumulonimbus. Cirrus. Stratus. Alto-cumulus.

Oxford University Press 2016

Cirrocumulus Clouds
Oxford University Press 2016
Cumulonimbus Clouds
Oxford University Press 2016
STRATOCUMULUS
Oxford University Press 2016
Cirrus
Oxford University Press 2016
Cirrus
Oxford University Press 2016
Cirrus
Oxford University Press 2016
Cirrocumulus Clouds
Oxford University Press 2016
STRATUS
Oxford University Press 2016
CLOUD TYPES
Oxford University Press 2016
 Oxford University Press 2016
 Oxford University Press 2016
Cumulus Clouds
Oxford University Press 2016
Cumulus
Oxford University Press 2016
STRATUS Clouds
Oxford University Press 2016
STRATUS CLOUD
Oxford University Press 2016
STRATUS CLOUDS
Oxford University Press 2016
 Oxford University Press 2016
 Oxford University Press 2016
 Oxford University Press 2016
 Oxford University Press 2016
 Oxford University Press 2016
 Oxford University Press 2016
 Oxford University Press 2016
 Oxford University Press 2016
 Oxford University Press 2016
 Oxford University Press 2016
 Oxford University Press 2016
 Oxford University Press 2016
 Oxford University Press 2016
 Influences on weather and climate
Latitude: Tropical climates
have higher temperatures
and a lower temperature
range.
Altitude: Mountains and
highlands are cooler than
land at sea level.
Relief: Winds blowing over
mountains form clouds
which bring relief rain.
Rainfall is lower in the rain
shadow on the leeward side
of a mountain.
Distance from the sea:
In coastal areas, the sea
moderates extremes of
temperature.
Prevailing winds: The
trade winds bring moist
Atlantic air to the
Caribbean.
Land and sea breezes:
Beaches and coastlands are
cooled by winds from the
sea.
Oxford University Press 2016
 What weather systems affect the Caribbean?

How do weather systems move with the seasons? What is the contrast between
January and July?

Oxford University Press 2016

Anticyclones bring calm, dry weather
An anticyclone is an area
of high atmospheric
pressure
Gentle winds blow
clockwise around an
anticyclone.
An anticyclone usually
forms over the mid-
Atlantic from June to
September.
This is the Bermuda-
Azores high.
Oxford University Press 2016
The inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ)
The north-east trades are
the prevailing winds in the
Caribbean. The south-east
trades blow in the South
Atlantic.
NE and SE trades meet at
the ITCZ. At the ITCZ there
may be thick
cumulonimbus clouds and
heavy rain.
The ITCZ moves north in
July-October, affecting the
southern Caribbean.
Oxford University Press 2016
Cold fronts or northers may bring heavy rain
Cold dry air may move into
the Caribbean from North
America during the winter
months (Dec to March),
forming a cold front where
it meets warm tropical air.
The cold northern air
pushes under the warm
tropical air, forcing it
upwards. There are thick
clouds and heavy rain.
There may be a strong
north wind and rough seas.
Oxford University Press 2016
Tropical waves take several days to pass
Ahead of a tropical wave,
dry descending air produces
sunny conditions. The wind
blows from the NE.
At the axis of the wave, air
pressure is low. Rising air
produces thick
cumulonimbus clouds and
heavy rain.
Behind the wave there are
overcast skies and some
rain. The wind blows from
the SE.

Oxford University Press 2016

A weather map
A cold front is moving
south-east towards
Jamaica. It will bring cold
air, cumulonumbus
clouds, thunderstorms
and heavy rain.
An anticyclone has
brought calm, clear
conditions to the mid-
Atlantic.
There are some clouds in
the eastern Caribbean,
and winds are blowing
from the south-east.
Oxford University Press 2016
 Hurricanes and tropical storms
A tropical depression brings
disturbed weather, low
pressure and winds of up to
62 km/h.
A tropical storm has
pressure around 990-1,000
mb, and wind speeds up to
118 km/h. The storm is given
a name.
Hurricanes have devastating
winds of 119 km/h or more.
There is a distinct eye of
calm air at the centre.
Hurricanes develop over the
sea.
Sea surface temperatures
must be over 27 C.
Hurricanes do not develop
close to the Equator
(between 9 N and 9 S).
Most Caribbean hurricanes
develop from June to
November. This is the
hurricane season.
Oxford University Press 2016
 The structure of a hurricane

Pressure is lowest at the eye. Strongest winds at the eye wall.

Oxford University Press 2016

 A satellite view

Anti-clockwise wind pattern. Outer spiral bands bring heavy rain.

Oxford University Press 2016

The track of hurricane Tomas
Many Atlantic hurricanes
begin near the African coast.
A tropical wave strengthens
to a depression, then
tropical storm, then a
hurricane.
The storm centre may move
hundreds of km in a day.
Many storms move W at
first, then curve to the north,
before swinging E over the
mid-Atlantic.

Oxford University Press 2016

Stages in Hurricane
Formation
Tropical Wave

Tropical Cyclone / Depression

Tropical Storm

Hurricane
Oxford University Press 2016
Temperature and relief
Air temperature falls
around 0.6C for each
100m above sea level. Air
is cooler at high altitudes
for two reasons:
At sea level, the overlying
atmosphere is thicker. It
prevents heat from
escaping. At high altitudes,
the insulating layer is
thinner.
Air forced upwards by
winds blowing over a
mountain is cooled faster,
at 1C per 100 m.
Oxford University Press 2016
Relief, rainfall and temperature
Rising air is cooled by
1C for every 100 m.
As air cools, relative
humidity rises. When
humidity reaches 100%,
clouds are formed.
Rain falls over the
mountains.
On the leeward side,
descending air is warmed
by 1C every 100 m.
Rainfall is low in the rain
shadow on the leeward
coast. Oxford University Press 2016
Relief and rainfall in Martinique
What is the average
rainfall:
in the north, at the
summit of Mont
Pele?
on the low hills in the
south of the island?

Oxford University Press 2016

Equatorial and tropical marine climates

Oxford University Press 2016

Equatorial climates
Temperatures are close
to 27C all year.
Rainfall is usually over
1,500mm and sometimes
over 3,000mm.
There are two rainy
seasons, and two seasons
with less rain.
Rainy seasons are
influenced by the annual
north-south movements
of the ITCZ.
Oxford University Press 2016
Tropical marine climates
There is a single wet
season. Weather systems
such easterly waves, the
ITCZ and hurricanes bring
rain.
Rainfall is usually from
1,200to 4,000mm. There
is some rain even in the
dry season.
Temperatures are steady
all year round, often in
the range 25-30C.
Oxford University Press 2016
Cirrocumulus Clouds
Oxford University Press 2016
Cirrocumulus Clouds
Oxford University Press 2016
Cirrocumulus Clouds
Oxford University Press 2016
Cirrocumulus Clouds
Oxford University Press 2016