Weather & climate
Weather is the day to day conditions of the atmosphere. For example, it is raining right now.
Climate is the average weather conditions of a place. This measured over a long period of time. (Met Office since 1834)
For example, it is usually hot in Jamaica.
Water cycle
The water cycle is the transfer of water around the world.
Water is stored on the earth's surface for example in oceans, seas and lakes. When the sun heats the water it evaporates into water vapour. The water vapour rises as it is warmed and begins to cool and condense into clouds of tiny water droplets. When these tiny water droplets combine together and become heavy enough they fall to the ground as precipitation (rain,hail, sleet or snow).
Water is stored on the earth's surface for example in oceans, seas and lakes. When the sun heats the water it evaporates into water vapour. The water vapour rises as it is warmed and begins to cool and condense into clouds of tiny water droplets. When these tiny water droplets combine together and become heavy enough they fall to the ground as precipitation (rain,hail, sleet or snow).
3 types of rainfall
Relief rainfall happens when warm most air is forced to rise over mountainous areas. The warm air cools as it rises, condenses into clouds and precipitates.
Convectional rainfall happens when the ground is heated by the sun. This heats air above the ground surface which is forced to rise, cool, condense and precipitate.
Frontal rainfall occurs when a warm air mass meets a cold air mass. The warm air mass is lighter and therefore is forced to rise over the cold air mass which is heavier. When cold air advances and pushes beneath lighter warm air this forms a cold front. If the warm air advances first it is called a warm front.
Convectional rainfall happens when the ground is heated by the sun. This heats air above the ground surface which is forced to rise, cool, condense and precipitate.
Frontal rainfall occurs when a warm air mass meets a cold air mass. The warm air mass is lighter and therefore is forced to rise over the cold air mass which is heavier. When cold air advances and pushes beneath lighter warm air this forms a cold front. If the warm air advances first it is called a warm front.
Live weather around the world
How do clouds get their names?
Types of rainfall
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Rainfall around the world
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