Meteorology & Weather Patterns

What is Meteorology?

Meteorology is the scientific study of the atmosphere, focusing on understanding and predicting weather patterns.

• Weather vs. Climate: Weather refers to short-term changes in the atmosphere, while climate is the average weather pattern over a long period of time.

• Meteorologists: Scientists who use satellites, weather balloons, and radar to track and forecast weather conditions.

• Factors Influencing Weather: Temperature, air pressure, humidity, wind, and precipitation all work together to create different weather patterns.

Weather Patterns & Phenomena

Understanding how weather patterns form and change is essential to predicting weather events and their impact on our environment

• Air Masses and Fronts: Large bodies of air that influence the weather, with cold and warm fronts creating different conditions such as storms or calm skies. 
• Jet Streams: Fast-flowing air currents in the atmosphere that influence weather patterns by moving air masses and storms across the globe. 
• Storms: Thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes are caused by the movement of warm and cold air, moisture, and wind. 
• Global Weather Patterns: Phenomena like El Niño and La Niña affect weather worldwide by changing ocean temperatures, influencing the atmosphere.

Fun Facts

Here are some interesting facts about the weather:

• Lightning is hotter than the surface of the Sun, reaching temperatures of about 30,000 degrees Celsius.
• The largest hailstone ever recorded in the U.S. weighed almost 2 pounds!
• Tornado winds can reach speeds of over 300 miles per hour, making them one of nature’s most powerful forces.
• Clouds can weigh over a million pounds, even though they float in the sky!

Review

Let’s quickly recap what we learned about meteorology & weather patterns:

• What is the average weather pattern over a long period of time? Climate
• What is the fast-moving air current that affects weather? Jet Stream
• How do phenomena like El Niño and La Niña affect weather? Change Ocean Temperatures
• What is a large body of air with uniform temperature and moisture called? Air Mass