WEATHER AND

CLIMATE
Class 8- GEOGRAPHY
WEATHER AND
CLIMATE
Difference
between weather
and climate
Weather is what conditions of the
atmosphere are over a short period of
time
Climate is how the atmosphere "behaves"
over relatively long periods of time.
Today, the Sahara Desert in northern
Africa is the largest desert in the world.
However, several thousand years ago, the
climate in the Sahara was quite different.
This Green Sahara experienced
frequent rainy weather.
ELEMENTS OF THE
WEATHER
A) Temperature is how hot or cold the atmosphere is, how many
degrees Celsius (centigrade) it is above or below freezing (0C).
Temperature is a very important factor in determining the weather,
because it influences or controls other elements of the weather, such as
precipitation, humidity, clouds and atmospheric pressure.
b) Humidity is the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere.
c) Precipitation is the term given to moisture that falls from the air to
the ground. Precipitation includes snow, hail, sleet, drizzle, fog, mist
and rain.
d) Atmospheric pressure (or air pressure) is the weight of air resting on
the earth's surface. Pressure is shown on a weather map, often called a
synoptic map, with lines called isobars.
e) Wind is the movement of air masses from high pressure areas (highs)
to low pressure areas (lows).
WEATHER
INSTRUMENTS
Weather instruments are used to take measurements of various
atmospheric parameters at local weather stations
Hygrometer
This is a big word for the device that measures the
humidity in the local atmosphere. Humidity is the
percentage of water vapor in the surrounding air.
Thermometer
Everyone has probably heard of these. Thermometers
are used in many places to measure temperature. If
you get sick, that's one type of thermometer.
RAIN GAUGE
Instrument used to measure the amount of liquid precipitation
over a certain length of time. In its simplest sense, a rain gauge
is nothing more than a can which collects water which falls
from the sky as rain.

BAROMETER
Atmospheric pressure is measured by barometers. An aneroid
barometer, one of the most common types, uses a sealed can
of air to detect changes in atmospheric pressure.
ANEMOMETER
An anemometer is a type of weather instrument that measures
wind speed. Some of these instruments measure both wind
speed and wind direction.

KPPEN CLIMATE
CLASSIFICATION
SYSTEM
The Kppen Climate Classification System is the most widely
used for classifying the world's climates.
Most classification systems used today are based on the one
introduced in 1900 by the Russian-German climatologist
Wladimir Kppen.
Kppen divided the Earth's surface into climatic regions that
generally coincided with world patterns of vegetation and soils.
annual and monthly averages of temperature
annual and monthly averages of precipitation

KPPEN CLIMATE
CLASSIFICATION
SYSTEM

KPPEN CLIMATE
CLASSIFICATION
SYSTEM

KPPEN CLIMATE
CLASSIFICATION
SYSTEM