Hi, welcome to this blog on weather Elements, Attributes And Importance of weather.
Table Of Contents
- Explain the concept and Meaning of weather
- Identify weather elements
- Keeping weather records
- List weather instruments
- Describe the Attributes of weather
- State the Importance of weather
- Revision Questions
Meaning Of Weather
Weather is defined as the condition of the lower atmosphere of a place over a short period. The weather of a place is always very brief and changes regularly e.g. the weather of today could be sunny, rainy or cloudy.
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Weather Elements
The weather elements and climate include
- Temperature
- Rainfall
- Wind
- Pressure
- Relative humidity
- Cloud cover
- Sunshine
1. Temperature: Heat within the air indicates how hot or cold a place is and varies from latitude to latitude. The sun is the source of all heat, measured with the aid of thermometer. It influences the actual amount of water vapour present in the air and also the rate of evaporation and condensation. In the lower atmosphere, the temperature decreases with heights.
2. Pressure: This consists of a number of mixed gases and has weight which it exerts on the earth’s surface. It varies from place to place and from time to time. The higher one goes, the lower the temperature and pressure. Pressure is measured with a barometer.
3. Cloud: This is particles of water droplets in the upper atmosphere suspended in the air. Due to condensation of water vapours carried by rising air, cloud may give precipitation. Cloud reduces visibility and depletes solar Insulations. Types of cloud include cirrus, cumulus and status.
4. Sunshine: This is the visible part of the solar energy. It is useful for plants and other living organisms. It determines how dry the wind is and aids the process of formation of clouds and rainfall. The amount of sunshine depends on the latitude of a place, and the slope of the Land. Sunshine varies according to season.
5. Rainfall: Rainfall refers to water droplets from the atmosphere. It occurs as a result of evaporation from water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ocean and transpiration from plants. Condensation reaches saturation point, dew point is finally reached. The amount of rainfall is measured with the aid of raingauge. The different type of rainfall are conventional, orographic and cyclonic.
6. Wind: This is air in motion, from high pressure to low pressure belts. It has special mode of direction and is made up of series of dust and eddies, capable of carrying moisture and other pollutants. Wind adapts to the characteristics of its immediate environment. The direction is measured with wind vane while the speed is measured with anemometer.
7. Humidity: This is a measure of the dampness of the atmosphere due to water in the gaseous state, and its varies from place to place at different times of the day. Two types exist: absolute and relative humidity and it is measured with hydrometer.
Keeping Weather Records And Instruments Of Weather
Weather Instruments include:
- Rainfall – Raingauge
- Temperature – Thermometer
- Wind – wind vane, Anemometer
- Pressure – Barometer
- Humidity – Hydrometer.
1. Measurement of rainfall: Rainfall and other forms of precipitation is measured by instrument called Raingauge.
How rain gauge is used
- Everyday, the funnel is removed.
- Any water in the glass bottle is poured into calibrated measuring cylinder.
- The reading is taken at eye level.
- The reading is recorded.
- The readings are added up for each month.
- Total rainfall for the twelve months of the year is summed up and this gives the total annual rainfall.
Use of rainfall data
- To determine the characteristics of rainfall.
- For agricultural purposes.
- For calculation of monthly mean rainfall.
- For planning social activities.
- For air and sea navigation purposes.
- For planning military operations.
- For educational purposes (teaching and research).
2. Measurement of temperature: The temperature of a place is measured by instrument called Thermometer.
3. Measurement of wind: Wind has direction and speed. The direction of wind is measured by an instrument called wind vane while the speed of wind is measured by a different instrument called Anemometer.
How wind speed is measured
- It is measured with anemometer
- It is placed in an open space.
- Anemometer consists of four metal cups fixed to a metal arm.
- The shaft is connected to a meter.
- The cups rotate freely on a vertical shaft as the wind blows.
- The number of rotation is indicated on a meter to give the speed of the wind in kilometer per hour.
How wind speed is record
- Reading is taking twice daily, e.g, 19.00 hours and 15.00 hours.
- It is recorded in a notebook.
- It states the date of recording.
- The record is signed by the observer.
4. Measurement of pressure: The instrument used in measuring atmospheric pressure is called Barometer. Pressure is measured in units of force called Milibars.
5. Measurement of relative humidity: The instrument used for measuring relative humidity is called Hydrometer.
Attributes Of Weather
The attribute of weather are variability, aerial extent and duration:
- Variability: Weather is often described as the condition of the lower atmosphere of a place over a short period of time. The weather condition of a place changes regularly. It is capable of changing frequently on daily basis for example the weather of today could be rainy, sunny or clouding.
- Aerial extent: The weather of a place do cover a short distance. In other words, the area normally covered by weather is usually very small. Weather occurs within a short distance before it changes situation.
- Duration: The weather of a place does not last for a very long time. The duration of the weather is always very brief. The weather of a place may experience heavy rain and it might start and stop within few minutes.
Importance Of Weather
The followings are the importance of weather to Man:
- Human settlement: Weather and climate affect the rate at which human beings live in a place. Temperature areas are more habitable than desert areas because of differences in climate.
- Health: Humid or damp environment encouraging the growth of micro-organisms which causes disease of Man hence, death rate is higher in tropical than in temperate countries.
- Environmental hazards: Hazards like soil erosion, rain storm, flood and drought are caused by differences in weather and climate of a place.
- Vegetation: Temperature and rainfall are the Major determinants of the types of vegetation in an area which could be light or thick.
- Clothing: The types and nature of clothes worn by different people in different parts of the world is due to differences in climate. Cold climate requires black and thick dresses while hot climate requires light dresses.
- Housing: The types and nature of houses built in different places is also influenced by the differences in climate. e.g. hot regions requires air-condition houses whereas, polar regions do not.
- Agriculture: Rainfall and temperature are another importance of weather elements that determine the types of crops to be cultivated in an area.
- Soil formation: Soil is formed from parent rocks which have been broken by element of weather and climate. The rate of disintegration of rocks to form soil is principally a factor of climate.
- Communication and transportation: The types of transportation used in an area is greatly influenced by weather and climate. Air conditioned vehicles are popular in tropical climate while such vehicles are not popular in polar regions. Fog disrupts flight in temperate regions while harmattan does the same in the tropics and both cause poor visibility.
- Occupation: The climate of a place do determine the occupation of the people in that particular region. Example; people living in Equatorial type of climate are more likely to be involved in cash crop farming and Lumbering of hardwood.
- Cultural activities: The climate of a place can also affect the cultural activities of some people e.g. winter or summer sports.
- Health: The health status of a particular area can be determined by the type of climate. The sub-tropical climate is said to favour the breeding of mosquitoes which causes malaria fever.
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Revision Questions
- (a) What is weather? (b) Discuss five factors affecting the weather and climate of a place.
- (a) Name four weather elements and climates. (b) Highlight five importance of weather and climate to man.
- (a) Name the instruments of weather used in measuring the following: (i) Rainfall (ii) Humidity (iii) Temperature (iv) wind.