WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Why do geographers study the

weather?
What is the difference between
'weather' and 'climate‘?
 Why do geographers study the
weather?
The weather has an impact on many of the things that we do! Can
you explain how the weather affects these people?
 WEATHER or CLIMATE?
Can you remember the difference?

Put these words in to two lists under the headings

‘Weather words’ and ‘Climate words’

Droughts Cold winters

Wind speed Cloud cover
Tropical zone Wet summers
Air pressure Temperature
Sunshine Wind direction
What is weather?

and how is it different from climate?

What is the difference between weather and climate?

Weather is the day to day changes in the atmosphere.

temperature precipitation

wind speed humidity

wind direction cloud cover

air pressure sunshine
Climate is the overall pattern of weather, usually based
on an average over 30 years.
What climate zone do you live in?
What other climate zones have you visited?
What is the difference between weather and climate?

Weather is the day to day changes

in the atmosphere.

Climate is the overall pattern of weather,

usually based on an average over 30 years.
WEATHER
AND
The Köppen Climate Classification
CLIMATE System
In the early 20th century, a German scientist named Wladimir Köppen
developed one of the most widely used classification systems. The Köppen
system categorizes climate into five main types, which can be further divided
into subcategories.
“weather” Meteorology “climate” Climatology

analyze, explain, predict spatial variation of

atmospheric processes at
given location (region) and
behaviour over time
manifestation of
atmospheric processes
⇒ current state
meteorological processes
over a number of time
scales (daily & seasonal
cycles, longterm weather
as it happens trends)
kind of weather that we
can expect to happen-
aggregate weather
condition over space &
time

Analogy: ⇒ statistical concept

Weather is to Climate as an Individual is to the Population
Meteorology Climatology
“weather” “climate”
can be experienced cannot be experienced
(measured) directly directly – only through
recorded history of
determines how we dress weather events
on a given day
determines what kind of
house we build to live
in
Where does the energy for weather originate?

the uneven
heating
of the Earth’s
surface
Who is affected by weather and climate?

Farmers
Travel Agents
Shop keepers
Doctors
Builders

EVERYONE!
Weather disasters
Weather disasters
Why does the atmosphere behave as it
does??
• -----How
• -----Why
• -----Manifestation of the Physical
Processes
Today’s target -

• Make sure we know the difference between

weather and climate

• Learn about the instruments we use to

measure the weather
A Rain Gauge
 Precipitation.
• Precipitation is any
moisture that comes from
the atmosphere (rain,
snow, hail).

• The amount of
precipitation is measured
using a rain gauge.

Q: Where do you think would be best to place a rain

gauge? Beside a building or in an open space?
A Stevenson Screen
 Temperature.
• Thermometers are housed in a
Stevenson Screen. These are
always off the ground and
painted white!

Q: Why are thermometers kept

there? Why is it white?

A: It provides shelter from wind, rain, snow

and animals. The white colour reflects the
sunlight so heat doesn’t build up inside the
box.
A Sunshine Recorder
 Sunshine hours.
sunshine
• The total amount of
sunshine in a day
is measured using
a sunshine
recorder.
• The sun’s rays
travel through the
glass ball and burn
marks onto the card
Strip of
Glass Ball behind it.
card
An anemometer

anemometer
A wind vane
 Wind.
Wind is measured in two ways with two instruments:
1. Wind Direction – Wind Vane
2. Wind Speed – Anemometer

Anemometer: the stronger the

Wind Vane: the arrow
points in the direction that
the wind is coming from.
wind the faster the caps turn.
The number of turns in a given
time gives us the wind speed in
knots.
 A thermometer

Temperatures are
measured in the shade, so
that the heat of the sun
does not heat up the
instrument being used.
Thermometer
 Temperature
• Air temperature is measured
using maximum - minumium
thermometers.

• Each temperature is read from

the bottom of the marker.

• Q: What would the

temperatures be on this
thermometer?

A: Minimum = 9°C, Maximum = 22°C

 A barometer

Air pressure is the force

exerted on the Earth by the
weight of the air above.
 Air Pressure.
Barometer
• Air pressure is
measured using a
barometer and
recorded using a
barograph.

• It is measured in
millibars (mb).

• Average air pressure is

1000 mb
 Cloud cover

• For working out cloud cover (how much

of the sky is covered by clouds?
Maximum value is 8/8)
• For working out visibility (how far can you
see? Measured in metres)
What do you think the maximum visibility on
a clear day is (in kilometres)?
11 Kilometres
 Cloud cover
No instruments required
• Cloud cover is
measured just by using
our eyes.

• You look at the sky and

decide how cloudy it is
– and estimate how
many eigths of the sky
are covered.

• Cloud cover is
measured in oktas.

• You also get different

types of clouds.
For each of these locations, decide whether the weather station is
well located. Write reasons for the answers you gave.
 Facts about air

• Cooler when wind blows

• Air in open areas are hotter than in shade
• Afternoon air are warmer than morning and
late afternoon
• Heavy cloud, strong winds indicates rain is
coming

Air is dynamic, temperature and moisture varies from time

to time in a day, so as the sun radiation and wind direction
 Facts about weather
• Temperature differ from one place to another, higher
elevation is cooler compared to coastal areas. Equator
is hotter than areas away from the equator
• So, temperature varies vertically and horizontally
• The higher the location, the lower air pressure
• Solar intensities in the equator are relatively constants
throughout the year
 Facts about weather
• Further from the equator, solar intensity or radiation
fluctuation is greater
• Moisture, rainfall (intensity and distribution) and
wind (direction and speed) varies between regions
 Climatology
• Three prefixes can be added to the word climatology to denote scale or magnitude. They
are micro, meso, and macro and indicate small, medium, and large scales, respectively.
These terms (micro, meso, and macro) are also applied to meteorology.

• MICROCLIMATOLOGY.—Microclimatologic al studies often measure small-scale

contrasts, such as between hilltop and valley or between city and surrounding country.
They may be of an extremely small scale, such as one side of a hedge contrasted with the
other, a plowed furrow versus level soil, or opposite leaf surfaces. Climate in the
microscale may be effectively modified by relatively simple human efforts.

• MACROCLIMATOLOGY.—Macroclimatology is the study of the large-scale

climate of a large area or country. Climate of this type is not easily modified by human
efforts. However, continued pollution of the Earth, its streams, rivers, and atmosphere,
can eventually make these modifications.

• MESOCLIMATOLOGY.—Mesoclimatology embraces a rather indistinct middle

ground between macroclimatology and microclimatology. The areas are smaller than
those of macroclimatology are and larger than those of microclimatology, and they may
or may not be climatically representative of a general region.
 Climate
Climate has become increasingly important in other
scientific fields. Geographers, hydrologists, and
oceanographers use quantitative measures of climate to
describe or analyze the influence of our atmospheric
environment. Climate classification has developed
primarily in the field of geography. The basic role of the
atmosphere in the hydrologic cycle is an essential part
of the study of hydrology. Both air and water
measurements are required to understand the energy
exchange between air and ocean (heat budget) as
examined in the study of oceanography.
 Climate
Living organisms is directly affected by weather and
climate, including those changes in climate that are
gradually being made by man. During our growing
years as a nation, our interference with nature by
diverting and damming rivers, clearing its lands,
stripping its soils, and scarring its landscape has
produced changes in climate. These changes have
been on the micro and meso scale and possibly even
on the macro scale.
 Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia
(JMM)
• Ramalan Cuaca Umum , Ramalan Cuaca Negeri, Ramalan
Cuaca Daerah, Cuaca Bandar dan Pusat Peranginan
• Amaran Cuaca, Ramalan Cuaca Bandar-bandar Utama
Dunia
• Laporan Monsun Terkini, Ramalan Cuaca Lautan
• Ramalan Bagi Nelayan, Ramalan Cuaca, Angin dan
Ombak Tujuh Hari
• Ramalan Air Pasang Surut Tujuh Hari , Produk Model
Ombak (WAve prediction Model,WAM)
 Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia
(JMM)
Pencerapan
Buletin Harian
Imej Satelit, Imej ,Radar Jarak Ketampakan
Kelembapan Udara Suhu Min / Maks,
Taburan Hujan Harian
Isohyet Harian
Penerbangan
Kiosk Ramalan Cuaca
Aviation Briefing Terminal
Gempa Bumi & Tsunami
• Senarai Gempa Bumi Terkini
 Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia
(JMM)
Iklim Iklim Malaysia
• Pemonitoran Perubahan Iklim
• Maklumat & Pemantauan Kemarau
• Iklim Bandar-bandar Utama di Seluruh Dunia
• Laporan IPCC
Meteorologi Pertanian
• Stesen Utama Meteorologi Pertanian
• Stesen Auksiliari
• Buletin 10-Hari Cuaca Pertanian
• Tinjauan & Analisa Agroiklim
• Klasifikasi Agroiklim & Zon Tanaman Fenologi Tumbuhan
Tanaman Terpilih
 Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia
(JMM)
Kajian Alam Sekitar
Aerosol, Multigas, Ozon, Particulate Matter (PM-10)
Space Weather Indeks,
Lampau Ungu Suria

Tinjauan Cuaca Jangka Panjang

Tinjauan El-Nino
Laporan Klimatologi Sinoptik
Laporan Pusat Aktiviti Monsun Kuala Lumpur
Penyelidikan Senario Perubahan Iklim