By Don Amaro from Madeira Islands, Portugal, upload by Herrick 17:17, 4 December 2007 (UTC) - Thunder above Madeira waters, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3183104

What are weather and climate?

In this module, you will be introduced to weather and climate and how people are affected by these two concepts.

Dr. P. Hunt

Contextual world knowledge 

In this module, we shall learn the difference between weather and climate, and the elements that make up the two. We shall learn how to record and present weather data. We shall also consider the different climate zones of the world.

By the end of this module, you will be able to

  • Understand the concepts of weather and climate 
  • Identify the elements that make up the weather and climate 
  • Know how the weather is measured 
  • Know how to read weather maps using the synoptic code 
  • Be able to distinguish between weather and climate.

Understanding geographical processes

During this module, you will develop your understanding of the geographical processes that relate to weather and climate. These include:

  1. Defining big ideas in geography – weather, and climate 
  2. Understanding the basic principles, processes and patterns of weather and climate 
  3. Understanding how weather affects our daily lives 
  4. Understanding how the weather is measured, recorded, and forecast – the role of the Met Office.

Developing geographical skills and enquiry skills. 

Throughout this module, you will be developing your geographical skills and also learning how to investigate geographical enquiries. You will be:

  • Use the synoptic code, weather charts, and satellites to analyse weather patterns 
  • Interpret and draw climate graphs for the UK 
  • Interpret climate maps for the UK and world 
  • Use new geographical terminology – associated with weather and climate

Lesson overviews

The lessons for this module provide you with an overview of weather and climate. Listed below are the lesson enquiry questions.

  1. What are weather and climate?
  2. How do we measure the weather?
  3. How can weather data be recorded and presented?
  4. What are clouds and how does it rain?
  5. What are air pressure and anticyclones?
  6. What are depressions and how do they affect the weather?
  7. School microclimate investigation
  8. What is the climate of the UK?
  9. How does climate vary across the world?
  10. Decision-making exercise

Building on prior knowledge

We have looked at continents of the world in the past, as well as the physical geography and population distribution of the UK. We shall revisit and use this knowledge again.

Using this knowledge in the future.

We shall be using the knowledge when we study the continent of Africa and the region of the Middle East. We shall also link back to weather and climate in our development and population modules.

We study extreme weather in the UK at GCSE level.

Assessments.

In order to assess the progress you have made in this unit, you will be assessed in a number of different ways.

  1. Knowledge Strand - multiple choice quizzes.
  2. Understanding Strand - Answer several open-ended questions.
  3. Enquiry Strand - Completing a decision-making activity.
  4. Skills Strand - Construct and interpret a range of graphs and maps.

Independent learning

As we move through this module, you may wish to learn more about Asia. Here are some helpful links to develop your independant learning.

Websites

BBC Bitesize -  Weather 

BBC Bitesize -  Climate 

BBC Bitesize - Climate Change 

TV