Weather Notes
El Nino- warming of the Pacific Ocean and can cause more rain (US) or a drought in other areas
La Nina- cooling of the Pacific Ocean
Low pressure- rainy, windy and stormy
High pressure- clear, dry, sunny, cooler
Clouds- stratus, cumulus, cirrus, fog (explain each one)
Nimbus- stormy
Global Wind Patterns- polar easterlies, prevailing westerlies (US) and trade winds
Weather difference in areas near the equator, mid latitude and polar regions (hotter near the equator,
more mild in mid latitudes (gets colder in winter and hotter in summer) and colder near the polar
regions
Sea Breeze (type of wind)- cooler air moves inland and warm air rises above land and moves out to the
sea
Land versus water (What is the temperature difference? Land heats up much faster than water.)
Coastal area weather has less change because of the water compared to farther inland
Drought- no rain for awhile (How could we keep track of this? Measure rainfall and the level of water in
ponds, lakes, etc)
Jet Stream- fast moving zone of air that moves much faster when the air masses have a bigger
temperature difference; brings us colder air during winter
Rainy means more water vapor in the air (humidity)