CURRICULUM TOOL: METEOROLOGY
WEATHER VARIABLES
NYS Earth Science Core Curriculum
Performance Indicator 2.1 Use the concepts of density and heat energy to explain observations
of weather patterns, seasonal changes, and the movements of Earth’s plates.
2.1b The transfer of heat energy within the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, and Earth’s interior
results in the formation of regions of different densities. These density differences result in
motion.
2.1c Weather patterns become evident when weather variables are observed, measured, and
recorded. These variables include air temperature, air pressure, moisture (relative humidity
and dewpoint), precipitation (rain, snow, hail, sleet, etc.), wind speed and direction, and cloud
cover.
2.1d Weather variables are measured using instruments such as thermometers, barometers,
psychrometers, precipitation gauges, anemometers, and wind vanes.
2.1e Weather variables are interrelated. For example:
• temperature and humidity affect air pressure and probability of precipitation
• air pressure gradient controls wind velocity
2.1f Air temperature, dewpoint, cloud formation, and precipitation are affected by the expansion
and contraction of air due to vertical atmospheric movement.
Performance Indicator 2.2 Explain how incoming solar radiation, ocean currents, and land
masses affect weather and climate.
2.2d Temperature and precipitation patterns are altered by:
• natural events such as El Niño and volcanic eruptions
• human influences including deforestation, urbanization, and the production of greenhouse
gases such as carbon dioxide and methane.
Some Past Part A Questions
1. Which weather variable generally decreases when wind speed is increasing, clouds are
thickening, and visibility drops?
(1) relative humidity
(3) precipitation
(2) dewpoint
(4) air pressure
High School of Language and Innovation 2012 (draft)
Curriculum-Based Questions
 How are each of the weather variables measured?
 How do high and low pressure systems compare?
 How do weather variables influence weather
patterns?
 What is the relationship between relative
humidity, dewpoint, and condensation?
 How does the expansion and contraction of air due
to vertical atmospheric movement affect air
temperature, dewpoint, cloud formation, and
precipitation?
 Complete one Weather Variable activity from the
green Meteorology binder.
Earth Science Reference Table
pg. 12 and 13
Some Past Part B-1, B-2, C Questions
January 2013 Question 41-43, 74-77
August 2012 Question 47
June 2012 Questions 83
*Released Regents Tests:
http://www.nysedregents.org/earthscience/
CURRICULUM TOOL: METEOROLOGY
WEATHER VARIABLES
2. The diagram to the right shows a weather instrument found at most weather stations.
The main function of this instrument is to measure which variable?
(1) wind speed
(3) air pressure
(2) wind direction
(4) relative humidity
3. What is the approximate dewpoint temperature if the dry-bulb temperature is 10°C and the wet-bulb temperature is 8°C?
(1) 1°C
(3) 6°C
(2) -13°C
(4) 3°C
Resources for Learning
Readings
Websites
Videos
Holt (yellow book)
pg. 550-551
(pressure), 577-580
(humidity), 581-583
(clouds), 587-590
(precipitation),
611-612
(measurement)
Meteorology: Weather Variables
http://hmxearthscience.com/weather_variables.html
Atmospheric Science
http://weather.about.com/od/weathertutorials/u/atm
ospherebasics.htm Atmospheric Pressure
http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/Atmosphere/
atm_press.html
Weather
http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/Atmosphere/
atm_press.html
Wind
http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/Atmosphere/
wind.html
Regents Review Materials
http://reviewearthscience.com/
http://regentsearth.com/
How do Clouds Form?
http://video.about.com/weather/How-Do-Clouds-Form.htm#vdTrn
Relative Humidity and Dewpoint
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EbDKEAy5tw&feature=plcp
Weather Relationships
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PssZKFILOeM&feature=plcp
Air Pressure
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYeQLA1eI0s&feature=plcp
Glencoe (big blue
book) pg. 285-286
(clouds), 310-313
(pressure)
McGuire (little blue
book) pg. 439-450,
476-486 (humidity),
486-488 (clouds)
Unison Reading
Binder:
Meteorology
At home:
Weather Instruments
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNQoBWHlJbU&list=UUrh1E
Zmf6fLmpKqsDyWg4HA&index=10
Pressure Demos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1jmpGZUEJA&list=UUrh1E
Zmf6fLmpKqsDyWg4HA&index=3
Foreign Language:
Sling Pschrometer
Aire en Movimiento
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbcaCxuA1LI&list=UUrh1EZ
http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/Atmosphere/ mf6fLmpKqsDyWg4HA&index=4
wind.html&lang=sp
High School of Language and Innovation 2012 (draft)
In-Class
Activities
Meteorology
Binder
Weather
Variable
Vocabulary
Weather
Instrument
Memory
CURRICULUM TOOL: METEOROLOGY
WEATHER VARIABLES
High School of Language and Innovation 2012 (draft)