NZQA registered unit standard
20160 version 3
Page 1 of 3
Title
Demonstrate knowledge of weather processes and their effects in
New Zealand
Level
3
Purpose
Credits
2
This unit standard is intended for people who work in recreation
in the outdoors and require an understanding of weather and its
impact in the New Zealand environment.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate
knowledge of global air and water movements; describe
weather features which result from the movement of air and
water; and explain major influences on New Zealand’s weather.
Classification
Outdoor Recreation > Weather Interpretation in the Outdoors
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
None.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate knowledge of global air and water movements.
Evidence requirements
1.1
High and low pressure systems are described in terms of convergence,
divergence and rotation within the lower atmosphere.
1.2
The effect of unequal heating of the earth’s surface is described in terms of
global atmospheric circulation.
1.3
The movement of water through the environment is described in relation to the
water cycle.
1.4
Seasonal impacts, equinox and solstice are described in relation to the passage
and position of the Earth around the Sun.
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
20160 version 3
Page 2 of 3
Outcome 2
Describe weather features which result from the movement of air and water.
Evidence requirements
2.1
The processes that cause Katabatic and Anabatic winds and sea breezes are
described.
2.2
The vertical movement of air is described in terms of changes in temperature
and pressure.
2.3
The formation of clouds and fog is explained in terms of humidity, temperature,
wind and lifting processes.
2.4
Types of low, medium and high level clouds and the atmospheric processes
that lead to their formation are identified.
Outcome 3
Explain major influences on New Zealand’s weather.
Evidence requirements
3.1
Explanation identifies global influences on the origins of air masses.
3.2
Explanation identifies geographic influences on New Zealand weather.
Range
3.3
geographic influences include but are not limited to – large body of
water, mountains, valleys, global location, orientation of land
forms.
Explanation identifies the impact of seasonal variations on New Zealand
weather patterns.
Range
weather patterns include but are not limited to – wind direction and
speed, precipitation, sunshine hours, temperature.
Replacement information
This unit standard and unit standard 20159 replaced unit
standard 435.
Planned review date
31 December 2015
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
20160 version 3
Page 3 of 3
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
29 October 2004
N/A
Revision
2
26 January 2007
N/A
Review
3
20 August 2010
N/A
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference
0099
This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, or
an inter-institutional body with delegated authority for quality assurance, before they can
report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading
to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Consent requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this
standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The
AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations
wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for
tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact Skills Active Aotearoa Limited info@skillsactive.org.nz if you wish to
suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited
SSB Code 101576
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016