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Weather can be defined as the atmospheric condition of a place on a daily basis with respect to various factors such as humidity, temperature, wind, rainfall, wind speed, etc. The weather is constantly changing and it affects our lives accordingly. Climate can be defined as the average pattern of the weather recorded over a long period of time, such as 25-30 years. According to the climatic conditions, various animals adapt or evolve in order to survive in that particular climate. For instance, polar bears have white coats or fur on them and they are not visible in the snow-white region, thus, they are safe from their predators.
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Key Terms: Weather, Rainfall, Temperature, Humidity, Atmospheric Pressure, Climate, Topography, Polar Areas, Adaptation, Meteorology, Climatology
Weather
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It is defined as the atmospheric condition of a place on the daily basis with respect to aspects like- humidity, temperature, rainfall, wind temperature, storms, etc. Weather reports are a daily release of weather data. They're usually released by the meteorological department and provide regular updates on current weather conditions.
Elements of Weather
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- Rainfall- Rainfall is what happens when water vapour in the air condenses and then falls to Earth. Snowfall is a type of precipitation that falls from clouds in the form of snowflakes. The amount of rainfall is measured in terms of mm.
- Temperature- Temperature can be defined as the measure of hot or cold. It is one of the most important factors in weather and it affects everything from rain to snow. The temperature changes how the atmosphere behaves and what type of precipitation occurs. It also affects how the winds blow. During the summer season, the temperature is high and the duration of sunshine is for longer period of time.
- Humidity- Humidity is defined as the amount of water vapour in the air. It is measured in percentage. The lower the humidity, the drier it will be. It is at its highest level, during the rainy season.
- Atmospheric Pressure- Atmospheric pressure is a force that pushes air molecules up and down. Weather depends on atmospheric pressure. An increase in the pressure will indicate dry and sunny conditions whereas a decrease in the pressure indicates wet and stormy conditions.
Read More: Low Pressure & High-Pressure System
Climate
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Climate is a term used to describe the average weather conditions of a region over a period of time, at least 25 years, of geographical region.
The weather of a day is recorded every day and these records are preserved for several decades. This record helps to learn about the weather conditions of a particular area. The average weather pattern taken over a long period of time is known as the climate of a place.
The major factor that determines the climate of a place is called latitude. If there is rainfall in a particular region then we will affirm that the climate of the place is wet and hot.
Factors Determining Climate
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The climate is determined by various factors like
- The climate varies according to altitude. The higher the altitude, the cooler will be the region, for example, the Himalayas.
- The climate of a region is affected by the humidity of the region. It can be affected by changes in humidity levels, which can be caused by changes in temperature or precipitation.
- The other factors which determine the humidity of a place are latitude, geography, topography, etc.
Read More: Organisms and Populations
Meteorology and Climatology
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Meteorology is an atmospheric science that deals with weather forecasting, atmospheric circulation, and various meteorological observations.
Climatology is the study that deals with the study of climate. It is the scientific study of climate patterns, variability, and change over time.
Climate and Adaptation
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Climate change is a term that is used to describe the changes in weather over time. These changes may be natural or human-induced. There are different types of climate in the different parts of the earth. Adaptation refers to the process of adjusting to changes in the climate.
On the basis of temperature and precipitation, we have classified the climate into 5 major types:
- Moist Tropical Climate
- Dry Climate
- In Humid Middle Latitude Climate
- Continental Climate
- Polar Areas
Weather vs Climate
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Difference between Weather and Climate
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The major differences between weather and climate are tabulated below:
| Basis | Weather | Climate |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | The atmospheric condition at a particular period of time | The average condition expected at a particular place in a given time frame. |
| Underlying factors | Periodic measurements of rainfall, atmospheric pressure, speed and direction of the wind, humidity, and other unstable factors. | The total weather statistics of the time frame of 30 years. |
| Study-subject | Meteorology | Climatology |
| Time frame | Estimated over a shorter time span. | Estimated over a longer time span. |
| Ingredients | Comprise of weather elements such as overcasts, rainfall, floods, hailstorms, winds, heat waves, snowfall, and many more. | Comprises of elements like humidity, rainfall, sunlight, wind speed, and natural phenomena like fog, frost, and so on in a particular time period. |
| Projection | Carried out by collating data regarding meteorology such as solar radiation, air temperature, humidity, pressure, speed of the wind, and its direction. | Carried out using the total sum of weather statistics over a time period of 30 years. |
Adaptation in Polar Region
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- Polar Regions are the regions that are present near the poles (north pole, south pole).
- These regions are extremely cold.
- Here the sun does not set for about 6 months and is characterized by the presence of ice caps, snow, and cold temperatures.
- Many animals live in such places as Polar bears, Penguins, etc.
Polar Region
Polar Bear
- They are the world's largest land-living carnivorous mammals.
- They have a white coat with black spots and are recognized for their stocky bodies and round heads.
- They have a very long sense of smell.
- They possess long curved and sharp claws which assist them to walk on ice.
- The layer of fat insulates their body and keeps them warm.
Penguins
- They also live in Polar Regions.
- They have strong and long beaks which help them to catch the fish.
- They usually remain huddled in groups which provides them extra warmth.
- The layer of fat under their body provides them insulation and keeps them warm.
Read More: Effects Of Climate Changes
The Tropical Rainforests
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- It is spread around the equator.
- Temperature is 15°C in winters and 40°C in summers.
- Day and night are of equal duration throughout the year in these forests.
- They are found in Southeast Asia, Central America, Western Ghats, and Assam.
- These areas receive abundant rainfall.
- Most of the animals present here, have sensitive hearing, sharp eyesight, and thick skin.
- The animals found in this region are leopards, elephants, frogs, apes, lizards, insects, monkeys, tigers, etc.
Tropical Rainforests
The Temperate Grasslands
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- They are located to the north of the Tropic of Cancer and south of the Tropic of Capricorn.
- They are present in Africa, the pampas of South America, Eurasia, and the plains of North America.
- Temperate grasslands occur in a variety of climates.
- They are found in areas that have a temperate climate with cool summers and mild winters.
Temperate Grasslands
Read More: Forest Conservation
Things to Remember
- Weather is a day-to-day condition of an atmosphere with respect to temperature.
- Elements of Weather are Rainfall, Wind Speed, Humidity, Temperature, etc.
- Daily weather is predicted by Meteorologists and they study the changes in weather.
- Climate is the average weather pattern of an area/region for a long period of time
- The average record of the long-term weather conditions is kept in the Climate Chart.
- Factors determining the climatic factors of a region are Humidity, Altitude, height, etc.
Sample Questions
Ques. Differentiate between
(a) humidity and rainfall
(b) maximum and minimum temperatures of the day
(c) climates of the polar region and tropical rainforests (5 Marks)
Ans. (a) The difference between humidity and rainfall is as follows:
| Humidity | Rainfall |
|---|---|
| It is the measurement of the water vapour/moisture in the environment. | It is something that happens when water vapour in the air condenses and then falls to the earth. |
| Due to the existence of the water vapours, humidity shows the wetness of the environment of the particular region. | These are the water droplets that fall from the cloud to the earth’s surface. |
(b) Maximum Temperature is the highest temperature recorded in a day and Minimum Temperature is the lowest temperature recorded in a day.
(c) The difference between climates of the polar region and tropical rainforests is as follows:
| Climate of the Polar Region | Climate of the Tropical Rainforest |
|---|---|
| This region remains very cold for the most part of the year. | This region has a hot and humid climate. |
| It rains virtually every day, so the annual rainfall is high. | Summer days are lengthy, but the sun sets low on the horizon, it is chilly. |
Ques. There are 2 animals X and Y. Animal X has yellow-brown colour with black stripes and animal Y has a yellow-brown colour.
(a) Name the animals X and Y.
(b) What is the other name of these animals?
(c) Whether they are carnivores or herbivores.
(d) Where do these animals live? (3 Marks)
Ans. (a) Animal X with yellow-brown colour with black stripes is a tiger and animal Y with yellow-brown colour is a lion.
(b) These animals are also known as big cats
(c) These animals live in Tropical Rainforests
(d) These animals are carnivores
Ques. Below listed are the adaptations shown by some animals:
hibernation during winter
sticky pads on feet
colourful feathers
bulging eyes
white fur
strong feet
diet of fruits
long and large beak
thick skin
strong sense of smell
Gives the names of some animals which show these adaptations. (3 Marks)
Ans. The names of some animals which show these adaptations are
- Polar Bear: White fur, and hibernation during winter.
- Toucan: Colorful feathers, a diet of fruits, and long and large beaks.
- Tiger: Thick skin, strong feet, and a strong sense of smell.
- Red-eyed Frog: Sticky pads on feet, and bulging eyes.
Ques. In a class, the teacher was explaining a concept from the weather and climate chapter. Sumit got confused and slowly asked his teacher to repeat it again. She smiled and started again. In the equatorial belt, the climate is hot and wet. It has an evergreen rainforest and a variety of plants. Similarly, the vegetation of tropical regions also has variations. The forest located between two tropics is called a tropical forest. The Desert shows an arid region and only xerophytes are observed. These plants show specific modifications for their survival in this arid region.
(a) Which types of forest are formed in the equatorial region?
(b) What are the variations in vegetation seen in tropical forests?
(c) Give some adaptations of plants that are formed in the desert.
(d) What values do we observe in the teacher and Sumit? (3 Marks)
Ans. a) Evergreen Rainforests are seen in the equatorial regions with a great variety of plants.
b) In tropical regions, vegetation varies from evergreen trees having broad leaves to tropical deciduous trees to grasslands.
c) The plants in the desert regions have modified leaves covered with waxy coating or hairs and have an extensive root system.
d) Sumit is a sincere and attentive boy. He is not afraid of asking questions from his teacher. The teacher is cooperative in nature and helps the students to clear their doubts properly.
Ques. Why days are shorter in the winter season? (3 Marks)
Ans. Day length is determined by the position of the Earth's axis relative to the sun. The amount of sunlight a place receives varies throughout the year as its position with respect to the sun changes because of the rotation of the Earth. In the winter season, the position of a place is farther from the sun and hence, it receives sunlight for shorter hours.
Ques. Write in detail about the adaptations of any two tropical rainforest animals. (5 Marks)
Ans. This region is spread around the equator having a temperature of about 15°C in winters and 40°C in summers. Days and nights are almost equal in length throughout the year in these forests. They are rich in vegetation and the large diversity of animals is also seen in this region.
- Adaptation in Monkey: Monkeys are animals living in tropical rainforests having long tails for grasping the branches. Their hands and feet are adapted in such a way that they can hold the branches and trees properly. The eyesight of monkeys is very sharp which helps them to leap between the branches to escape from their predators. They eat fruits, leaves, branches, and insects which are present in large quantities in the rainforests.
- Adaptations in Elephants: They are plant eaters and are adapted in many remarkable ways to survive in tropical rainforests. They have a long trunk which is used as the nose and have a strong sense of smell. This nose also helps them to pick up their food and its long trunk helps them in breathing properly, sucking water from lakes, and ponds and helping them to reach the height of trees to eat tree leaves.
Ques. What is a Thunderstorm? (3 Marks)
Ans. A thunderstorm is a storm with heavy rain, strong winds, and frequent lightning. It usually occurs during the late summer in temperate areas. The term "thunderstorm" is also used for any severe weather event involving lightning and thunder.
Thunderstorms can be dangerous because of their high winds and large hail, which can cause damage to property or even kill people who are caught outside when the storm strikes.
Ques. What are lightning safety tips? (3 Marks)
Ans. Lightning safety tips are as follows:
- Stay inside during thunderstorms. If you are outside, find a safe place away from open water and tall objects that could attract lightning strikes.
- If you are driving, pull over and get out of the vehicle when it starts to rain or lightning flashes in the sky.
- Avoid using electrical devices during a thunderstorm, such as cell phones, laptops, or tablets because they can create a spark which can cause an electrical discharge that could start a fire.
Ques. What is Meteorology and who are Meteorologists? (2 Marks)
Ans. The scientific study that deals with the study of weather patterns is known as Meteorology and the scientists who predict the daily weather are known as Meteorologists.
Ques. Name some birds that migrate from one place to another and state the reason for their migration. (2 Marks)
Ans. Migration is the seasonal movement of the birds from one region to another. Animals migrate from one region to other just to escape from the extreme climatic conditions and they search for their food. There are also some birds that use the magnetic fields to find their direction to their way.
Ques. What are the natural causes of climate change? (2 Marks)
Ans. Some of the natural causes of climate change are
- Volcanic eruptions
- Tsunamis
- Solar variations
- Earth’s orbital changes
Ques. In the Northern-Eastern regions of India, which type of climate is found? (1 Mark)
Ans. In Northern-Eastern regions, a wet climate is found because it receives rain for the major part of the year.
Ques. Why is it difficult to predict the weather of a place while it is easy to predict its climate? (2 Marks)
Ans. Weather is a complex phenomenon which can vary over a shorter period of time and thus it is difficult to predict the weather of a place while it is easier to predict climate as it refers to the average weather pattern taken for a long [period of time.
Ques. Mention two adaptive features of penguins that help them in swimming. (2 Marks)
Ans. The adaptive features of the penguin that help in swimming are as follows:
- It has webbed feet.
- It has a streamlined body.
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