Weather Around Us: What Is Weather?

Upon viewing the Weather Around Us video series, students will be able to do the following: Define weather as the condition of the lower atmosphere close to Earth. Understand that weather is constantly changing. Understand that predicting the weather is a very challenging task. Summarize the four main factors which interact to make up weather, including: heat energy, air pressure, wind, and moisture. Understand that the Earth receives heat energy from the sun. Describe what air pressure is, what causes air pressure, and why we don't feel air pressure. Describe how wind is formed by differences in air pressure. Differentiate between local winds, which only cover small areas, and global winds, which cover large portions of the Earth. Describe the process of evaporation. Explain that clouds are made up of tiny droplets of water vapor. Understand the process of condensation, and describe the role it plays in the formation of clouds. Identify various types of precipitation, including rain, snow, sleet, and hail. Compare and contrast the processes of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.