The Rain Shadow For Students对学生们的雨.pptVIP

The Rain Shadow Our Learning Target: Describe the rain shadow effect and how it influences vegetation in Washington State. Weather vs. Climate What is the difference between weather and climate? “Climate is what you expect; weather is what you get.” Climate is what an area receives over a period of time. Weather is what we get that day or week. Weather vs. Climate Weather refers to the conditions in the atmosphere at a given place and time OR the day-to-day or short-term change in atmospheric conditions It includes temperature, atmospheric pressure, precipitation, cloudiness, humidity, and wind Weather vs. Climate Climate is the average weather condition that occurs at a place over a period of time, usually two or three decades It includes temperature and precipitation Weather vs. Climate Climate extends over a long period of time, whereas weather is short term Precipitation includes fresh water falling from the atmosphere as rain, snow, sleet or hail Differences in precipitation are due to temperature, humidity and location on Earth Weather vs. Climate Water exists in three states on earth The liquid state is called water The solid state is called ice The gaseous state is called vapor, cloud, fog, steam. Weather vs. Climate The process of changing state requires that energy is transferred in the form of heat. Weather vs. Climate If the air moves high enough, it will cool enough to eventually reach its dew point, and condensation will begin. This is the level at which cloud formation occurs. Weather vs. Climate Northern hemisphere wind blows east to west Westerlies: winds blowing west across Pacific Ocean to the United States Moist air pushed up coastal mountains When the warm air is pushed up several things occur Air cools Moisture condenses and becomes heavy The Rain Shadow As the Westerlies hit the state of Washington they rise to go over the Olympics. As the clouds rise they cool and condense causing rain to fall. This “rain shadow” effect makes the wes