Welcome to Why Weather Works!
Weather is like Earth’s superhero, bringing rain for plants, wind for energy, and sunshine for life! Let’s explore the science of weather with colorful facts and cool physics lessons that make learning fun for kids and teachers!
Weather Principles: The Basics
Dew Point: When Air Gets Dewy
The dew point is the temperature when air gets so full of water it turns into droplets, like dew on grass or fog on windows. A high dew point means sticky, humid air and maybe rain! It matters because it tells us how moist the air is, affecting crops and comfort.
Relative Humidity: How Wet Is the Air?
Relative humidity shows how much water vapor is in the air compared to the max it can hold (as a percentage). At 100%, you get rain or fog! It matters because it makes hot days feel hotter and cold days feel colder, impacting how we live.
Jet Stream: The Sky’s Fast Lane
The jet stream is a super-fast wind high in the sky, moving at 50–150 mph! It pushes storms and weather across the world. It matters because it decides if we get sunny days, rainy storms, or chilly winds!
Ocean Currents: Earth’s Water Highways
Ocean currents are giant rivers in the sea, moving warm and cold water around. The Gulf Stream, for example, keeps Europe warm! They matter because they control climate, help fish and plants thrive, and even guide hurricanes.
Clouds: Sky Art
Clouds are made of tiny water droplets or ice crystals, floating in the sky. Each type tells us about the weather! Here are some cool clouds:
- Cumulus: Puffy, white clouds on sunny days, like cotton candy!
- Stratus: Gray, flat clouds that cover the sky, bringing drizzle or fog.
- Cirrus: Thin, wispy clouds high up, hinting at fair weather or a coming storm.
- Cumulonimbus: Huge, tall clouds that bring thunderstorms and heavy rain.
Weather Systems: Highs and Lows
Low Pressure Systems: Stormy Action
In a low pressure system, air rises and spins, pulling in clouds and storms. Think of it like a twirling dance bringing rain, snow, or hurricanes! Rising air cools and forms clouds, making wet and wild weather.
High Pressure Systems: Sunny and Calm
In a high pressure system, air sinks, pushing clouds away for clear, sunny skies. It’s like a big hug from the sky, bringing calm weather but sometimes trapping heat or cold!
Thunderstorms, Lightning, and Rain
Thunderstorms happen when warm, wet air rises fast in big cumulonimbus clouds, creating stormy weather. Lightning is a giant electric spark when charged particles in clouds connect—BOOM!—heating the air hotter than the sun! Thunder is the sound of that hot air expanding. Rain forms when cloud droplets stick together, get heavy, and fall, watering plants and filling rivers.
Physics Fun: Why Weather Moves (Grades 3+)
Weather is all about physics! Here’s how simple science makes weather happen:
- Hot Air Rises: When air gets warm (like near the ground on a sunny day), it becomes lighter and floats up, like a hot air balloon. In thunderstorms, this rising hot air carries moisture to form big clouds!
- Cold Air Sinks: Cold air is heavier, so it sinks down, pushing warmer air up. This sinking air creates high pressure systems with clear skies!
- Why It Matters: These movements mix air, water, and heat around Earth, keeping our planet balanced for plants, animals, and us!
Fun Weather Facts!
- Lightning can heat the air to 54,000°F—five times hotter than the sun’s surface!
- Rainbows appear when sunlight bends through raindrops, splitting into colors.
- The windiest place on Earth is in Antarctica, with gusts up to 200 mph!
- Every snowflake is unique because it forms in a special pattern as it freezes.
- Tornadoes can spin faster than a racecar—over 300 mph!
Earth’s Average Temperatures Over Time
This chart shows how Earth’s average temperature has changed over millions of years. Notice the recent warming due to human activity!
22°C | * (500M yrs ago)
20°C | * (200M yrs ago)
18°C | * (50M yrs ago)
16°C | * (1M yrs ago)
14°C | * (1800)
15.5°C| * (2020)
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Time (Millions of Years to Present)
Note: Approximate data for learning. Temperatures rose recently due to climate change.