What is weather?
Weather is what is going on up in the sky, in our atmosphere. It can make the earth warm and cool. It brings us sunshine and rain, wind and snow. It is forever changing and changes with the seasons.
What makes the weather hot or cold?
The temperature depends on the seasons. In summer the UK is on the part of the earth that is tilted towards the sun giving us warmer weather. In the winter the UK is turned away from the sun making it feel colder.
How do we measure the temperature?
Temperature is measured with a thermometer. A thermometer is a hollow glass tube with a bulb at the bottom holding a liquid called mercury. When it gets hot the liquid expands and pushes the liquid up the tube. When it cools it goes down. Where ever the liquid ends that is the temperature.
Weather WizkidsTemperature explained. Wind Chill Index explained. Understand the temperature fully.
Why does it rain?
The water cycle explains why it rains. First water evaporates from the sea or lakes and rivers. As the water moves upwards it cools and makes clouds which then fall as rain.
Weather WizkidsUnderstand how the water cycle works with our facts that help explain the different processes in a way that is easy to follow.
What makes wind?
The answer is the sun. The sun heats up the land and the air above it. Heat rises so this hot air moves upwards. Cooler air then moves in to take the place of the warm air. When that cooler air rushes in that is wind.
How do we measure wind?
Wind speed is measured with an anemometer. It works by the wind pushing the cups around at the top. It then measures how fast it is spinning. This is the wind speed.
Beaufort Scale
The Beaufort scale is the measure of wind speed at sea or on land. Check out the Beaufort scale below. What scale would you give the wind today?
| Beaufort scale | Description | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Calm | Calm. Smoke rises vertically. |
| 1 | Light air | Smoke drift indicates wind direction. Leaves and wind vanes are stationary. |
| 2 | Light breeze | Wind felt on exposed skin. Leaves rustle. Wind vanes begin to move. |
| 3 | Gentle breeze | Leaves and small twigs constantly moving, light flags extended. |
| 4 | Moderate breeze | Dust and loose paper raised. Small branches begin to move. |
| 5 | Fresh breeze | Branches of a moderate size move. Small trees in leaf begin to sway. |
| 6 | Strong breeze | Large branches in motion. Whistling heard in overhead wires. Umbrella use becomes difficult. Empty plastic bins tip over. |
| 7 | High wind, moderate gale, near gale | Whole trees in motion. Effort needed to walk against the wind. |
| 8 | Gale, fresh gale | Some twigs broken from trees. Cars veer on road. Progress on foot is seriously impeded. |
| 9 | Strong/severe gale | Some branches break off trees, and some small trees blow over. Construction/temporary signs and barricades blow over. |
| 10 | Storm, whole gale | Trees are broken off or uprooted, structural damage likely. |
| 11 | Violent storm | Widespread vegetation and structural damage likely. |
| 12 | Hurricane force | Severe widespread damage to vegetation and structures. Debris and unsecured objects are hurled about. |
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