Meteorology is the study of the weather. Here you will learn the causes of weather and how to stay safe during a severe weather event.

Meteorology

Why are there Differences in Precipitation?

Why are there Differences in Precipitation?

Warm-up

  • Where does rain come from and why does it rain?

Learning Targets

  • Students create a model that shows how water continually cycles among land, ocean, and atmosphere via transpiration, evaporation, condensation and crystallization, and precipitation, as well as downhill flows on land.

Success Criteria

  • I can identify the most important elements of the water cycle
  • I can create a model (diagram) of the water cycle

Why Does it Rain? - Demonstration

  • In the Why Does It Rain Demonstration you will observe a closed model of the water cycle. As you observe the model make notes about any changes that you see.
  • Copy the Water Cycle Diagram below. Use the terms below to identify the numbers on the diagram.

Use the Following Terms to Create a Water Cycle Diagram

condensation – water vapor changing to a liquid state

evaporation – liquid turning into a vapor (gas)

precipitation – water falling from the sky in the form of rain, sleet, hail, or snow

runoff – rainwater that falls back into lakes, rivers, or streams soaking into the earth and becoming part of the groundwater

Are there any other terms you think should be included in a Water Cycle Diagram?


Water Cycle Websites

  • Visit this site to view the different parts of the water cycle in detail.
  • Visit this site to play a water cycle game.

Water Cycle Diagram

Patterns of Precipitation

  • Read Page 157-165 in the Weather Watch Text to find out more about patterns of precipitation.


The Rain Shadow Effect