Introduction to weather and climate - class-VII

5 a.m.

The coldest time of day can shift considerably if we have fronts moving through, varying winds and cloud cover or precipitation starting and stopping during the night or morning. However, assuming we have a more tranquil pattern, as we frequently do, with fair skies and light winds late at night and early in the day, the lowest temperature usually occurs a little after sunrise, sometimes as much as a half hour to an hour later.

Weather studies focus on atmospheric conditions and phenomena, which occur independently of the underlying geological rock structure, unlike road construction, oil drilling, or soil analysis.

Cirrostratus clouds are high-level, thin, sheet-like clouds that often cover the entire sky and are composed of ice crystals, making them appear transparent.

The state of atmosphere over an area at any point of time is known as Weather.

The summers in Rajasthan are hot and humid with the average temperatures rising up to as high as 45 degrees Celsius at times.

The generalization of the atmospheric condition over a long period of time is referred to as climate. It is the long-term pattern of weather in a particular area. Following are the factors which influence the climate of any place:

1. Distance from equator - Places located near equator have hotter climate as compared to the places located away from equator as they receive direct sun rays.
   
2. Altitude - Places located on high altitude have cooler climate as compared to the places located on plains.
   
3. Prevailing winds - Places which experiences on-shore winds have high rainfall as compared to the places experiencing off-shore winds.
   
4. Ocean currents - Winds which blow over warm currents bring more rainfall as compared to the winds blowing over cold currents.
   
5. Distance from sea - Areas located near sea experiences moderate climate, whereas areas located away from sea experiences extreme climate.
   

The
state of atmosphere over an area at any point of time is known as weather. It
is the state of the atmosphere over short periods of time. Weather can change
from hour to hour, day to day, month to month or even year to year. Weather
pattern recorded for more than 30 years of a region is considered its climate.

Climate
is the average condition of the weather in a place over a long period like 25
years and so. While the weather can change in just a few hours, climate takes
hundreds, thousands, even millions of years to change. It characterizes a
region's general weather patterns that happen over the course of many years. The
climate of an area is affected by its latitude, terrain, and altitude, as well
as nearby water bodies and their currents. Climates can be classified according
to the average and the typical ranges of different variables, most commonly
temperature and precipitation.

The Himalayas are very useful to India in many ways. The Himalayas form a strong natural barrier to our country in the North. For centuries, it has stood as a strong defense wall for the country.     

The Himalayas are a great climatic barrier. They save our country from the cold and dry winds of Central Asia. It also prevents the rain-laden monsoon winds of Indian Ocean from crossing over to Northern countries and causes heavy rain-fall in the Northern India. If there were no Himalayas, our country would have been barren like the Thar Desert.

The
generalisation of the atmospheric condition over a long period of time is
referred to as climate. It is the average daily weather for an extended time at a particular
area. Weather pattern recorded for more than 30 years of a region is considered
its climate. The important features of a climate are average temperature and
precipitation.

Mathura, located in the interior of the Indian subcontinent, experiences a continental climate with extreme temperature variations between summer and winter. Kolkata, being near the coast, has a more moderate, maritime-influenced climate.

As we go higher in the atmosphere, atmospheric pressure drops and the air goes on getting thinner. That's why mountain climbers sometimes need bottled oxygen to breathe. It becomes difficult to breath as the air is thinner.

A
transitional type of climate found between the equatorial forests & trade
wind hot deserts is known as Savanna type of climate. This climate is confined
within Tropic of Cancer & Tropic of Capricorn. The Savanna type of climate
is characterized by humid summers and dry winters. Africa, Australia, South America
and India have Savanna type of climate. Temperature range of this climate is 18°
– 30° C. This is also known as Sudan type of climate.

Compared to land, the sea gets heated slowly and loses heat slowly. Land heats up and cools down quickly. Therefore, the variation in temperature over the sea is less as compared to land. That is why it doesn't get too hot or cold. 

The average condition of rain, temperature, and moisture for over more than 35 years in known as climate. In other words, climate can be simply defined as the average weather of a particular place. The term climate denotes a description of aggregate weather conditions.