Transcript Lesson three: Weather and Climate

Lesson three:
Weather and Climate
Weather and Climate
Weather reflects shortterm conditions of
temperature,
precipitation, cloud
cover and air pressure.
Climate is the average
daily weather for a
number of years (often
30) at a certain
location.
Climate is what we
predict and weather
is what we get.
Australia’s weather and
climate
Australia is a large country, and spans
three of the Earth’s climate zones.
 Australia covers the tropical, arid, and
temperate climate zones.
 The north of Australia is closest to the
Equator and the south is furthest from
the Equator.
 Proximity to the Equator is one factor
that affects climate.

Australia’s Climates:
Weather patterns over time
The north is tropical
(hot and humid).
The south is arid
(hot and dry).
The very southeast
and southwest are
temperate (mild and
moderate rain and
temperature).
Latitude and Climate
About 40% of Australia lies within the
tropics (the zone between the Equator and
Tropic of Capricorn), where the weather is
warm all year round and there are only
two seasons: wet and dry.
 The remainder of the country is arid or
temperate, experiencing all four seasons
(spring, summer, autumn and winter).

Australia’s seasons
Australia’s seasons are opposite to the
UK, this is because Australia is in the
Southern Hemisphere and the UK is in
the Northern Hemisphere.
 During Australia’s winter, it is our summer
time here in the UK.

Source: www.imagekb.com
Weather and Climate
Powerful storms and cyclones
affect coastal areas
Climate change in
Australia
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Climate change has impacted rainfall in Australia, resulting in drought
(long periods without rain).
Agriculture needs irrigation systems to provide enough water.
The inland areas are most affected by drought and water shortages, which
is one of the reasons why they are less (sparsely) populated.
Dried up waterways in
Northeastern Australia
Dried up Waterways, North Eastern Australia©
Hellsgeriatric, Flickr
Delicate ecosystems
The corals in the
Great Barrier
Reef are being
affected by
climate change:
they are
beginning to
bleach (and die)
as waters get
warmer.
Great Barrier Reef, Australia © eutrophication&hypoxia, Flickr
The Box Jellyfish
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Climate change has caused the
temperate of oceans to rise.
This has led to an increasingly number
of jellyfish blooms.
The northern Australian box jellyfish is
the world’s most venomous animal.
Its tentacles reach up to three metres
and its bell is nearly the size of a human
head.
Use a football and metre stick to create
a true size model of the box jelly fish.
Box Jellyfish © Dr. Andrew Lee
Extreme weather:
Bushfires
Watch the informative Bushfires Video about the issue of
bushfires in Australia (see downloadable resources).
Backburning © robdownunder, Flickr
Bushfires in Australia
Go to YouTube to watch a clip about recent bushfires in Australia
Backburning © robdownunder, Flickr
Extreme weather:
Bushfires
Are bushfires
near cyclone
areas?
Population Density
Do bushfires occur in the most densely
populated areas?
Brisbane
Darwin
Perth
Adelaide
Sydney
The parts of the map
shaded in orange have the
highest population.
Melbourne
Canberra
(capital city)
Extreme weather:
Cyclones
Do cyclones
occur in the
North or South?
Do they affect
coastal or inland
areas?
Main Activity
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Write a report on an
extreme weather episode
in Australia.
Use the lesson information
on bushfires or do
independent research into
cyclones or drought to
gather geographical
information.
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Your report should recount
a specific event, including
date and location.
Describe weather
conditions and risks to
the human and physical
environment.
Include a map of areas
most affected by this type
of extreme weather.
Success Criteria:
1) The weather conditions associated with this type of event.
2) The areas of the country most affected.
3) The impact this event can have on the human and physical
environment.
4) Ways people can protect the human and physical
environment.
5) How people and emergency services react and handle these
episodes.
Plenary
Present your report and take
questions from other members of
the class about your chosen event.
 Have you met the success criteria?
 Self and peer-assessment:
‘2 stars and a wish’.
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