Elements of weather
Topic: Atmosphere: Composition, Structure and Elements of Weather · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 2 "Understanding the Weather"; Class 9, Ch 3 "Atmosphere and Climate"
Meaning
The elements of weather are the measurable conditions that together describe the weather. Class 11 lists six: temperature, pressure, wind (speed and direction), humidity, clouds and precipitation. Classes 7 and 9 list five and leave out clouds. Each is measured with an instrument. For example, a barometer measures pressure, an anemometer measures wind speed and a hygrometer measures humidity. Averaged over decades, these same elements describe climate. At any time, one element often dominates.
Example
In north India, temperature dominates in May, when the loo, a hot, dusty summer wind, blows across the plains. In July, rain dominates as the monsoon arrives.
Don't confuse with
- Factors of climate: these are causes such as latitude, altitude and distance from the sea, which shape the elements. Elements are what we measure, while factors explain why they differ.