Weather Patterns in the Tropics and Central Europe
Objective: This worksheet aims to teach students about weather patterns in tropical and Central European regions.
Content and methods: The worksheet introduces weather in the tropics through social media posts (tweets) from a fictional character in Panama, prompting students to extract information about temperature, humidity, and wind. It then delves into one specific meteorological factor, explaining what it is, how it's created, regional differences, and how it's measured. A matching exercise reinforces understanding of key terms. Finally, it compares weather patterns in Panama (tropical) and France (Central European) using maps and descriptive texts, and directs students to external websites to compare current weather data with the provided country profiles.
Competencies:
- Reading comprehension
- Information extraction and synthesis
- Understanding of meteorological concepts
- Comparison and contrast of regional weather patterns
- Critical thinking and data analysis
Target group: 7th-9th grade
50 other teachers use this template
Target group and level
7th-9th grade
Subjects
Weather Patterns in the Tropics and Central Europe
Weather in the tropics
Carlos @CarlosCoolKid
It's 90°F today with 80% humidity. My hair is a frizz ball! 😂 No way I'm going outside until the sun sets. #PanamaProblems #HumidityStruggles
Carlos @CarlosCoolKid
The wind speed is 15 mph today! Perfect for flying kites at the beach. 🪁 Gonna grab my friends and head out now. #WindyDays #PanamaBeachFun
Carlos @CarlosCoolKid
It's rainy season and the atmospheric pressure is so low I feel like I'm in a fog. 🌧️ Can't even see the end of my street! Netflix marathon it is. #RainySeason #PanamaWeather
Carlos @CarlosCoolKid
It's 85°F but the humidity is only 60%. Finally, a day where I can actually breathe! Gonna play some soccer with the crew. ⚽ #PanamaSun #LessSweat
Carlos @CarlosCoolKid
Winter in Panama and it's still 77°F! 😂 I love this country. Time for some outdoor BBQ with the fam. 🍗 #PanamaWinter #NeverGetsCold
Meteorological factors
Take a closer look at an aspect that plays an important role in the climate of a region, then answer the related questions.
Humidity
Source: Daniel FR at de.wikipedia.org, Public domain
What is Humidity?
Humidity is the concentration of water vapor present in the air. Water vapor, the gaseous state of water, is generally invisible to the human eye. Humidity indicates the likelihood for precipitation, dew, or fog to be present.
How is Humidity Created?
Humidity depends on temperature and pressure. Warm air can hold more moisture than cool air. When the air cools, its capacity to hold moisture decreases, which can lead to condensation and the formation of dew or fog.
Regional Differences
Humidity varies around the world. Coastal and equatorial regions, like Singapore and Miami, often have high humidity due to their proximity to large water bodies and warm temperatures. In contrast, desert areas, like the Sahara, have low humidity because of the dry air and high temperatures.
How is Humidity Measured?
Humidity is measured using devices called hygrometers or psychrometers. These instruments can measure the moisture content in the air. There are different types of hygrometers, including hair tension hygrometers and sling psychrometers. Satellites also measure humidity on a global scale by detecting water vapor in the atmosphere.
Understanding humidity is vital for weather forecasting, climate studies, and ensuring comfort in daily life.
Comparing weather patterns
On the following pages, weather patterns in a tropical country (Panama) are compared with those in a Central European country (France).
Panama
France
Weather data in comparison
Now look at current weather data for Panama and France on these two websites:
https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/panama/panama
https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/france/paris