seegongsik
Grade 5 (age 10-11)

grade 5 Weather and Climate

Weather is the state of the sky and air that changes from day to day: temperature, humidity, wind, clouds, rain or snow. When there is a lot of water vapor in the air and humidity is high, clouds form easily and rain is likely; if the temperature is below 0 °C, snow falls instead of rain. Climate is the average of the weather in one place over a long time, usually about 30 years. Korea has a climate with four clear seasons. In the first picture, change the temperature and humidity to see how the weather changes; in the second, move through the months to see how Seoul's average temperature rises and falls with the seasons.

What makes up the weather

20 °C
50%
🌤 What makes up the weather
①Temperature: how warm the air is, measured with a thermometer in the shade.
②Humidity: how much water vapor the air holds, measured with a hygrometer.
③Wind: air on the move; we measure its direction and its speed.
④Clouds: water vapor that cools high up and gathers into tiny water droplets or ice crystals.
⑤When cloud droplets grow, they fall as rain, and if the air is colder than 0 °C they fall as snow.

Temperature through the seasons

July
🍂 Korea's four seasons
①Spring (March to May): it slowly gets warmer, and dry days can bring yellow dust or fine dust.
②Summer (June to August): hot and humid, with heavy rain in the rainy season.
③Autumn (September to November): many clear, cool days.
④Winter (December to February): cold and dry, with some snowy days.
⑤Seoul's monthly average temperature is lowest in January and highest in August.

How are weather and climate different?

Weather and climate
Weather: the state on a given day / Climate: the average weather over a long time (about 30 years)
A rainy day today does not change Seoul's climate.
💡 Climate and how we live
①People live differently depending on the climate.
②In hot places, people wear thin, airy clothes and build houses that stay cool.
③In cold places, people wear thick clothes and build houses with thick walls and small windows.
④In Korea, summer and winter temperatures are very different, so clothes and food change with the seasons.

Summary

Weather and climate in one view
Weather elements: temperature + humidity + wind + clouds + rain or snow
Weather changes every day; climate is the long-term average.
🎯 Key points
①Weather is the day-to-day temperature, humidity, wind, clouds, rain or snow.
②Climate is the average weather of a place over a long time.
③When humidity is high, clouds form and rain is likely.
④Korea has four clear seasons; in Seoul, August is the hottest month and January the coldest.
⑤Global warming is slowly changing the climate.

Examples and Unit Test

Example 1
How are weather and climate different?
1
Weather is the state of the air, such as temperature, clouds, rain and wind, that changes from day to day.
2
Climate is the average of the weather in one place over a long time.
▸ Weather changes every day; climate is the long-term average.
Today's weather may change tomorrow, but Seoul's climate of hot summers and cold winters comes back every year.
Example 2
What is humidity, and what kind of weather is likely when it is high?
1
Humidity tells how much water vapor is in the air, and it is measured with a hygrometer.
2
When humidity is high there is a lot of water vapor, so clouds form easily and rain becomes more likely.
▸ Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air; when it is high, rain is likely.
In the first picture, raise the humidity to 75% or more and it rains; drop the temperature to 0 °C or below as well and it snows.
Unit-test style
Which statement about weather and climate is correct?
①Weather is the long-term average for a place.
②Humidity shows how much water vapor is in the air.
③Temperature is measured with a hygrometer.
④Climate changes every day.
⑤The lower the humidity, the more likely it is to rain.
▸ ② Humidity shows how much water vapor is in the air.
1
Humidity shows how much water vapor the air holds.
2
The long-term average is climate while weather changes daily (①, ④), temperature is measured with a thermometer (③), and rain is more likely when humidity is high (⑤).
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