Elements of Weather and Climate

Weather is nothing more than the different elements it is composed of, as well as the way they interact with each to create different atmospheric conditions or weather events. We first need to identify what the elements are that make up the weather.

Eight primary elements/factors drive all weather:

Temperature
Air (Atmospheric) Pressure
Wind (Speed & Direction)
Humidity
Precipitation
Visibility
Clouds (Type & Cover)
Sunshine Duration

We can now look at each one in more detail.

1) Temperature

We all know what temperature is. When discussing the weather, this will probably be one of the first topics that come up. It is because we are so sensitive to temperature and quickly become aware of feeling cold or hot. We know what it feels like, but what exactly is temperature?

What Is Temperature?

Temperature is like the energy dance happening in the air – think of it as the cool or warm vibes you feel. We use Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin to put numbers to these vibes. Now, picture a thermometer as the cool detective measuring these vibes. In simpler terms, it’s like the air particles doing their little jig. The faster they groove, the hotter it gets, making us reach for our sunglasses. But when they take it slow, things cool down, and we might need a cozy sweater. It’s basically the air particles having their own party, and the temperature is their dance floor.

Instrument for Measuring Temperature

The thermometer is the instrument used to measure temperature. They come in all shapes and sizes and dates all the way back to 1714. The mercury, bimetal, and digital thermometer are the 3 most commonly used instruments for measuring ambient temperature.

2) Air Pressure

Air pressure is another essential element of weather, especially when it comes to creating or changing atmospheric conditions. It is also one of the critical variables used to make accurate weather forecasts.

What Is Air (Atmospheric) Pressure?

Air pressure is like the invisible hug of the Earth’s atmosphere. Picture it as a gentle squeeze from the weight of all the air around us. This pressure, also known as barometric pressure, is measured by a tool called a barometer. Even though we can’t see it, air isn’t empty – it’s filled with tiny particles like nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and carbon dioxide, just hanging out. These particles give air weight, and thanks to Earth’s gravitational pull, they create pressure. The closer you are to the ground, the more air there is above you, resulting in the highest air pressure at the planet’s surface. As you climb higher, it’s like the atmosphere’s way of giving you some breathing room – air pressure decreases with altitude.

Instrument for Measuring Air Pressure

The barometer is the instrument used to measure air pressure. Evangelista Torricelli developed the first device in 1643. Like the thermometer, the barometer also comes in different forms. Some examples include mercury, water, aneroid, and digital barometers.

3) Wind (Speed & Direction)

The movement of air (wind) is one of the main driving forces of weather. The majority of major and even extreme weather events like cold & warm fronts, clouds, thunderstorms, and hurricanes are all driven by wind.

What Is Wind?

Wind is the large-scale movement of air from an area of high to an area of low pressure in the atmosphere. The speed and strength of wind are determined by the distance between the low pressure and high-pressure areas, as well as the difference in air pressure.

Instruments for Measuring Wind Speed and Direction

The anemometer is the instrument used to measure wind speed. Consisting of 3-4 half-cups on arms rotating around a central axis, you can typically find it on top of a weather station or at an elevated position. A wind vane (or weather vane) is the instrument used to measure wind direction. It is a flat-shaped object that spins freely on an axis. Very often in the shape of an arrow or cockerel, you can also find it on top of a weather station or highly elevated objects. It is common to see them on top of roof chimneys, church towers, and even communication towers.

4) Humidity

Humidity is another weather element that cannot be seen but can be felt. It not only plays a big part in weather formation but also directly influence our physical comfort levels.

What Is Humidity?

Humidity is the amount of water vapor that is present in the atmosphere at any specific time. Water vapor is nothing more than water in a state of gas (after the liquid has evaporated). Although humidity and its effects can usually be felt, it is normally invisible to the naked eye. Humidity can be challenging to understand and interpret correctly. Then you also have to be able to make a clear distinction between absolute and relative humidity.

Instrument for Measuring Humidity

The hygrometer is the instrument used to measure wind speed. You also find more than one type of this device, like the psychomotor and the resistance hygrometer.

5) Precipitation

There is no argument that water in any of its forms is an absolute necessity for life on Earth to exist. Humans, animals, and plants need water to grow or stay alive, and precipitation is the only way to replenish the dams, rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater on which we rely.

What Is Precipitation?

Precipitation is water in all its different states, which formed after condensation turned water vapor into its solid form, which falls to the ground after it becomes too heavy to stay suspended in the air. Precipitation can take the form of rain, snow, hail, or graupel. Precipitation is primarily the result of evaporation and condensation.

Instrument for Measuring Rainfall

A rain gauge is the instrument used to measure rainfall. It is essentially a measured container that captures rain and measures the amount that falls over a set period of time.

6) Visibility

Visibility may seem like a very unlikely element of weather, but is especially important when discussing and measuring weather conditions like fog, mist, freezing drizzle, and smog.

What Is Visibility?

Visibility is the measurement of the degree through which an object can be observed over a certain distance. This measurement is crucial when conditions like mist, haze, fog, and freezing drizzle are present, which can severely impede visibility. The importance to be able to measure this element is often underestimated. It is especially applicable in areas where visibility plays a crucial role, like airports and harbors where it can literally be a matter of life or death.

Instrument for Measuring Visibility

Visibility sensors like “forward scatter sensor” are the instruments used to measure visibility. In the past, using your own vision (eyes) to measure the degree to which you can observe an object, was the standard.

7) Clouds (Type & Cover)

It is no secret that clouds are one of the quickest ways to determine current and future weather conditions. Studying them in more detail with scientific equipment is very valuable to make very accurate assessments of present and feature atmospheric conditions.

What Are Clouds?

Clouds are water droplets or water in different states (like ice and snow crystals), which formed after water vapor reached condensation level and could no longer remain in gaseous form. Knowing how to identify a certain type of cloud and the weather associated with it, can prove valuable when assessing weather conditions with only visual references.

Instrument for Measuring Clouds

The advanced instruments meteorologists use to study clouds in detail are weather satellites and radars. Satellite and radar images are able to accurately measure cloud density, the amount of moisture, the temperature, and movement of the clouds.

8) Sunshine Duration

The amount of sunshine the Earth receives (which is a characteristic of solar radiation) greatly influence other elements of the weather like ambient temperature, and more indirectly humidity and air pressure.

What Is Sunshine Duration?

Sunshine duration is the length of time the Earth’s surface is directly exposed to solar radiation. It is also referred to as sunlight hours and measure the amount of exposure over a set period of time (generally in hours per day or year.) As already stated, sunshine duration influence other weather elements, which can change the whole makeup of the weather conditions. This ability makes it a more powerful and influential factor than you might think.

Instrument for Measuring Sunshine

Sunshine recorders, more specifically Campbell–Stokes recorders, are the instruments used to record sunshine duration. Campbell–Stokes recorders basically consist of a spherical lens that focuses sunlight on a specific type of tape to make its measurement.