Atmosphere Basics
Define "weather" in one short sentence.
Weather = what the air is like right now or over a short time (rainy, sunny, windy)
Which tool measures temperature?
Thermometer.
Give the easy trick from the study guide to remember the difference between weather and climate.
Weather = what you wear today; Climate = what your closet needs all year.
Name one way people long ago predicted weather (from the list).
Watching clouds (or feeling the wind, noticing animal behavior, looking for patterns in nature).
What is "conservation agriculture"? (Short definition)
Farming in ways that protect soil, water, and the environment.
Define "climate" in one short sentence.
Climate = the usual weather in a place over many years.
Which tool measures humidity?
Hygrometer.
Which one changes day to day: weather or climate?
Weather.
Name two modern tools meteorologists use today.
Examples: satellites and radar (also weather balloons, thermometers, barometers, computers).
Name one conservation agriculture practice from the guide.
Crop rotation (also cover crops, fewer chemicals, less tilling, windbreaks).
What causes wind? (Give the simple direction of movement.)
Wind is caused by differences in air pressure; air moves from high pressure to low pressure.
What does a barometer measure?
Barometer measures air pressure.
What is a microclimate? Give the short definition from the guide.
Microclimate = a small area with different climate/weather than the area around it.
Why are today's forecasts more accurate than long ago? (One clear sentence)
Because meteorologists use science, tools, and lots of data from satellites, radar, and computers.
How does heavy rain affect soil? (Use the word from the guide.)
Heavy rain can cause erosion.
What is "air pressure"? (Short definition)
Air Pressure = the weight of the air pressing down on Earth.
What tool would meteorologists use to track storms from space?
Satellite.
Why is Victoria, BC called a microclimate? (Short answer)
Victoria, BC is a microclimate because the ocean keeps temperatures milder.
Give one animal behavior from the guide that can signal a storm.
Bees returning to the hive can signal a storm.
What is a firebreak and how does it help? (Short answer)
A firebreak is a gap in vegetation that stops or slows fires from spreading.
Explain why inland cities often have hotter summers and colder winters compared to coastal cities. (2–3 short sentences)
Inland cities are farther from the ocean, so they have less moderating effect from water; land heats and cools faster than ocean, causing hotter summers and colder winters.
Match the tool to what it measures: anemometer, hygrometer, radar. (Write each match.)
Anemometer — wind speed; Hygrometer — humidity; Radar — tracks rain, snow, storms.
Give two examples of things that belong in a climate description (not a single-day weather report).
Examples: average monthly temperatures over many years; typical rainfall amounts across seasons.
Describe how satellites and radar together help meteorologists forecast storms. (2–3 short sentences)
Satellites provide wide views of cloud patterns from space; radar shows precipitation and storm movement on the ground — together they let forecasters see where storms form and where they are moving.
Explain in two short sentences how crop rotation helps keep soil healthy.
Crop rotation prevents the same nutrients from being used up year after year and reduces pests and disease; this keeps soil healthier and more fertile.