Weather and Seasons Class 3 Notes Science

Weather

Weather is what's happening in the atmosphere around us at a particular time and place. It's like whether it's sunny, rainy, windy, or snowy outside. Weather is caused by things like the Sun heating up the Earth's surface, the movement of air masses, and changes in temperature and pressure.

Different Weathers

Types of Weather 

• Sunny: Clear skies with bright sunlight, usually associated with warm temperatures.
• Cloudy: Overcast skies with clouds blocking the sun, often resulting in cooler temperatures.
• Rainy: Precipitation falling from the sky in the form of raindrops.
• Snowy: Precipitation falling as snowflakes, covering the ground with snow.
• Stormy: Intense weather conditions with strong winds, heavy rain, thunder, and lightning.

Factors Affecting Weather

Weather is influenced by various factors, including:

• Sun: The Sun is the primary source of heat for Earth. Its energy drives weather patterns by heating the atmosphere and the Earth's surface unevenly.
• Atmospheric Pressure: Differences in air pressure create winds and weather systems. High-pressure systems usually bring fair weather, while low-pressure systems often bring clouds and precipitation.
• Temperature: Temperature variations affect the density of air and how it moves. Warm air rises, creating areas of low pressure, while cold air sinks, creating areas of high pressure.
• Humidity: Humidity refers to the amount of water vapor in the air. High humidity can lead to the formation of clouds and precipitation, while low humidity can result in dry conditions.

• Wind: Wind is the movement of air from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. It plays a crucial role in redistributing heat and moisture around the Earth, influencing weather patterns.
• Topography: The shape of the land, such as mountains, valleys, and bodies of water, can influence local weather patterns by affecting temperature, humidity, and the flow of air masses.
• Ocean Currents: Ocean currents transport heat around the globe, influencing the climate of coastal regions and sometimes affecting weather patterns inland.
• Seasons: The tilt of the Earth's axis and its orbit around the Sun cause changes in the amount of sunlight different parts of the Earth receive throughout the year, leading to seasonal variations in weather.

Weather Affects Our Ways of Living

• Weather affects what we eat: lighter foods in summer, heartier meals in winter.
• Clothing choices vary: light and breathable fabrics in summer, warm layers in winter.
• Activities change: outdoor fun in summer, indoor coziness in winter.
• Bathing habits adjust: more frequent showers in summer, fewer baths in winter.
• Housing designs differ: sloping roofs in rainy areas, flat roofs in hot regions.
• Agriculture adapts: rice in rainy areas, wheat and corn in hotter regions.
• Animal behavior shifts: hibernation and migration patterns respond to weather changes.
• Plants respond: flowering and blooming cycles are influenced by weather conditions.

Water Cycle In Nature

We know that when water is heated it changes into water vapour. Upon cooling down this water vapour changes back into its water form. Let us understand how this results into water cycle in nature.

1. The sun heats water in lakes, ponds, rivers, seas, oceans. Water on surface turns into water vapour.
2. The water vapour rises up in the sky.
3. The water vapour comes in contact with cold air.
4. The water vapour turns into tiny droplets of water. Many droplets of water together forms the cloud.

5. When the clouds become heavy and cannot hold more water droplets, it falls down as rain.

6. Rain fills up the lakes, ponds, rivers, seas, oceans again and this is how the water cycle completes in nature.

Seasons

Seasons are the different times of the year characterized by distinct weather patterns and changes in temperature, daylight hours, and natural phenomena. There are typically four seasons:

1. Spring:

• The days are getting warmer.
• The days are getting longer because the sun rises earlier in the morning and sets later in the evening.
• We spend more time outside enjoying the blooming flowers and longer daylight hours.
• We might need to bring an umbrella because spring showers are common.
• We see baby animals being born and birds building nests.

Spring

2. Summer:

• The days are very hot.
• The days are long because the sun rises early in the morning and sets late in the evening.
• We spend much of our time outdoors swimming, playing, and having fun in the sun.
• We need to protect ourselves from the heat by wearing sunscreen and drinking plenty of water.
• We wear light-colored clothes and hats to stay cool.
• We enjoy ice cream and cold drinks to beat the heat.

Summer

3. Autumn (Fall):

• The days are getting cooler.
• The days are getting shorter because the sun rises later in the morning and sets earlier in the evening.
• We see trees changing colors and leaves falling to the ground.
• We might need to wear layers to stay comfortable in the changing temperatures.
• We harvest fruits and vegetables like apples and pumpkins.
• We prepare for winter by raking leaves and storing firewood.

Autum

4. Winter:

• The days are cold.
• The days are short because the sun rises late in the morning and sets early in the evening.
• We spend more time indoors to stay warm, snuggling up with blankets and hot cocoa.
• We wear thick coats, hats, and gloves when we go outside.
• We might see snowfall, and we can build snowmen and go sledding.
• We celebrate holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah with family and friends.

Winter

5. Monsoon

• It is also called the rainy season as it rains in almost every part of India. Monsoon season helps farmers to grow crops. 
• Wind blows and clouds become dark and grey. 
• Some areas also gets flooded due to rain, causing damage to crops and houses. 
• People use umbrella and raincoats to save themselves from the rain.

Monsoon