3 6 weather and storms (earth science)

Genre

Nonfiction

Comprehension Skill

Make Inferences

Text Features

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•
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Captions
Diagram
Labels
Glossary

Science Content

Weather

Scott Foresman Science 3.6

ISBN 0-328-13824-X

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Vocabulary
atmosphere
blizzard
hurricane
tornado
weather

What did you learn?
1. What are two qualities of air that
help people describe the weather?
2. What does a barometer measure?
3. How do satellites help us predict
the weather?

Picture Credits
Every effort has been made to secure permission and provide appropriate credit for photographic material.
The publisher deeply regrets any omission and pledges to correct errors called to its attention in subsequent editions.
Photo locators denoted as follows: Top (T), Center (C), Bottom (B), Left (L), Right (R), Background (Bkgd).
Opener: Digital Vision; 3 (TR) Getty Images; 5 Jim Reed/Corbis; 6 Getty Images; 7 Getty Images;
9 (TL) Getty Images, (BR) Digital Vision; 10 Getty Images; 11 Getty Images; 12 Corbis; 13 Getty Images;
14 (BL, BR) Getty Images; 15 (BL) Digital Vision, (BR) Brand X Pictures.
Scott Foresman/Dorling Kindersley would also like to thank: 4 (BR) Stephen Oliver/DK Images.
Unless otherwise acknowledged, all photographs are the copyright © of Dorling Kindersley, a division of Pearson.

ISBN: 0-328-13824-X
Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the United States of America.
This publication is protected by Copyright, and permission should be obtained from the publisher prior to any
prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise. For information regarding permission(s), write to
Permissions Department, Scott Foresman, 1900 East Lake Avenue, Glenview, Illinois 60025.

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4.

You have now
Oram
read about whybyit Lisa
snows
so much
in New York State. Using words from
the book, write to explain why New
York State gets so much snow.

5.

Make Inferences If there is
a lot of traffic on a warm day in
a large city, what kind of warning
do you think it would be likely for
a weather reporter to give?


All About Weather
Some people love rainy days. Other people
prefer hot, sunny days. When we talk about
rain, sun, and temperature, we are talking about
weather. The weather affects us every day.
If you don’t like the weather one day, just
wait. Weather always changes. Different parts
of each country usually have different kinds

of weather. Everywhere you go in the world,
the weather is different.

The Atmosphere
Water vapor in the
atmosphere helps cause
weather. The atmosphere
is made of air that
surrounds the Earth.
This air is made of gases.
To understand the
weather, we study the
air in the atmosphere.
Information about the
air’s moisture, speed, and
temperature can tell us
about the weather.
The atmosphere presses
down with a force called
air pressure. When the
air pressure changes, the
weather often changes too.
Low air pressure often
means the weather will
be cloudy or rainy. High
air pressure often makes
dry, clear weather.

Scattered clouds

Thin clouds

Thunder clouds

2

3


Studying the Weather
Scientists study the weather by using special
instruments. Barometers measure air pressure.
Anemometers measure wind speed. Hygrometers
measure water vapor in the air. These instruments
help predict weather changes.
Warm, wet air has humidity. This can
often make the weather rainy. Scientists use
a hygrometer to measure humidity. They can also
use a rain gauge while it’s raining to figure out
the amount of rainfall.
Barometer

Hygrometers, barometers, anemometers,
and rain gauges are all important instruments.
They provide information that is used to predict
and record the weather.
Satellites tell what is happening with the weather.
Satellites orbiting in space take pictures of the air
as it moves over the Earth. Those pictures are sent
back to Earth. The pictures are used to make

weather maps. Weather maps show what kind of
air is moving over the oceans and land. They tell
us what kind of weather we’ll get!
Scientists study weather maps,
which use information
from satellites.

Anemometer

4

5


Pollution and the Weather
Satellite pictures also help
scientists track the pollution.
Pollution can harm the Earth
and change our weather.
Factories, cars, and
airplanes cause pollution.
They produce harmful
gases. The gases get trapped
in Earth’s atmosphere.
These gases can get heated
by the Sun. This changes
the gases into smog and
ozone. These are forms
of air pollution.

Smoke from factory chimneys
harms the atmosphere.

6

Factories, cars, and trucks create smog.
The smog pollutes the air over towns and cities.
Too much smog makes it hard for people to
breathe outdoors. When smog levels become
harmful, weather reporters might issue a
smog alert.
You can help to reduce air pollution by
cutting down on car trips. You could also get
rides in the cars of your friends. Using public
transportation also reduces air pollution.

Cars produce gases that pollute our towns and cities.

7


Patterns of Weather
Weather patterns are caused by many things.
The Sun, oceans, and mountains all affect weather
patterns. Some places get the same weather
patterns again and again. One very typical weather
pattern involves snowfall in New York State.
Let’s take a look at how it works.
During the winter, New York State can get
very cold. The air can’t carry much moisture

when it is cold. So why does it snow so much in
New York State? New York is bordered by two
of the Great Lakes, Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.
The other Great Lakes are Lakes Huron, Michigan,
and Superior. Lots of water evaporates from the
Great Lakes, even in winter. Air moving in from
the west absorbs the evaporated water. The air
absorbs so much water that it can’t hold it all.
By the time the air is ready to release the water,
it has moved east, over New York State. So the
air releases the water, which falls as snow during
the winter. That’s why it snows so much in the
areas of New York State that are closest to the
Great Lakes.

8

Water evaporates from the
Great Lakes and is carried
eastward by the wind.

water
vapo
r tra
Lake Superior

CANADA
vel

se

Lake
Huron
Lake
Michigan

ast
wa
r

d

Lake
Ontario
NEW YORK STATE

Lake Erie
New York
City

UNITED STATES
ATLANTIC
OCEAN

In winter, water from the
Great Lakes falls as snow
over much of western and
central New York State.

9

Stormy Weather
Hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms, and
blizzards are dangerous storms.

Hurricanes

Tornadoes

A hurricane is a big storm. It forms over the
warmest parts of oceans. Heat from the warm water
helps cause this storm. The center of a hurricane
is called the eye. Strong winds swirl around the
hurricane’s eye.
Hurricanes can cause a lot of damage. The heavy
rain often causes flooding. Hurricane winds can
blow up to 155 miles per hour. These winds can
blow over buildings, power lines, and trees. If you
know a hurricane is coming to your area,
stay indoors.

A tornado is also
a dangerous storm. It is
different from a hurricane.
A tornado forms quickly
and moves fast over a small
area of land. Tornado winds
can reach 250 miles per hour.
Tornado winds are much

stronger than hurricane winds,
but they don’t affect as large an area.
Tornadoes are sometimes called
twisters because they look like
spinning towers of air. People say
a tornado sounds like an airplane taking
off or a train roaring down its track.

Hurricanes are large storms that form over the ocean.

10

11


Thunderstorms and Blizzards
Storms that cause rain, thunder, and lightning
are called thunderstorms. Thunderstorms, which
usually last for short periods of time, can also
cause high winds and hail.
Hail is water that freezes inside large storm
clouds. The hailstones become heavy and fall
to the ground as chunks of ice. Hail can happen
even if it is warm.
A blizzard is a dangerous winter storm.
During a blizzard, temperatures drop and heavy
snow falls. Strong winds blow the snow into
drifts. Because of the wind and the snow, it is
hard to see well. People should not drive during a
blizzard. It is easy to have an accident or get lost.

Snowdrifts almost buried
these cabins during a blizzard.

12

Staying Safe During Storms
Storms can be dangerous. People need to know
how to stay safe during them.
How do people know if a dangerous storm
is coming? The National Weather Service staff
monitors the weather. They send announcements
to radio and TV stations. If there is a storm watch,
it means a storm could happen in your area. If
there is a storm warning, it means a storm is on its
way. When people know that a storm is coming,
they can get prepared.

13


The Weather and You
The seasons affect weather patterns.
The weather in some seasons helps living
things to grow. The weather in other seasons
can hurt living things. There are many different
kinds of weather, each with its own causes
and effects.
Spring

14

Summer

At first you might have thought that there
was little you could do about the weather.
Now you know differently! By watching for
National Weather Service reports, you can
prepare for dangerous weather. By cutting down
on car trips, you can help prevent air pollution.
You can make a difference to the weather!
Fall

Winter

15


Vocabulary

Glossary
atmosphere
blizzard
atmosphere
hurricane
tornado
weather
blizzard

hurricane

the air that surrounds the Earth

What did you learn?
1. What are two qualities of air that
help people describe the weather?
2. What does a barometer measure?

a winter storm with low
temperatures and heavy,
blowing snow
a tropical storm that forms over
the ocean and causes strong winds
and heavy rainfall

a spinning column of air that has
high wind speeds and sometimes
Picture Credits
touches
theappropriate
ground
Every effort has been made to secure
permission and provide
credit for photographic material.

3. How do satellites help us predict
the weather?
4.

You have now
read about why it snows so much

in New York State. Using words from
the book, write to explain why New
York State gets so much snow.

5.

Make Inferences If there is
a lot of traffic on a warm day in
a large city, what kind of warning
do you think it would be likely for
a weather reporter to give?

tornado

The publisher deeply regrets any omission and pledges to correct errors called to its attention in subsequent editions.
Photo locators denoted as follows: Top (T), Center (C), Bottom (B), Left (L), Right (R), Background (Bkgd).
Opener: Digital Vision; 3 (TR) Getty Images; 5 Jim Reed/Corbis; 6 Getty Images; 7 Getty Images;
9 (TL) Getty Images, (BR) Digital Vision; 10 Getty Images; 11 Getty Images; 12 Corbis; 13 Getty Images;
14 (BL, BR) Getty Images; 15 (BL) Digital Vision, (BR) Brand X Pictures.

weather

what it is like outside

Scott Foresman/Dorling Kindersley would also like to thank: 4 (BR) Stephen Oliver/DK Images.
Unless otherwise acknowledged, all photographs are the copyright © of Dorling Kindersley, a division of Pearson.

ISBN: 0-328-13824-X
Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the United States of America.
This publication is protected by Copyright, and permission should be obtained from the publisher prior to any

prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise. For information regarding permission(s), write to
Permissions Department, Scott Foresman, 1900 East Lake Avenue, Glenview, Illinois 60025.
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 V010 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05

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