Beginning at Ground Level

Where does our weather come from?

The biggest factor in our planet's weather is the Sun. The Sun warms the Earth, which in turn puts everything in motion. All of the various climates, clouds, storms, and weather patterns are a result of heat created by the sun.

But does the heat that stirs the weather come from above or below?

Heat is important when considering weather. It is one of the main forces that influence weather on our planet. Our biggest heat producer is the sun. On a hot summer day it can seem that the sun beats down on us" as some say. This is only part of the story as to why we feel warm.

Some of the energy from sunlight is changed into heat energy when it collides with objects; this warmth is then radiated from those objects. Air particles, people, trees, cars and the ground are all objects that will give off heat as sunlight makes contact with them.

The Earth, of course is the largest object that we are relatively close to. As sunlight collides with the Earth's surface heat is produced. Therefore, most of the heat we feel comes from below. The heat then rises and causes all sorts of things to happen with the weather.

How can we see heat rising?
Hot-air Balloons rise because the air particles inside the balloon are warmer than the surrounding air. Hang gliders are able to gain altitude or "climb" the air due to "thermals". These "thermals" are created by heat rising from the ground, and the gliders are given a "push" upward. Looking down a road on a hot summer day the road seems blurry or wavy. The blurring is actually caused by heat rising from the road.

Can you think of other examples of heat rising?