23. Weather and climate

1. What is happening to weather and climate nowadays?

2. What weather do you like and why do you enjoy this kind of weather?

3. What questions would you ask a meteorologist?

4. What can you advise weather dependent people?

5. They say there’s no bad weather, there are bad clothes. What do you think about it?

What is happening to weather and climate nowadays?

Nowadays scientists are worried that the weather has changed and the world is getting warmer. They call this Global Warming. People are one of the main causes. When we burn fuels like coal, oil and wood, they produce carbon dioxide. These gases rise into the atmosphere. The sun’s heat goes through these gases, but cannot escape. There gases are called “greenhouse gases”. They make the world hotter. They also cause “acid rain”, which kills trees. The problem is that a very small rise in the temperature of the Earth can completely change the climate. In recent years, deserts have grown larger; Northern Europe has grown wetter; the ice on mountains and at the poles has begun to melt; and the level of the oceans has risen.

What weather do you like and why do you enjoy this kind of weather?

I prefer warm weather with sunshine and a light breeze. But sometimes when I’m in romantic mood I enjoy rainy weather. It’s nice to watch thunderstorm with lightning and shower sitting in a cozy armchair and watching interesting film. After the rain it’s always easy to breathe as there is special air enriched by ozone.

What questions would you ask a meteorologist?

1. How was weather observed in ancient times?

2. What instruments help you to observe weather nowadays?

3. How will weather be predicted in the future?

4. Is it easy or hard to predict weather?

What can you advise weather dependent people?

First of all spend more time in the open air. Go for a walk every day. Have a rest after hard work. Don’t watch a lot of TV. Pay less attention to computer and mobile phone. Don’t eat salty and fat food. Keep on a diet. Take vitamins especially in autumn and spring. Eat more fruit and vegetables. And I hope if you follow my advice it’ll help you to feel better.

They say there’s no bad weather, there are bad clothes. What do you think about it?

The British say “There is no bad weather, there are bad clothes”. This means that they like all the seasons, and all kinds of weather. Every season is good in its own way. Each person likes this or that season. It depends on his character or mood. As for me I like all seasons. There are four seasons in the year: winter, spring, summer, autumn. Each of them lasts three month.

Winter is the coldest season. It often snows and frosty. Nature is sleeping. I can ski, skate, play snowballs, play hockey.

In spring the sun shines brightly. It gets warmer. Nature awakes from it’s long winter sleep. The days become longer and the nights shorter. The field are covered with fresh green grass. The air is fresh, the trees are in full blossom.

Summer is the hottest season. The sky is blue and cloudless. The days are hot and sunny. The gardens are gay with flowers all summer months. People spend much time in the open air. They go to the forest, swim in the river, sunbathe. Summer is a vacation time.

Autumn is a nice season too. It’s the time of the harvest. There are many vegetables, fruit and mushrooms in autumn. The leaves become yellow, red, brown. The trees are golden. I look at nature, and it’s like a fairy tale. And it gets colder and colder. It often rains. But still I like autumn.

In my opinion every season is beautiful.