2. Meteorology (weather and climate)

Question 1

Air Mass (2)

Answer 1

A large body of air (1) with consistent moisture and temperature characteristics (1).

Question 2

Air Pressure (2)

Answer 2

The weight of the air (1), measured in millibars (1).

Question 3

Anticyclone (3)

Answer 3

A high pressure weather system associated (1) with still and cold weather in winter (1) and still and warm weather in summer (1).

Question 4

Atmosphere (1)

Answer 4

The air surrounding the Earth (1).

Question 5

Climate (2)

Answer 5

The average weather (1) measured over a number of years (1).

Question 6

Condensation (2)

Answer 6

Water droplets that are produced (1) when water vapour is cooled and forms clouds (1).

Question 7

Convenctional Rainfall (2)

Answer 7

Rain that is produced (1) when air rises as the ground is heated by the sun (1).

Question 8

Depression (2)

Answer 8

A low pressure weather system (1) associated with wet and windy weather throughout the year (1).

Question 9

Drought (1)

Answer 9

Droughts occur when there is abnormally low rainfall for an extended period of time (1).

Question 10

Evaporation (2)

Answer 10

When water is turned from a liquid into a gas (1) due to heating by the Sun (1).

Question 11

Fog (1)

Answer 11

Cloud at ground level (1).

Question 12

Front (2)

Answer 12

The divide between warm and cold air masses (1) associated with rainfall (1).

Question 13

Frontal Rainfall (2)

Answer 13

Rain that is produced (1) when warm air is forced to rise of cold air at a front (1).

Question 14

Humidity (1)

Answer 14

The moisture content of the air (1).

Question 15

Isotherm (1)

Answer 15

A line on a map joining places of the same temperature (1).

Question 16

Jet stream (2)

Answer 16

High winds in the atmosphere (1) which influence our weather systems (1).

Question 17

Microclimate (1)

Answer 17

The climate of a specific and small area (1).

Question 18

North Atlantic Drift (3)

Answer 18

The warm flow of water (1) that comes from the Gulf of Mexico (1) and warms the west coast of Britain in winter (1).

Question 19

Precipitation (7)

Answer 19

Water droplets falling to the ground (1) once the clouds have cooled to a point (1) where they can non longer hold their moisture (1). Precipitation can take the form of rain (1), snow (1), sleet (1) and hail (1).

Question 20

Prevailing Wind (2)

Answer 20

A wind from the predominant or most usual direction (1). The prevailing wind in Britain is from the south-west (1).

Question 21

Relief Rainfall (2)

Answer 21

Rain caused by air being forced to rise rapidly over hills and mountains (1) leading to rapid condensation and precipitation (1).

Question 22

How are Humans affected by weather and climate?

Answer 22

Food and water supply- reservoirs can be used to store water in areas
where there may not be enough

Housing- Cold climates require insulation, whilst warm climates require light colours and ventilation.

Travel and tourism- Some areas of the world have more predictable
weather.

Electricity- Reliability on renewable energy

Extreme weather- impacts on
peoples’ lives causing death and injury.

Climate change- can cause rising sea levels

Question 23

What are Earth’s climatic zones?

Answer 23

1. Polar and sub-polar
2. Temperate
3. Arid
4. Tropical
5. Mountainous
6. Mediterranean

Question 24

What is a microclimate?

Answer 24

A microclimate is the local climate of a small area.

Question 25

Where can you find microclimates?

Answer 25

In your garden, on hills and valleys, at the coast and urban areas (urban heat islands).

Question 26

Do both natural and human factors affect microclimates?

Answer 26

Yes

Question 27

What are the factors that can affect microclimates?

Answer 27

1. Physical features (trees, lakes, rivers, hills)
2. Aspect (Direction in which a place is facing in relation to the sun)
3. Buildings (Offer shelter, but can give off heat too)
4. Surface (Influences air temperature - artificial surfaces warm up faster than natural ones)
5. Shelter (buildings, natural features provide shelter and reduce wind making it feel warmer.

Question 28

What climate does the British Isles have?

Answer 28

a temperate oceanic climate.

Question 29

What are the factors affecting temperature?

Answer 29

1. Latitude
2. Altitude
3. Distance from the sea
   (The land warms up and cools down more quickly than the sea. Places further inland become hotter in summer and colder in winter.)
4. Ocean Currents
5. Prevailing wind

Question 30

What are the 3 types of rainfall?

Answer 30

Question 31

What are the air masses affecting the UK?

Answer 31

Question 32

What are the 4 air masses?

Answer 32

Maritime- wet
Continental- dry
Polar/Arctic- cold
Tropical- warm

Question 33

What is the Jet Stream?

Answer 33

Fast flowing air current that separates warm tropical air from cold polar air, migrates N/S over
the UK.

Question 34

What is the climate of the British Isles?

(name the state of the summers, winters, range and rainfall for the NE, E, SW and NW regions of the UK)

Answer 34

Question 35

Droughts and Wildfires examples (4)

Answer 35

Droughts can last from weeks to months and even years. (1) From September 2019-January 2020 Australia experienced its worst
wildfires, coming at the end of 3 years of drought. (1) Australia also recorded its highest ever temperature of 41.9oC in December 2019. (1) Extreme weather events like droughts, wildfires and hurricanes are increasing in number and severity due to global warming. (1)

Question 36

How are low pressure storms formed? List an example. (5)

Answer 36

Tropical storms begin with low pressure, where warm air rises and cools over the warm ocean, usually in summer or autumn. (1) Tropical cyclones travel across the ocean, blown by the prevailing wind. (1) When a cyclone reaches land it is no longer fuelled by heat and moisture from the ocean (1), so it loses power and weakens. (1)
An example is Hurricane Maria, which hit Dominica and Puerto Rico in 2017. (1)