2A2 - Geographical Cause and Effect

Question 1

What is the study of the Earth’s natural physical features and human interactions with those features called?

Answer 1

Geography

Question 2

What is the study of the Earth’s atmosphere and long-term weather patterns over a particular region called?

Answer 2

Climatology

Question 3

What is defined as the long-term patterns of weather-related variables within a particular region?

Answer 3

Climate

Question 4

What determines how much solar energy is reflected back into the atmosphere or absorbed and converted to heat?

Answer 4

Topography and nature of the ground surface.

Question 5

How does latitude affect climate?

Answer 5

• Latitudes closer to the equator receive more direct and less variable solar energy input and thus have minimal seasonal temperature variations (highs and lows).
• Latitudes closer to the poles have seasonally variable solar input and thus higher seasonal temperature variations.

Question 6

How does elevation affect climate?

Answer 6

• Air temperatures decrease with height in the troposphere.
• Air temperatures become colder as one moves up and away from this heat source.

This is because air easily loses heat while earth surface materials (water, rock, soil, vegetation) are more efficient heat storage media. Therefore, the earth surface is the major heat source in the lower atmosphere.

Question 7

How do major mountain ranges affect climate?

Answer 7

They commonly represent climate divides.

Question 8

What role do large bodies of water play in climate?

Answer 8

They provide sources of moisture through evaporation.

Question 9

What is the major heat source in the lower atmosphere?

Answer 9

The Earth’s surface.

Question 10

What is the significance of latitude on average temperatures in different cities?

Answer 10

Average winter and summer temperatures increase as one moves towards the equator.

Question 11

What role do the Himalayan Mountains play in influencing climate?

Answer 11

They block colder air from Northeast Asia in winter and force water-laden air to lose moisture, causing heavy precipitation in summer.

This results in an arid climate north of the mountains.

Question 12

How does water impact seasonal temperature differences in coastal areas?

Answer 12

Water moderates seasonal temperature differences, leading to cooler summers and warmer winters in coastal areas compared to inland regions.

Water absorbs and releases heat more slowly than other earth surface materials.

Question 13

What are the four main geographic variables that affect climate?

Answer 13

• Latitude
• Elevation
• Topography
• Water

Each variable has a unique influence on air temperature and precipitation patterns.

Question 14

Why is the link between geography and climate important?

Answer 14

They are interconnected by physical and chemical processes that cannot be fully understood without considering both fields.

They involve complex, dynamic interactions over various time scales.

Question 15

What are the four common types of climates?

Answer 15

• Tropical
• Dry (arid)
• Temperate
• Polar

Each type is characterized by specific temperature and precipitation patterns based on geographic location.

Question 16

How do mountains influence climate change?

Answer 16

They act as barriers to airflow, forcing warm, moist air to higher elevations where it cools and leads to condensation and precipitation.

This results in wet climates on the windward side of mountains.

Question 17

How does the correlation between geographic location and climate type serve as an example of the climate geography link?

Answer 17

It shows that tropical climates are found near the equator while polar climates are located at Earth’s highest latitudes.

Question 18

What is weather?

Answer 18

The state of the atmosphere at a particular moment in time, in terms of temperature, precipitation, and moisture.

Question 19

How does the topography of an area affect weather?

Answer 19

• Directs air currents.
• Air is forced to rise over mountains.
• Moist air cools as it rises, causing precipitation like rain or snow.

Question 20

How does latitude affect the weather?

Answer 20

It changes the intensity of the sun’s light an area receives, affecting temperature.

Question 21

Why does the equator have consistent weather?

Answer 21

Because the sun’s height in the sky doesn’t vary much throughout the year.

Question 22

How does vegetation cover impact weather?

Answer 22

Vegetation is less reflective than bare land, retains more heat, and affects the reflectivity of the Earth’s surface.

Question 23

How do humans affect the weather?

Answer 23

• They contribute to climate change by releasing greenhouse gases.
• Cities change the Earth’s reflectivity and reduce cooling and evaporating effects.
• Air pollution alters the reflectivity of the atmosphere.

Question 24

What is weather influenced by?

Answer 24

Geographical factors:

• human land use - such as pollution and the building of cities
• proximity of water to an area
• vegetation cover
• latitude
• topography

Question 25

Why does one side of a mountain range typically get more rain?

Answer 25

Due to rising moist air that falls once it cools.

Question 26

What is the impact of coastal areas on temperatures?

Answer 26

They generally have more moderate temperatures compared to inland areas.