Atmosphere and Weather Case Studies and Facts

Question 1

Ocean Current Example and fact

Answer 1

North Atlantic Gyre:
- Gulf stream brings warm water from gulf of Mexico UK, Canary current from Europe to north Africa and south america.
Warm Ocean Currents transfer 20% of energy vs 80% by winds

Question 2

Specific heat capacity of land vs sea fact

Answer 2

it takes 5x more energy to raise the temperature of water by 2C than it does to raise land temperatures.

Question 3

Rain shadow example

Answer 3

Manchester receives on average double the rainfall of sheffield due to the rain shadow effect from the pennines

Question 4

Global warming evidence facts

Answer 4

Ice cores from 160,000 years ago show that the earth’s temperature closely paralleled levels of CO2 and methane in the atmosphere.
Accurate measurement of CO2 levels from Hawaii since 1957
Surface temperatures have increased from 0.6 to 0.9 degrees since 1906

Question 5

Global warming impacts facts

Answer 5

35% drop in crop yields across Africa and the MIddle east expected if temperatures rise by 3C => famine
Water shortages 4bn people could suffer from water shortages if temperatures rise by 2C.
Rainfall in Ethiopia will decline by 10% over the next 50 years
Destruction of coral reefs. If global warming continues on its current trend, only 5% of the GB Reef will remain by 2050
A 1.5 degree rise will put 20-30% of species at risk of extinction.

Question 6

London Temperature urban climate facts

Answer 6

During the summer heatwave of 2003, differences of up to 10 degrees between city and rural temperatures were measured in London.
lower albedo of tarmac (5-10%) and concrete (17-27%) vs grass (20-30%)
Anthropogenic heat can be upto 50% of incoming energy in winter

Question 7

London humidity urban climate facts

Answer 7

Humidity in cities can be up to 6% lower than in rural areas.

Question 8

London precipitation urban climate facts

Answer 8

London has between 100-110 days of thunder vs 60-70 days on kent and sussex coasts.
Urban area have 7x particulates vs rural areas

Question 9

London winds urban climate facts

Answer 9

London has 5% lower wind speeds that surrounding rural areas.
Taller buildings in Canary Wharf vs suburban areas such as Wimbledon