causes of weather

Question 1

curvature

Answer 1

the curvature of earth causes 3 major climate zones
- polar
-temp
-tropical

Question 2

tilt

Answer 2

when a part of earth is tilted to the sun then the regions there are going to recieve more energy. (summer)
when the part of earth is pointed away from the sun the regions there will recieve less energy. (winter)

Question 3

rotation of earth

Answer 3

at the equator the speed of the rotation is fastest.
at the poles the speed is slowest.
*the rotation of the earth generates an action called the coriolis effect

Question 4

the coriolis effect

Answer 4

bends the trajectory long distances around the earth (objects curve to the right in the northern hem and to the left in the southern hem.)
*strongest at the equator

Question 5

prevailing winds

Answer 5

winds that blow a single direction over a specific area of earth.

• regular wind patterns (polar easterlies, westerlies, and trade winds)

Question 6

jet stream

Answer 6

narrow bands of very strong westerly winds in the upper atmosphere. this is caused by solar heating, the coriolis effect.

Question 7

air masses

Answer 7

due to the earths rotation and the coriolis effect air masses rotate.
- in the northern hem:
high pressure systems rotate clockwise
low pressures rotate counter clockwise
- low and high pressure systems rotate in the opposite directions in the southern hem.

Question 8

tropical cyclones

Answer 8

rapidly rotating storm systems with a low pressure centre.
*brings strong winds, heavy rain, and thunderstorms
- hurricane = atlantic, east coast or pacific oceans
- typhoon = western pacific ocean
- cyclone = indian ocean