Chapter 20: Meteorology

Question 1

Monsoons

What is, where (5)

Answer 1

Reversal in wind aroun the equator
Summer: SW India, SE Asia, W. Africa
Winter: N. Australia, SE Asia (Dry)

Question 2

Polar Air Depression

What is, detection, alt, diameter, duration, stability?

Answer 2

Cold air pool / drop
Polar air detaches and goes in tropical regions
low pressure system at altitude 10 - 30 000’
300 - 600 nmi diameter
several days long
unstable

Question 3

Koeppen Global Climates (8)

Answer 3

Equatorial: Tropical Rain Forest/ Tropical Savannah
Arid Zones: Desert / Steppes
Temperate: Warm & Dry / Cool & Wet
Snow Zone: Boreal
Polar Zone: Tundra

Question 4

Tropical Rain Forest
subdivision of (2), lat, T, rain?

Answer 4

Tropical rain climate / equatorial zone
10° N/S, low diurnal variation (20° to 35°C)
double rain (ITCZ passes twice), max rain out of all
long rain march
short rain sept

Question 5

Tropical Savannah
subdivision of (2), aka, lat, T, rain, exemples (4)?

Answer 5

Tropical rain climate / equatorial zone
Tropical transitional zone
10° - 20° N/S, low diurnal variation (20° to 30°)
1 rain season in summer, otherwise dry
i.e. Sudan, N Australia, S Brezil, Ethiopia

Question 6

Desert
subdivision of (2), lat, T, rain, exemples (4)?

Answer 6

Arid Zones / Dry Climate
20° - 40° N/S, high diurnal variation (50° to -T)
little rain
i.e. Sahara, Arabian, Australian, Arizonian Desert

Question 7

Steppe
subdivision of (2), lat, T, rain, exemples (2)?

Answer 7

Arid Zones / Dry Climate
30° - 35° N/S, high diurnal variation
more precipitation, vegetation
i.e. Russian Steppes, Pampas (S. America)

Question 8

Warm / Dry
subdivision of (1), lat, T, aka, climate in S/W, exemples (4)?

Answer 8

Temperate Zone
35° - 40° N/S, 18°C to -T
Dry summer (subtropical highs), wet winter (polar lows)
aka subtropical transition
Melbourne, Sidney, LA, Mediterranean

Question 9

Cool / Wet

subdivision of, lat, climate in S/W, exemples (2)?

Answer 9

Temperate Zone
40° - 65° N/S
aka Temperate transitional zone
cool summer, mild winters
i.e. EU, NZ

Question 10

Boreal

subdivision of, lat, T, aka, exemples (2)?

Answer 10

Snow zone
40° - 65° N over land masses only
-40° to 20° 
aka disturbed temperate
i.e. Siberia, Canada

Question 11

Tundra

subdivision of, lat, T, characteristics (4)

Answer 11

Polar Zone
60° - 90° N/S, < 10°C
high P, constantly day/night, no vegetation, soil always frozen (permafrost)