Climate

Question 1

What is mean annual temperature?

Answer 1

The average of maximum and minimum temperatures for every day in a year over a period of many years.

Question 2

If there is an increase in latitude, there is a ……… in temperature.

Answer 2

Decrease

Question 3

Places near the equator are hotter/colder than places nearer the poles.

Answer 3

Hotter

Question 4

Why is energy recieved from the Sun greater near the equator than near the poles?

Answer 4

The Sun’s rays are more concentrated at the equator and pass through less of the atmosphere. (Vertical rays rather than oblique rays.)

Question 5

What are the three reasons why the temperature decreases towards the poles?

Answer 5

• Angle of of the Sun’s rays.
• Area heated up.
• Amount of atmosphere the rays pass through.

Question 6

When looking at the angle of Sun’s rays, which angle would be warmer and which would be colder?

Answer 6

Warmer: perpendicular angle of Sun’s rays.
Colder: oblique angle of Sun’s rays.

Question 7

When looking at the area of the Sun’s rays, which surface area of the Sun’s rays would be warmer and which would be colder?

Answer 7

Warmer: smaller surface area, so rays are concentrated.
Colder: larger area, so rays are spread out (scattered).

Question 8

When looking at the amount of atmosphere between the Sun and the earth, which amount of atmosphere for the Sun’s rays to pass through is warmer, and which is colder?

Answer 8

Warmer: less atmosphere to pass through, so less energy lost through scattering, absorption, reflection etc.
Colder: more atmosphere to pass through, so more energy lost through scattering, absorption, reflection etc.

Question 9

What’s precipitation?

Answer 9

Any form of water falling from the atmosphere, including rain, snow, hail, sleet, dew, frost etc.

Question 10

Why is precipitation usually in the form of rain near the equator?

Answer 10

Latitudes near the equator are warmer.

Question 11

What form does precipitation in the poles take?

Answer 11

Snow-low temperatures.

Question 12

What does the sea do in relation to temperature?

Answer 12

The sea moderates temperature.

Question 13

Places far from the sea have more ………… …………. than places at or near the sea.

Answer 13

Extreme temperatures.

Question 14

What is temperature range?

Answer 14

The difference between the highest and lowest temperature. (H-L)

Question 15

What are the four reasons for sea surfaces being colder then land surfaces in the summer?

Answer 15

• Water is transparent so rays penetrate deeper (bigger area to heat) while only the top surface of land was arms up.
• Water moves and distributes heat (waves and currents)
• Evaporation from water surface (uses energy) so cools the water.
• Water reflects much of the Sun’s energy. (Albedo)

Question 16

When are oceans heated more slowly than land?

Answer 16

During the day and in summer.

Question 17

Why is the ocean warmer than the land that cools more rapidly in the winter and at night?

Answer 17

The oceans retain more heat than the land.

Question 18

Do temperatures over the ocean or land remain more constant?

Answer 18

Ocean

Question 19

The further inland one is from the sea, the smaller/greater the temperature differences between seasons.

Answer 19

Greater

Question 20

What is altitude?

Answer 20

Height above sea level.

Question 21

True or false:

The atmosphere is heated directly by the Sun.

Answer 21

False.

The atmosphere is heated by the earth’s surface. (Not directly by the Sun.)

Question 22

Explain Heating Of The Atmosphere in four steps.

Answer 22

• Short wave radiation called insolation warms the earth.
• The earth warms up and re-radiates long wave radiation.
• Long wave radiation called terrestrial radiation warms the atmosphere.
• Water vapour and carbon dioxide absorb the terrestrial radiation.

Question 23

The greater the altitude the ………. the temperature.

Answer 23

Lower

Question 24

What does water vapour, dust and CO2 in the atmosphere prevent?

Answer 24

The heat in the atmosphere from escaping rapidly.

Question 25

What happens as the altitude increases making it cooler?

Answer 25

The amount of water vapour, gas and dust decreases and the heat is able to escape more rapidly.

Question 26

What average rate does temperature decrease at (when increasing altitude)?

Answer 26

0,65C per 100m

Question 27

How do you work out temperature using altitude?

Answer 27

(height you’re finding temperature of) - (starting height)

(that answer) ÷ 100m

(that answer) x 0.65C

Question 28

Which ocean current is warm, and which is cold, and which is on the west and which is east?

Answer 28

Benguela - cold, west.

Agulhas - warm, east.

Question 29

True or false:

Places close to the warm Agulhas current will be warmer than places close to the cold Bengula current.

Answer 29

True

Question 30

How do ocean currents influence the rainfall?

Answer 30

Wind that blows across a warm ocean current will carry moist air to the land. Water vapour condenses when air rises over the mountain and cools. Clouds form and rain occurs.

So basically, the warmer temperatures of the warmer ocean currents makes it easier for the water to evaporate and the water cycle to occur from that evaporation.

Question 31

(Look on page 12 of climate booklet to see diagram)

Name the 7 stages/labels of how mountains cause relief rain.

Answer 31

• Warm moist air from the sea.
• Air rises and cools down.
• Level of condensation.
• Cloud form (moist air in windward side)
• Windward side.
• Leeward side.
• Rain shadow-dry conditions/no rain.

Question 32

The windward side is …… and the leeward side is …..

Answer 32

Windward-wet

Leeward-dry

Question 33

(Look on pages 20-22 for images)

What does a THERMOMETER measure and in what unit?

Answer 33

Measures: temperature
Unit: C (degrees celsius)

Question 34

(Look on pages 20-22 for images)

What does a WET AND DRY BULB THERMOMETER measure and in what unit?

Answer 34

Measures: humidity
Unit: %

Question 35

(Look on pages 20-22 for images)

What does a WIND VANE measure and in what unit?

Answer 35

Measures: wind direction
Unit: NSWE

Question 36

(Look on pages 20-22 for images)

What does a WIND SOCK measure and in what unit?

Answer 36

Measures: wind direction
Unit: NSWE

Question 37

(Look on pages 20-22 for images)

What does a BAROMETER measure and in what unit?

Answer 37

Measures: air pressure
Unit: hPa (hectapascals)

Question 38

(Look on pages 20-22 for images)

What does a ANEMOMETER measure and in what unit?

Answer 38

Measures: wind speed
Unit: knots (nautical miles)

Question 39

(Look on pages 20-22 for images)

What does a RAIN GAUGE measure and in what unit?

Answer 39

Measures: amount of rain
Unit: mm

Question 40

(Look on pages 20-22 for images)

What does a EVAPORATION PAN measure and in what unit?

Answer 40

Measures: amount of evaporation
Unit: mm

Question 41

What is the difference between climate and weather?

Answer 41

Climate describes the general weather conditions that a place can expect. It is recorded over a long period of time, the minimum being 30 years; whereas weather is the atmospheric condition at a particular place and time. These conditions change daily, even hourly.

Question 42

What is humidity?

Answer 42

The amount of water vapour held in the atmosphere.