climate* Flashcards

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1
Q

what is climate

A

average weather conditions in a place over many years

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2
Q

what is the weather

A

specific event or condition that happens over a period of hours/days

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3
Q

what is a climate region

A

a large area that has similar climate conditions

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4
Q

descriptions of climate are made after…

A

looking at climate info over a long period (30 years)

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5
Q

2 most important parts of climate

A

rainfall and temperature

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6
Q

what does temperature describe

A

how hot or cold a place can get

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7
Q

what do we measure temperature in

A

Celsius

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8
Q

what do we measure rainfall in

A

millimeters

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9
Q

what are climate graphs

A

a way of presenting climate info about temp and rainfall

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10
Q

what does climate data provide

A

info about the average amount of rain for each month and average total rainfall for the year

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11
Q

what is solar radiation

A

heat from the sun

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12
Q

factors that influence temperature and rainfall

A

distance from the equator
distance from the sea
height from above sea level
ocean currents
mountains (relief)

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13
Q

temperature decreases…
explain

A

with latitude
further away from the equator the lower the temperature

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14
Q

the earth is tilted o its axis which mean…

A

certain areas lean towards or away from the sun

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15
Q

what affects how much radiation certain areas receive from the sun

A

position of the earth during the yearly revolution

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16
Q

temperature and rainfall are influenced by…

A

how far a place is from the sea

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17
Q

places far from the sea

A

hot hot summers and cold winters

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18
Q

the sea helps to …

A

cool coastal places in summer and warmer in winter

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19
Q

inland meaning

A

an area that does not have access to the sea

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20
Q

what does solar radiation do

A

heats the land to a higher temperature

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21
Q

solar radiation only heats the ….of solids

A

surface

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22
Q

solar radiation can … deep into the water and heat…

A

penetrate
the water layer below the surface

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23
Q

what affects the air

A

temperature of land and oceans

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24
Q

what do we measure when we want to describe the temperature of a place

A

the temperature of the air

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25
Q

what is altitude

A

height above sea level

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26
Q

the higher the place the…

A

lower the temperature

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27
Q

average drop in temperature is… for every 1000m in altitude

A

6,5 degrees celsius

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28
Q

where are there fewer air molecules and more air molecules

A

fewer: top
more: bottom
close to the earth’s surface

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29
Q

air is … at higher altitudes

A

thinner

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30
Q

tell me about mount kenya

A

permanently covered in snow and ice
on the equator
5199 above sea level

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31
Q

what are currents

A

large masses of water that constantly move in the top 100m to 200m of the world’s oceans

32
Q

some ocean currents flow at the speed of…

A

10km per hour

33
Q

main causes of ocean currents

A

winds
differences in water temperature
rotation of the earth

34
Q

solar radiation close to the poles is …

A

weaker and seasonal

35
Q

what are warm currents

A

currents that flow closer to the equator

36
Q

what are cold currents

A

currents that begin close to the poles

37
Q

name an example of a warm current

A

agulhas current (indian ocean)

38
Q

example of cold current

A

benguela current (south atlantic ocean)

39
Q

what causes water in ocean currents to move to the right

A

rotation

40
Q

temperature of ocean currents affects…

A

temperature of places next to them

41
Q

how is air above cold ocean currents cooled

A

contact with cold water

42
Q

cooling causes air to…

A

lose moisture as rain

43
Q

describe the climates of areas next to cold currents

A

cool, dry climates

44
Q

describe the climate of areas close to warm ocean currents

A

warm temperatures and high rainfall

45
Q

relief

A

the shape of the land

46
Q

windward

A

facing the wind

47
Q

leeward

A

sheltered from the wind

48
Q

the relief of the land means that…

A

some areas receive more solar radiation than others

49
Q

how can mountains bring rain into some areas

A

forcing air to rise and release moisture content as rain

50
Q

how can mountains prevent some areas from getting enough rain

A

by sheltering the area

51
Q

what are the shadow areas

A

places on the sheltered side of a mountain

51
Q

what are the shadow areas

A

places on the sheltered side of a mountain

51
Q

temperate

A

mild, without extremes

52
Q

explain tropical climate

A

occur between equator and 25N and 25S of the equator

have high temperatures and high rainfall

vegetation is rainforests

places closer to the equator have a wetter climate

2 types:
wet tropical climate and dry tropical climate

wet tropical
=places closer to the equator
=Amazon area of Brazil
=temperature range is small
=rainfall is high
=only one season
=2000mm a year

dry tropical
=closer to the tropics
=have wet and dry season
=rain falls in wet season
=are in large areas of east africa

53
Q

explain semi desert climate

A

250mm - 500mm of rain

on the borders of true hot deserts

temperatures are high

rainfall is unpredictable

droughts are common

Kalahari region is a semi desert in SA

high temperature range between day and night

54
Q

explain continental climate

A

between 30 and 60 lines of longitude in the northern hemisphere

rainfall is 500mm to 1250mm a year

summers are short

winters are long

summer temperatures: above 20 degrees for 3 or 4 months

winter temperatures: 0 degrees for 6 months

55
Q

explain polar climate

A

very little precipitation

-40 degrees is common

long winter months have few hours of daylight

no month has a temp. above freezing

summers are short but there are many hours of weak sunlight

are in places close to north and south poles

56
Q

explain subtropical climate

A

similar to dry tropical climate

regions are further from the equator

occur on the east coast of continents

summer temps. = above 20 degrees

winter temps. = around 15 degrees

precipitation = 1000mm

The east coast of KZN has subtropical climates

57
Q

explain temperate climate

A

are mild climates

do not have very high and very low temperatures and rainfall

occur between 40 and 65 N and S lines of latitude

average yearly temp = 10 degrees

rainfall = 1400mm

most rain falls in winter

58
Q

explain desert climate

A

precipitation = 250mm

cold and hot deserts

Antarctica is the world largest cold desert

Sahara is the worlds largest hot desert

little vegetation

hot deserts day temps. = 50 degrees

59
Q

explain tundra climate

A

occur next to polar climate regions between 60 and 75 N and S

summer temps. = 2 - 12 degrees

one month of temperature above freezing

no trees can grow

most precipitation occurs in summer as rain

precipitation= 100mm - 400mm which falls as snowb

60
Q

explain high mountain climate

A

climates = similar to tundra and polar

called alpine climates

temperatures are low because of the altitude

61
Q

c

` explain mediterranean climate

A

precipitation = 400mm - 600mm

main kind of climate in the areas around the mediterranean sea

climate = warm summers and cool, wet winters

summer temps. = above 20 degrees

winter temps. = 10 - 15 degrees

62
Q

gautengs climate is influenced by 3 factors…

A

altitude **
latitude
distance from the sea

63
Q

most of gauteng is more than …m above sea level

A

1500

64
Q

what has the greatest influence on durbans climate

A

agulhas ocean current

65
Q

inland areas of KZN are affected by…

A

latituide
altitude
mountains
distance from the sea

66
Q

summer
winter temperatures

mahikeng
kimberley
mthatha

A

25 and 12
24 and 11
22 and 12

67
Q

temperature range

A

difference between high and low temperature

68
Q

minimum temperature

A

lowest temperature recorded in a given time

69
Q

maximum temperature

A

highest temperature recorded in a given time

70
Q

coldest ever recorded temperature in SA

A

-18.6 degrees
near molteno in the eastern cape

71
Q

what is fog

A

condensed water vapour or ice crystals that can be seen in the air

72
Q

what is rain shadow

A

areas that receive low rainfall because they are sheltered by mountains

73
Q

name and explain the types of rain

A

relief
--_ formed when a warm, moist wind rises against a mountain side

convectional rain
--_ caused by a warm, moist air which rises vertically above large land masses

frontal rain
--_ caused when a cold air mass moves in under warm, moist air which is forced to rise