Climate

Question 1

Define climate.

Answer 1

This is the average type of weather experienced in a place and is recorded over long periods of 30 to 40 years.

Question 2

Give the latitude for Equatorial Climate and how that affects it.

Answer 2

It is experienced between 0–5ºN and 0–5ºS of the equator. This results in high temperatures all year as well as rain all year, due to the sun always being overhead.

Question 3

Give characteristics of temperature of the Equatorial Climate.

Answer 3

1. It is hot throughout the year, averaging at 26ºC
2. The temperature range is very small at 3 ºC
3. There are no seasons
4. High in humidity because of the high rate of evapo–transpiration.

Question 4

Give characteristics of rainfall in areas of Equatorial climate.

Answer 4

1. It rains throughout the year, heavy rainfall. More than 2000mm per annum.
2. The common type of rainfall is convectional, coming in the afternoon with lightning and thunder.
3. Rainfall shows a double maxima which coincides with the equinoxes.

– Equinoxes –when the sun is directly above the equator and there is maximum heat and maximum rainfall.

Question 5

Describe the 4 factors influencing the Equatorial Climate.

Answer 5

1. Maximum insolation because the midday sun is almost directly overhead all year.
2. Low Pressure all year, leading to rising air, condensation, cloud formation and precipitation levels.
3. Dense vegetation cover leads to high levels of evaporation and transpiration.
4. The warm air stores stores large amounts of water vapour until the temperatures start to cool in the late afternoon, leading to heavy daily convectional rainfall

Question 6

Describe the adaptations of Tropical rainforest, which is, Equatorial Vegetation.

Answer 6

1. Evergreen, because of abundance of rainfall and sunshine.
2. Made up of layers of trees competing for light.
   15, 30 and 45m tall.W

Question 7

What are trading winds?

Answer 7

These are winds coming from the North East and South East of the equatorial region, coming from high pressure areas.

– Meaning that the equatorial region is a low pressure region.

Question 8

What is a desert?

Answer 8

A desert is an area that receives less than 250mm of rainfall per annum.

Question 9

What side of continents are most deserts found and why?

Answer 9

On the Western sides because the air masses affecting them cross cold currents and have the moisture condensed into fog before reaching the land.