climate topic 1

Question 1

what is weather?

Answer 1

state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time. (short period of time)

Question 2

what is climate?

Answer 2

average state of the atmosphere at a particular place over a long period of time

Question 3

describe tropical equatorial climate in terms of temperature

Answer 3

1. small temperature range
2. high temperatures all year round

Question 4

describe tropical equatorial climate in terms of precipitation

Answer 4

1. high annual precip.
2. precip. falls evenly throughout the year

Question 5

describe tropical monsoon climate in terms of temperature

Answer 5

1. high temp all year round
2. small annual temp range

Question 6

describe tropical monsoon climate in terms of precipitation

Answer 6

1. high annual precip.
2. distinct wet and dry seasons

Question 7

describe cool temperate climate in terms of temperature

Answer 7

1. 4 distinct seasons
2. large annual temp range

Question 8

describe cool temperate climate in terms of precipitation

Answer 8

1. low annual precip.
2. precip. fall evenly throughout the year

Question 9

what are climatic hazards?

Answer 9

1. extreme weather events that which impact natural and human systems

Question 10

why do different countries experience different temperatures at the same time?

Answer 10

when the northern hemisphere leans towards the sun, it receives more direct solar radiation and experiences higher temperatures.
when the southern hemisphere leans away from the sun, it receives less direct solar radiation and experiences lower temperatures.

Question 11

which time of day is the hottest and why?

Answer 11

midday.
- sun is directly overhead
- solar radiation is spread over a smaller area
- solar radiation is more conc
- highest temp

Question 12

describe how the earth experiences day and night.

Answer 12

due to the earth’s rotation on its own axis, the side of the earth facing the sun experiences day and receives solar radiation. as the earth continues rotating, this side will eventually face away from the sun and experience night time where it does not receive solar radiation. 1 complete rotation takes 24 hours.

Question 13

what are the 4 factors affecting temperature?

Answer 13

latitude, altitude, type of surface, dist. from sea

Question 14

describe how latitude affects temperature

Answer 14

temp. are lower at higher latitudes. the higher the latitude, the smaller the solar angle so solar radiation is less direct as it is spread over a larger area and is less concentrated. thus they experience low temp. the lower the latitude, the bigger the solar angle so solar radiation is more direct as it is spread over a smaller area and is more conc. thus they experience higher temp.

e.g. sg 1 degree north of equator-> 29 degress celcius
beijing 40 degrees north of equator-> 12 degrees celcius

Question 15

describe how altitude affects temperature

Answer 15

• temp is lower at higher alt.
• air is less dense at high alt, air is more dense at low alt.
• denser air absorb and radiate more heat. -> high temp
  e.g. genting highlands:
  alt of 1700m above sea level -> 21 degrees celcius. surronding areas at sea level are about 32 degrees celcius

Question 16

describe how the type of surface affects temperature

Answer 16

• dark surfaces absorb more solar radiation and radiate more heat -> high temp.
• light-coloured surfaces reflect more solar radiation and radiate less heat -> low temp.
• urban areas with dark surfaces like roads have high temp. as the roads absorb and radiate more solar radiation
• rural areas with have more vegetation -> low temp

e.g. sg CBD is 2 degrees celcius warmer at night than in Macritchie reservoir which has dense vegetation

Question 17

describe how distance from sea affects temperature

Answer 17

maritime effect:
- cooler summers
- warmer winters
- low temp. range
- air above sea heats up and cools down slower than land

continental effect:
- hotter summers
- colder winters
- higher temp. range
- air above sea heats up and cools down faster than sea

e.g. anchorage, a coastal city has a lower annual temp range of 23 degrees celcius
fairbanks, an inland city has a higher annual temp. range of 40 degrees celcius

Question 18

describe the water cycle

Answer 18

1. when the sun rays reach the earth, the air above the sea is heated up
2. the warm water gains heat and evaporates into water vapour
3. when water vapour rises, it cools and condenses into water droplets at dew point temp.
4. when the water droplets in the clouds become big and heavy enough, they fall to the ground as precipitation

Question 19

what is relative humidity?

Answer 19

the ratio of the amount of water vapour in the air to the max amount of water vapour the air can hold at a given temp.

Question 20

what happens to relative humidity when temperature increases?

Answer 20

the amount of water vapour that air can hold increases
-> RH decreases

capacity of the atmosphere to hold the water vapour or moisture increases, thus decreasing the relative humidity

Question 21

what happens when relative humidity exceeds 100%?

Answer 21

condensation occurs when more water vapour is added to the air or when air temp. drops

Question 22

how is rain formed?

Answer 22

water droplets in the clouds collide and coalesce, becoming bigger and heavier. once water droplets are large enough , they fall to the ground as raindrops

Question 23

describe the formation of convectional rain

Answer 23

1. heat from the sun is absorbed by the land and the air above it gains heat
2. warm air rises and cools and condenses on condensation nuclei at dew point temp. clouds are formed
3. water droplets in the clouds collide and coalesce, and once water droplets are large enough, they fall to the earth as rain

e.g. thunderstorms in sg

Question 24

describe the formation of relief rain

Answer 24

1. prevailing winds pick up moisture over the sea and push it up the windward side of a mountain
2. the rising moist air cools and condenses on condensation nuclei at dew point temp and clouds form
3. water droplets in the clouds collide and coalesce, and once water droplets are large enough , they fall to the ground as rain on the windward side.

e.g. the windward side of sierra nevada mountain ranges receives higher rainfall and has lush forests. the leeward side is hot and dry creating the death valley desert.

Question 25

how are winds formed?

Answer 25

1. occurs due to unequal distribution of air temp = unequal distribution of pressure gradients
2. places with high temp has low atmospheric pressure as warm air rises (void below)
3. places with low temp has high atmospheric pressure as cool air sinks .
4. air moves from high to low pressure to fill in the void

Question 26

Factors for speed of wind

Answer 26

1. strength of pressure gradient
2. friction

Question 27

describe how strength of pressure gradient affects wind speed

Answer 27

small pressure gradient = slower wind speed

big pressure gradient = faster wind speed

Question 28

describe how friction affects wind speed

Answer 28

moving air comes in contact with earth’s topography and experiences frictional drag, reducing wind speed

frictional drag is greatest where there is uneven rough surfaces on land

Question 29

describe the formation of land breeze

Answer 29

AT NIGHT
1. the sea loses heat slowly so the warm air rises, forming low pressure over the sea
2. land loses heat quickly so cooler air sinks, forming high pressure over land
3. air moves from high to low pressure forming land breeze

Question 30

describe the formation of sea breeze

Answer 30

DURING THE DAY
1. the sea gains heat slowly so the cool air sinks, forming high pressure over the sea
2. land gains heat quickly so warm air rises, forming low pressure over land
3. air moves from high to low pressure forming sea breeze

Question 31

how does northeast monsoon form?

Answer 31

OCT - FEB
1. northern hemisphere experiences winter while southern hemisphere experiences summer
2. low temp = high Pa (cool air sinks)
high temp = low Pa (warm air rises)
3. air moves from central asia (NH) to australia (SH)
4. winds are deflected to the right due to coriolis effect

rainfall in sg, mly and india

Question 32

how does southwest
monsoon form?

Answer 32

JUN - SEP
1. northern hemisphere experiences summer while southern hemisphere experiences winter
2. low temp = high Pa (cool air sinks)
high temp = low Pa (warm air rises)
3. air moves from australia (SH) to central asia (SH)
4. winds are deflected to the right due to coriolis effect

rainfall in sg, mly and india