Climate & Weather, Global Atmospheric Circulation, Trade Winds and Rainfall

Question 1

What is weather?

Answer 1

Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular moment in a specific place.

Question 2

What does climate refer to?

Answer 2

Climate refers to the average weather conditions over a period of 30 years.

Question 3

What characterizes the Caribbean islands’ climate?

Answer 3

The Caribbean islands have a tropical maritime climate.

Question 4

What does ‘tropical’ indicate in the context of Caribbean climate?

Answer 4

‘Tropical’ refers to the Caribbean’s location between 0° and 30° N of the equator and its high but uniform temperature.

Question 5

How does the ocean influence the Caribbean climate?

Answer 5

The ocean has a high specific heat capacity, absorbing and releasing heat slower than land, leading to more consistent temperatures.

Question 6

Why does water have a high specific heat capacity?

Answer 6

Water is a liquid and transparent, allowing sun rays to penetrate deep and distribute heat widely.

Question 7

What role do tides and currents play in the ocean’s temperature?

Answer 7

Tides and currents help distribute heat within the water body.

Question 8

How does wind affect temperature?

Answer 8

Wind blows cool air over the land during warmer months and warm air during cooler months.

Question 9

List some factors that impact the temperature of an area.

Answer 9

Distance from the sea, nature of sea currents, altitude, dominant winds, cloud cover, atmospheric pressure, and proximity to the equator.

Question 10

How does cloud cover affect solar radiation?

Answer 10

Cloud cover increases solar radiation reaching the surface by refraction and reflection, and decreases it by absorption.

Question 11

What are Northeast trade winds?

Answer 11

Northeast trade winds blow from the Azores-Bermuda anticyclone, a high pressure area.

Question 12

How does the coriolis effect influence trade winds?

Answer 12

It affects these winds so strongly that they become almost entirely easterly by the time they reach the equator.

Question 13

What is the relative humidity of trade winds?

Answer 13

Trade winds have a moderate relative humidity around 70° E.

Question 14

Do trade winds generally produce heavy rainfall?

Answer 14

No, they generally do not produce heavy rainfall although local disturbances may disrupt this.

Question 15

What causes a decrease in air pressure during the summer?

Answer 15

Disturbances in trade winds cause a decrease in air pressure during the summer.

Question 16

What happens when air moves over high ground?

Answer 16

It can lead to the movement of weak, low pressure systems.

Question 17

What is convection rainfall?

Answer 17

Convection rainfall occurs when a pocket of warm air rises, cools, and condenses to produce localized rainfall.

Question 18

What is relief rainfall?

Answer 18

Relief rainfall occurs when warm air is forced to rise after meeting a barrier like a mountain, producing rainfall on the windward side.

Question 19

What is the rainshadow area?

Answer 19

The leeward side of the island, where the air is warm and dry causing less rainfall, is known as the rainshadow area.

Question 20

What are the characteristics of trade winds?

Answer 20

Constant breeze towards the Caribbean islands, particularly the windward side, and not producing heavy rainfall.

Question 21

What was the first model to explain global circulation of wind?

Answer 21

The single cell model was the first to explain global circulation of wind.

Question 22

What does the 3 cell model account for that the single cell model does not?

Answer 22

The 3 cell model accounts for the coriolis effect.

Question 23

What are the 3 primary global convection cells?

Answer 23

Hadley Cell, Ferrel Cell, and Polar Cell.

Question 24

What is the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)?

Answer 24

The ITCZ is the equatorial boundary between the 2 Hadley Cells where air masses converge and uplift occurs.

Question 25

What is the result of the convergence at the ITCZ?

Answer 25

The convergence at the ITCZ can cause air to condense and produce rainfall.