Elements of weather Flashcards
What is the meaning of temperature?
Temperature is the measurement of how hot or cold the surrounding air in the atmosphere is.
List the factors that influence how temperature changes across the globe
1) Latitude
2) Altitude
3) Nearness to the sea
4) Land and Sea Breezes
5) Wind and Ocean Currents
How is temperature recorded?
Temperature is recorded in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit. 1ºC = 33.8º F
List the few types of temperature measurements which can be done
Diurnal/ Daily Range
Mean daily temperature
Annual temperature range
What is Diurnal/ Daily Range and how is it found?
this is the difference between the maximum and minimum temperatures for a particular day.
ex: Diurnal range = 32ºC - 28ºC= 4ºC
What is the Mean daily temperature and how is it found?
This is the average temperature for the day.
It is found by adding the maximum temperature and minimum temperature, then dividing it by 2.
ex: 35ºC + 29ºC /2 = 64/2 = 32ºC
What is Annual temperature range and how is it illustrated?
This is the difference between the highest and lowest temperatures over a year. It can be illustrated in this graph showing highs and lows for the year at various airports in Jamaica.
What does latitude measure?
Latitude measures the distance from the equator towards the poles.
why does temperature decrease when one moves from the equator to the poles?
This is because the sun’s rays hit directly over the equator and there is a greater concentration. The rays are also travelling over a shorter distance from the sun to the equator.
why does temperature decrease when one moves from the equator to the poles?( pt 2)
As you move away from the equator, the sun’s rays travel further through the atmosphere to reach the earth and as a result more energy is lost. Additionally, away from the equator, the sun’s ray hit the earth at angles less than 90 degrees. The sun’s energy is spread over a larger area and therefore it is cooler.
WATCH THE INFLUENCE OF LATITUDE PICTURE
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE
State the influence of latitude
North Pole= 60°N (low angle of incoming sunlight)
Tropic of cancer= 30°N
Equator= 0° (Sunlight direct overhead)
Tropic of Capricorn= 30°S
South Pole= 60°S (low angle of incoming sunlight)
What is altitude?
Altitude is the height above sea level
why does temperature decrease as we go higher above sea level although places are closer to the sun? (reason 1)
as the Earth receives energy from the Sun it does so as short wave radiation known as insolation yet it does not heat up the atmosphere very much. This is because much of it is reflected back out to space as terrestrial energy.
why does temperature decrease as we go higher above sea level although places are closer to the sun? (reason 2)
Another reason is because the atmosphere at higher levels is very thin and does not hold heat energy very well. As one moves further up into the atmosphere, the air pressure decreases allowing the air molecules to move apart much more and as a result they do not hold heat very well. Therefore it is cooler as we move higher in altitude.
