Geography Notes Flashcards
What are the elements we talk about when discussing weather?
The elements include temperature, wind, cloud cover, and precipitation.
What is temperature?
Temperature is how hot or cold the air is. It is measured in degrees Celsius (C) in South Africa.
What is the minimum temperature?
The minimum temperature is the coldest point of the day.
What is the maximum temperature?
The maximum temperature is the hottest point of the day.
What is precipitation?
Precipitation is the moisture from the air that reaches the surface of the earth.
What forms can precipitation take?
Precipitation can be liquid water such as rain or frozen water like hail and snow.
How is rain measured?
Rain is measured with a rain gauge in millimetres (mm).
What is wind?
Wind is moving air.
How do we describe wind direction?
Wind direction is described using the eight points of the compass.
How is a wind named?
A wind is named after the direction it comes from. For example, a south wind blows from south towards the north.
What instruments are used to measure wind direction?
Wind direction can be measured with a wind vane or a windsock.
How is wind strength measured?
Wind strength is measured with an anemometer.
How is wind strength recorded in South Africa?
Wind strength is usually recorded in kilometres per hour (km/h) in South Africa.
Why is weather forecasting important?
Weather forecasting is important to pilots, fishermen, and farmers.
Who studies the weather?
People who study the weather are called meteorologists.
