Geography test Flashcards
What is Weather?
Weather is the day-to-day condition of the atmosphere at a specific place and time. It includes things like temperature, rainfall, wind, and sunshine.
What is Climate?
Climate is the average weather conditions of a place over a long period of time (usually 30 years). It’s the general pattern of weather, not just a single day.
How do we measure the weather?
Thermometers (temperature)
Rain gauges (rainfall)
Anemometers (wind speed)
Wind vanes (wind direction)
Barometers (air pressure)
What are the different world climates?
Tropical (hot and wet)
Dry/Arid (hot and dry)
Temperate (mild seasons)
Polar (cold all year)
Mediterranean (hot dry summers, mild wet winters)
Why do we get different world climates?
Latitude (distance from the equator)
Altitude (height above sea level)
Distance from the sea
Ocean currents
Prevailing winds.
What is the UK climate like?
The UK has a temperate maritime climate:
Mild winters and cool summers.
Rainfall throughout the year.
Often cloudy and changeable.
What are the different reasons for rainfall?
Relief rainfall (caused by air rising over hills/mountains)
Convectional rainfall (caused by warm air rising and cooling)
Frontal rainfall (caused by warm and cold air masses meeting)
What is high and low pressure?
High pressure: Brings settled, dry weather. Air is sinking.
Low pressure: Brings unsettled, wet, and windy weather. Air is rising.
What are extreme weather conditions?
Extreme weather events that are significantly different from usual weather patterns.
Examples:
Hurricanes/Typhoons/Cyclones
Tornadoes
Droughts
Floods
Heatwaves
Blizzards.
