Geography - Weather

Question 1

weather

Answer 1

• day-to-day conditions of the atmosphere
• able to change quickly (Day 1 - dry II Day 2 - rain)

e.g. sunshine, rain, hail …

Question 2

climate

Answer 2

• average weather conditions (over a long period of time & large areas)
• usually measured over 30 years

e.g. tropical, polar, continental…

Question 3

elements of weather

Answer 3

• humidity
• sunshine
• air pressure
• temperature
• wind
• precipitation
• drought

Question 4

humidity

Answer 4

• how much moisture there is in the air

Question 5

sunshine

Answer 5

• light and heat that comes from the sun

Question 6

air pressure

Answer 6

• whether the air is rising/falling

Question 7

wind

Answer 7

• movement of air

Question 8

temperature

Answer 8

• how hot or cold somewhere is

Question 9

precipitation

Answer 9

• anything made out of water that falls from the sky

Question 10

drought

Answer 10

• unusually dry weather

Question 11

factors affecting local weather

Answer 11

• physical features
• shelter
• aspect
• buildings
• surface

Question 12

physical features

Answer 12

• trees provide shade & shelter, creating cool areas
• water makes the area colder (e.g. lakes and seas)
• hill tops are usually cool and windy

Question 13

shelter

Answer 13

• trees, hedges, walls, buildings & hills provide shelter from the wind
• wind speed may be reduced & direction can change
• places sheltered from wind = warm

Question 14

aspect

Answer 14

• the direction a place is facing is called aspect
• places facing the sun will be more warmer than those in the shadow
• south facing places get the most sun & therefore is the warmest

Question 15

buildings

Answer 15

• give off heat that has been stored from the sun during the day
• can reduce the wind speed

Question 16

surface

Answer 16

• color of the ground affects the temperature of the ground
• dark surfaces (tarmac & soil) will be warmer than light surfaces (grass)

Question 17

importance of rain

Answer 17

• essential part of water cycle
• understanding reasons it rains, helps us understand the weather reports
• can be channeled and stored in reservoirs (can be used agriculture, growing crops)
• flooding can be avoided if warned
• with very little rain drought can occur
• can be used for hydroelectric electricity

Question 18

why are the polar regions cold and dry?

Answer 18

the angle of sunlight is small => the sun is always low in the sky => solar energy is less concentrated (weaker)

Question 19

types of rainfall

Answer 19

=> convectional
=> relief
=> frontal

Question 20

low pressure system

Answer 20

• blows wind inwards
• clouds in the sky

Question 21

high pressure systems

Answer 21

• blows wind outwards
• cloudless skies

Question 22

frontal rainfall

Answer 22

1. An area of warm air meets the area of cold air
2. The warm air is forced over the cold air
3. Where the air meets the warm air is cooled and water vapor condenses
4. Cloud form and precipitation occurs

places:
east asia
north america
new Zealand
Europe

Question 23

relief rainfall

Answer 23

1. prevailing winds bring warm, moist air to the western British isles
2. air is forced to rise over high areas
3. air cools and condenses
4. cloud form and it rains
5. air descends on the other side of the mountains
6. it warms up and therefore become drier

places:
east coast of usa
uk
japan

Question 24

convectional rainfall

Answer 24

1. the sun heats the ground and warm air rises
2. as the air rises it cools and water vapor condenses to form clouds
3. when the condensation point is reached large cumulonimbus clouds are formed
4. heavy rain storms occur. these usually include thunder and lighting due to the electrical charge created by unstable conditions

places:
south east asia
central Africa

Question 25

extreme weather

Answer 25

• weather event is significantly different from the average or usual weather pattern
• can take place over one day or a period of time

Question 26

weather warning system

Answer 26

to alert people to potentially dangerous weather

Question 27

extreme weather examples

Answer 27

• heat waves
• cold waves
• droughts
• hail
• heavy rain

Question 28

impacts of extreme weather

Answer 28

• injuries when attempting to escape
• deaths
• mental health

Question 29

precipitation

Answer 29

• any form of water
• liquid or solid

e.g. rain, sleet, snow, hail

Question 30

prevailing wind

Answer 30

• come from the south west carrying moisture from the Atlantic ocean