Geography - weather Flashcards
Describe the air masses and their associated weather
Tropical maritime - Warm + wet Tropical continental - Warm + dry Polar maritime - Cold + wet Polar continental - Cold + dry Arctic maritime - Very cold + wet
Weather symbold for: Rain Drizzle Heavy rain Very heavy rain Snow Sleet Hail Shower Thunder storm Fog Mist
Rain - . Very heavy rain - (three dots in pyramid shape) Heavy rain - (two dots next to eachother) Drizzle - , Snow - * Sleet - (snow below rain symbol) Hail - (triangle) Shower - (upside down triangle) Thunder storm - (K with arrow and line) Fog - (three lines) Mist - =
What is an anticyclone and how can it be identified on a synoptic chart?
An anticyclone is an area of high pressure which brings periods of settled weather. It can be identified by:
Widely spaced isobars
No fronts/clouds
Facters affecting weather
Aspect - South facing warmer, north facing colder
Distance from sea - Near to sea are mild + wet, further away are drier + the temp is more extreme
Distance from the equator - Warmer near to equator, colder places in North + South poles
How does a depression form
When a wedge of warm air goes into a cold front
What are anticyclones and how can it be spotted on a weather map
Areas of high pressure
Widely spaced isobars giving light winds
Winds blow clockwise and outwards
Dry weather, few clouds
Weather brought by anticyclones in summer
Dry, because air is sinking Light winds or calm Sunny, few clouds Hot during the day Cool at night Coatal mist Occasional thunder storms
Weather brought by anticyclones in winter
Dry Light or calm winds Sunny, few clouds Cold during the day Frost at night Early morning fog
Formation of a depression
Where the Tm and Pm air masses meet is called a front. The warm Tm air makes a wedge into the cold Pm air. Warm air rises over the cold air and creates a low pressure area. Winds blow around and towards the low pressure area.
Weather found in a depression
In the cold air sector - dry, cold, few high clouds, pressure falling
At the warm front - Steady rain, becoming warm, lower thicker clouds
In the warm sector - Rain turns to drizzle, clear skies, pressure levelling off
After cold front - Rain eases, fewer clouds, pressure rising
Where does each air mass come from
Tropical maritime - Tropical Atlantic ocean Tropical continental - Sahara Desert Polar maritime - North Atlantic ocean Polar continental - Siberia Arctic maritime - Norway and Greenland
