Geography - Weather and Climate Flashcards
How does latitude affect temperature?
Places at higher latitudes experience lower average temperatures. The higher the latitude, the lower the average temperature.
Due to tilt of the earth’s axis and curvature of earth surface
Higher latitude: angle of incidence in smaller → sun’s energy/insolation is spread over a larger area → heat is less intense (dispersed) → lower average temperature
Lower latitude: angle of incidence is larger → sun’s energy/insolation is spread over a smaller area → heat is concentrated → higher average temperature
What are the measurements of temperature?
average/mean daily temperature = sum of hourly temp/24
average/mean monthly temperature = sum of mean daily temp in a month/no. of days in the month
average/mean annual temperature = sum of mean monthly in a year/12
diurnal (daily) range of temperature = max daily temp/min daily temp
annual range of temperature = max mean monthly temp/min mean monthly temp
How does altitude affect temperature?
Places at higher altitudes experience lower average temperatures. Temperature drops by 6.5 degree celsius for every 1000m ascent in height
Higher altitude → air is thinner
Smaller surface area to absorb and radiate heat
Air temperature is heated indirectly from sun’s insolation (shortwave to longwave radiation)
How does distance from the sea affect temperature?
Places with inland location experience higher summer temperatures and lower winter temperatures, vice versa. Annual range of temperature is smaller in coastal locations compared to inland locations.
Different heating properties of land and sea. Places with inland location experiences the continental effect (only for large land masses) (land is heated quickly in summer → warms the air above it → high summer temperature) (during winter, land loses heat quickly → colder winters)
Places with coastal locations experiences the maritime effect (during the summer, sea is cooler than land → onshore winds from sea moderates the air temperature around land) (during winter, heat retained in sea moderates the air temperature around coastal areas → warming the air → warmer winter)
Land heats up faster than the sea during summer and loses heat faster in winter
How does amount of cloud cover affect temperature?
higher cloud cover = daytime temperature is cooler, nighttime temperature warmer and vice versa. Diurnal range of temperature is larger for places with low cloud cover than of high cloud cover.
Clouds reflect heat back to space and absorb some of the sun’s shortwave radiation (intervening factor)
High cloud cover during the day
With high cloud cover, during the day → insolation travels towards the earth’s surface through shortwave radiation → intercepted by clouds → clouds have high albedo (ability to reflect heat) → reflects heat back to space + absorb some insolation → lower amount of sun’s insolation reaching earth surface → lower amount of longwave radiation → lower average daytime temperature
High cloud cover during nighttime
With high cloud cover, during the night → heat from longwave radiation is reflected back to surface by clouds → warming air → higher nighttime temperature
Low cloud cover during the day
With low cloud cover, during the day → sun’s insolation travels toward earth’s surface → absence of clouds to intercept → most of sun’s energy reaches earth surface → higher amount of longwave radiation → higher average daytime temperature
Low cloud cover during nighttime
With low cloud cover, during the night → most of the heat is lost to space through longwave radiation → lower nighttime temperature
How do ocean currents affect temperature?
Ocean currents: Places that experience warm ocean currents have higher average temperatures. Places that experience cold ocean currents have lower average temperatures.
Warm or cold ocean currents will have a moderating effect on the temperature of coastal areas
How does microclimate affect temperature?
Micro-climate: Urban temperature is higher than its surrounding areas. Urban heat island effect
High density built-up areas → large area of concrete surfaces + dark coloured roads
Concrete surfaces absorb heat and radiation and conduct it back to the atmosphere → warming air around it → increasing the air temperature
Dark road surfaces → low albedo → absorbs most heat → warms up air around it through conduction and longwave radiation → higher temperature
