Geography Yr08 Sum1 Flashcards
1.1 weather
The current atmospheric conditions today, e.g. snow/ sunshine.
1.2 climate
The average/expected weather conditions over a long period of time in an area.
1.3 climate zones
Different bands around the world sharing similar climatic conditions.
1.4 biomes
Large-scale ecosystems with similar plants and animals and climate .
1.5 front
Boundary separating two air masses.
1.6 cold front
Cold air
1.7 warm front
Warm air
1.8 occluded front
Mixing cold and warm front
1.9 precipitation
Rainfall, snow, sleet, hail
1.1 frontal rain
Rain that comes from when two air masses meet, creating unstable conditions.
1.11 relief rain
Rain created when air is forced to rise upwards over mountains, cooling.
1.12 convectional rain
Rain created by super-heating of the ground during hot weather, causing hot air to rise, then cool.
1.13 air masses
Large section of air with similar temperature within it.
1.14 depression
Low pressure system, forming unstable conditions, with a warm and a cold front.
1.15 anticyclone
High pressure system, with few clouds, and little rain.
1.16 isobars
Lines drawn on a map showing areas of equal pressure.
1.17 meteorology
The study of the weather and atmosphere, and its forecasting.
1.18 synoptic chart
A map used by a meteorologist to show and predict weather.
1.19 microclimate
A local set of weather conditions that are different to the surrounding area.
1.2 albedo effect
The reflection of heat and light form a lighter surface, causing cooling.
1.21 aspect
The direction a slope faces, which impacts the temperature.
1.22 urban heat island
The urban area causes more heat than in the surrounding countryside.
1.23 hypothesis
An educated prediction tested in an experiment.
2.1 heat
Different climate zones exist around the world due to how much heat (insolation) is received from the sun.
2.2 poles
This means that the poles are cooler as the sunlight has to travel further and so some energy is lost on the way. This creates an icy environment.
2.3 Equator
The Equator is warmest as most of the sun’s energy is concentrated here. This creates a tropical environment.
3.1 frontal rain
A warm front and a cold front meet.
3.2 forcing
The warm front is forced over the top of the cold front, forcing air to cool and condense, forming clouds and then rainfall.
3.3 unsettled
Mixing of fronts creates unsettled weather. E.g. UK
3.4 convectional rain
Hot weather super-heats the ground, creating evaporation.
3.5 air rising
Hot air rises and cools forming clouds and then precipitation.
3.6 example
E.g. SE England in summer