Key Area 1.1 - Weather Flashcards
List some basic weather instruments
Thermometer Barometer Wind vanes Anemometers Rain gauges
Make up a weather station
Name the factors that affect British weather
Latitude
Distance from sea
Relief
Aspect
What is the lattitude
Measures the distance from the equator to the poles, the higher the latitude, the colder the weather
What is the distance from the sea
Countries that lie further away from the sea tend to have drier climates
What is relief
The height and shape of the land which impacts the weather
Temperatures in higher altitudes are lower
Mountains and high land can block rain from low land areas
British weather in the south
South west
S warm and fairly dry
W mild but quite wer
South east
S warm and dry
W cold with occasional snow
British weather in the north
North west
S slightly cooler than S areas, more dry but still rainy
W fairly ,old with rain wind and snow
North east
S fairly warm and drier than the W
W colder slightly drier than the W
How are high and low pressure systems created
These systems result from the movement of large bodies of air called air masses which can originate in different regions
Name the 5 main air masses
Arctic Maritime (NORTH) Polar Maritime (NORTH WEST) Polar Continental (EAST) Tropical Maritime (SOUTH WEST) Tropical Continental (SOUTH)
What is a synoptic chart
A weather map constructed of lines that join up places with the same pressure- isobars
What is a pattern with isobars that are close together
Areas of low pressure called depressions
What is a patterns with isobars that are far apart
Areas of high pressure called anticyclones
Describe the steps of a depression
Warm front
Increased winds
Increased cloud cover
Some rain
Slight rise in temp
Warm sector
Settled conditions
Dull and cloudy
Slight rise in temp
Little rain
Cold front
Increased winds
Increased cloud cover
Increased heavy rain
Decrease in temperature
What is an occluded front
When the cold front catches up with the warm front and creates an occluded front it brings mixed conditions of rain, wind and cloud cover
What weather do anticyclones bring
Winter
Low freezing temps
Frosty foggy conditions
Summer
Periods of very warm and sunny weather
What does a wind vane do
Wind direction
What does a rain gauge measure
Rainfall
What does an anemometer measure
Wind speed
What does a barograph measure
Air pressure
What does a maximum minimums thermometer measure
Temperature
What does a sunshine recorder measure
Sunshine
What is a Stevenson screen
A white wooden box with slatted sides in which weather instruments are places
What are the elements of weather
Weather elements are the various features that contribute to the weather
