Key Terms List

Question 1

Arctic Maritime

Answer 1

Cold and moist air mass from the north bringing very cold and damp weather, often snow in winter.

Question 2

Arid

Answer 2

An area with little or no regular rainfall

Question 3

Air Masses

Answer 3

Large areas of either warm or cold air. When they meet they can cause rain.

Question 4

Axial tilt

Answer 4

Over 40,000 years the angle of tilt changes, a greater angle of tilt is associated with higher summer temperatures but cooler winters

Question 5

Climate Change

Answer 5

A long term movement in weather and climate patterns and average temperatures across the Earth.

Question 6

Climate Cycles

Answer 6

Long term changes in the climate around the Earth caused by different factors which can lead to glacial and interglacial periods.

Question 7

Climate Graph

Answer 7

A bar and line chart to show average rainfall and temperature each month over a number of years.

Question 8

Coriolis Force

Answer 8

The deflection of air movement caused by the spinning of the Earth. Creates the spinning wind pattern around low pressure systems.

Question 9

Dendrochronology

Answer 9

Using tree rings to record changes in short- medium term changes in climate.

Question 10

Crop Yields

Answer 10

The amount of crops and food produced, majorly impacted by changes in climate (rain and sun levels).

Question 11

Dendrochronology

Answer 11

Using tree rings to record changes in short- medium term changes in climate

Question 12

ITCZ

Answer 12

Inter Tropical Convergence Zone – area near the Equator where trade winds from NE and SE meet.

Question 13

Interglacial Period

Answer 13

A long period of warmer temperatures between glacial periods

Question 14

Hydrological Drought

Answer 14

The impact of reduced rainfall and other factors on water levels and the water cycle in a region

Question 15

Hadley Cells

Answer 15

A circulation cell near the Equator causing storms at the Equator and desert belts to the North and South.

Question 16

Gulf Stream

Answer 16

A warm ocean current that flows from Caribbean north into the Atlantic.

Question 17

Greenhouse Effect

Answer 17

The impact that greenhouse gases have on warming the Earth.

Question 18

Greenhouse Gases

Answer 18

A gas that absorbs and re-emits radiation, warming the Earth’s surface.

Question 19

Global Circulation

Answer 19

The movement of heat energy around the Earth. This has a major impact on weather and climate

Question 20

Glacial Retreat

Answer 20

The shrinking of glaciers up the valley caused by warmer temperatures and low snow fall levels.

Question 21

Geological Scale

Answer 21

This relates to time periods which cover millions and hundreds and tens of thousands of years. These include the Quaternary, Pleistocene and the current Holocene period.

Question 22

Glacial Period

Answer 22

A long period when ice advances due to colder temperatures

Question 23

Ferrel Cells

Answer 23

A circulation cell that brings warm air from the south to the UK

Question 24

Eye Wall

Answer 24

An area around the calm centre (Eye) of a tropical storm which has the strongest winds and heaviest rain

Question 25

Drought

Answer 25

An extended period with lower than normal rainfall / precipitation which leads to water shortages.

Question 26

Equator

Answer 26

Imaginary line running around the centre of the Earth. Warm all year and can be very wet

Question 27

Eustatic Sea Level Change

Answer 27

Changes in sea level caused by melting ice and thermal expansion

Question 28

Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

Answer 28

The additional warming of the Earth caused by manmade emissions from burning fossil fuels

Question 29

El Nino

Answer 29

A cyclical change in sea temperature patterns in the Pacific Ocean which can have major impacts on weather and climate in the Americas and East Asia and Australasia.

Question 30

Eccentricity

Answer 30

Over 100,000 there are changes in the shape of the earth’s orbit, more circular for warmer (interglacial periods) and more elliptical for cooler (glacial periods).

Question 31

Prevailing Winds

Answer 31

The direction from which the wind normally blows from.

Question 32

Precession

Answer 32

Over 24,000 years the earth wobbles on its axis creating bigger or smaller differences between summer and winter.

Question 33

Precipitation

Answer 33

Water in the atmosphere falling down to earth as rain, sleet, snow or ice.

Question 34

Polar Continental

Answer 34

Cold and dry air mass from the north east which often brings cold and dry weather in winter. Can bring warm weather in summer.

Question 35

Polar Maritime

Answer 35

Cold and moist air mass from the north west which brings cold and wet weather, often snow in winter

Question 36

Polar cells

Answer 36

A circulation cell over the Poles that brings cold air from the north to the UK.

Question 37

Over-abstraction

Answer 37

When humans take more water from the ground that is being replaced by rainfall.

Question 38

Ocean currents

Answer 38

Movements of warm and cold water that can affect the temperature of the land they flow past

Question 39

.

Answer 39

North Atlantic Drift
A warm ocean current that flows from the Atlantic past the UK

Question 40

Natural Hazard

Answer 40

A natural event which can cause problems for people and the environment

Question 41

Milankovitch Cycles

Answer 41

Long term variations in the orbit of the Earth around the Sun which results in long term changes in climate.

Question 42

Meteorological Drought

Answer 42

Water shortages caused by lower than normal rainfall

Question 43

Low Pressure System

Answer 43

Often creating wet and windy weather as rising air draws in wind from the sides and causes heavy rainfall.

Question 44

Jet Stream

Answer 44

Fast moving current of air in the upper atmosphere.

Question 45

sion
Over 24,000 years the earth wobbles on its axis creating bigger or smaller differences between summer and winter.
Prevailing Winds
The direction from which the wind normally blows from.
Thermohaline circulation
The pattern of ocean currents around the world that moves warm water to cold areas and cold water to warm areas.
Thermal Expansion
Volume of water in the sea increasing as the water expands as it gets warmers. Moving heat energy from the Equator to the Poles.
Tropical Continental
Warm and dry air mass from the south / south east which often brings very warm and dry weather in summer.
Trade Winds
Wind that blows steadily from the Tropics to the Equator.
Track
The path that a hurricane follows.
Troposphere
The lowest layer of the atmosphere.
Tropics
Imaginary lines running around the Earth 23.5 degrees north and south of the Equator, often with dry and hot climates.
Tropical Maritime
Warm and moist air mass from the south west which brings warm and wet weather.
Saffir-Simpson Scale
The scale on which hurricanes are measures in terms of sustained wind speeds from 1 (119-153 kmh) to 5 (more than 250 kmh)
Spatial Variations
Differences in something on the Earth’s surface. Relates to how different locations will suffer different consequences of climate change.
Storm Surge
An increase in the height of the sea caused by low pressure and high winds. Can cause great damage when they reach land.
Sun Spots
Activity in the sun which means more energy reaches the Earth leading to warmer temperatures.