Our Changing Weather And Climate Flashcards
How does pressure very throughout a frontal depression?
Ahead of the warm front pressure falls
In the warm sector, pressure low
Behind the cold front pressure falls
How does rain and cloud vary throughout a frontal depression?
No rain More cloud Light rain, dark cloud Low cloud, some drizzle Heavy rain, towering high cloud Clear skies or clearing showers
How does Temperature very throughout a frontal depression?
Cool temperatures
Warm temperatures (some sun)
Cool and falling temperatures
How does wind direction change at a frontal depression
Wind may be strong and blow from the south east, if the centre of the depression lies on the north of Britian
Wind direction changes and will blow from the south or south west
Wind direction changes again and may blow from the west or north-west
What is weather?
The day-to day changes in the conditions of our atmosphere
What is climate?
The average conditions taken over a long period of time, usually 35 years.
List some climate zones.
Temperate - cool summers, mild winters, even distribution of rainfall
Desert - hot and dry
Equatorial - hot, wet, humid
Savanna - two seasons, warm and wet, and hot and dry
What instrument is used to measure temperature?
What units do they use?
Thermometer
Degrees Celsius
What instrument is used to measure precipitation?
What units do they use?
Rain gauge.
mm
What instrument is used to measure wind speed?
What units do they use?
Anemometer
Knots per hour
What instrument is used to measure wind direction?
What units do they use?
Wind vane
Compass points
What instrument is used to measure air pressure?
What units do they use?
Barometer
Millibars
What instrument is used to measure cloud types?
What units do they use?
Eyes
Oktas
What are the main cloud types.
Cirrus
Cumulus
Stratus
Cumulonimbus
How does wether forecast accuracy vary depending on how far ahead they are predicting?
Usually accurate for a period of 24 hours, and reasonably accurate for up to 5 days ahead. Beyond this they become increasingly unreliable.
List some sources of data wether forecasters use.
Land based stations Satellites (geostationary and polar) Buoys (moored and drifting) Ships (wether stations attached) Drones (UAV)
How do geostationary and polar satellites differ?
Geostationary satellites stay over one spot
Polar satellites orbit around the earth