P1- Section A - Weather Hazards Flashcards
What is global circulation caused by
different parts of the world heating up differently .
What does global atmospheric circulation help to explain
it helps to explain the location of world climate zones and the distribution of weather hazards .
What is the most important influence of global climate
latitude , due to the curvature of the earth
Why do different parts of the world receive different amouts of radiation , different climates around the world EXPLAINED
Due to the latitude , because of the curved surface , of the earth , the EQUATOR , recieves much Higher rays of insolation than POLAR latitutdes .
The parallel rays of the sun are spread THINLY when they strike the Earth’s surface at HIGH latitudes .
Whereas at LOW latitudes equator , , sunlight is more highly concentrated .
why is it hotter at the equator than at the poles (more reasons)
Same amount of energy much more concentrated at the equator .
Radiation also travles throgugh a GREATER DEPTH of atmosphere NEAR THE POLES , in comparison to the equator .
So MORE radiation is LOST to SCATTERING AND ABSORPTIOB by gases and particles in the atmosphere .
The tilit of the Earth also means that POLAR regions do nott see daylight during the winter .
what is the weather like at polar regions
snow and cold and ice
why is there snow and ice at the polar regions
snow and ice and thick cloud reflect a lot of the radiaiton back into space (ALBEDO) .
why is the albedo important
it is imortant for determining how much of the sun’s radiation is used for heating the earth ,
what is the radiatin like at the poles
at the poles , the outgoing radiation from the Earth , exceeds the incoming heat radiation from the sun .
what does global circulation do
it redistributes heat (like an aircon )
stopping the EUQATOR from becoming HOTTER and hotter
and the POLES becoming colder and colder .
how do global ciruclation take place and where
in the form of THREE LARGE CELLS which exists in the NOrthern and southern hemispheres .
What is the name of the largest cell
Hadley cell
explain the hadley cell
At the equator , warmer , less dense air rises and irses to a high alititude .
This cerates a global climate zone of LOW PRESSURE , the equatorial zone.
Then the air spreads out underneath the TROPOPAUSE.
Warm air spreds ou towards the POLES
Gradually COOLING +SINKING as it moves before DESCEDNING to the SURFACE anf flwoing back to the EQUATOR .
What is the smallest cell called
polar cells
explain polar cells
At the poles, air is cooled and sinks towards the ground forming high pressure, this known as the Polar high. It then flows towards the lower latitudes. At about 60 degrees N and S, the cold polar air mixes with warmer tropical air and rises upwards, creating a zone of low pressure called the subpolar low.
What is betwene the Hadley and Polar cells ?
The Ferrel cells
t/f ferrel cells are driven by temperature
FALSE
How do ferrel cells flow
oppposite directions to haldey cells andpolar cells - hot air rises from the polar front
What do ferrel cells do
They not only transport heat from the equator to the poles ,
But also result in semi-permanent areas of high and low pressures .
why does ferrel cells result in semi permanent areas of high and low pressure ?
due to the risining nd descedning parts of the cirucaltion giving us climatic zones .
What does air rising mean (2 points) how does it link to rainforests ?
area of low pressurre (the equator ), much more rainfall , why rainforests are found near the equator
What does desceding air mean (2 points ) , link to deserts ?
areas of high pressure , clear skies and little rainfall , which leads to deseert regions .
what is the largest and driest desert
Antrartica
why is the global circulation pattern at an angle
due to the Earth’s rotation