Terms Flashcards
Define Weather
What conditions of the atmosphere are over a short period of time (short-term, day to day)
Define Climate
How the atmosphere “behaves” over relatively long periods of time (long term, expectations/usual)
- Description of average weather conditions in a certain place for a long period of tim
How does proximity to the equator or the poles affect climatic conditions?
Temps drop the further an area is from the equator due to curvature of the earth
At poles - sunlight has a larger area of atmosphere to pass through and the sun is at a lower angle in the sky –> more energy is lost and temps are cooler.
Presence of Ice and snow near the poles causes a higher albedo (how much sunlight a surface reflects), contributing to the cold.
How does the landscape (altitude and distance from the sea) affect climatic conditions?
- Altitude or height above sea-level - locations at a lighter altitude have colder temperatures (rising air feels less pressure [pressure decreases] –> expands –> losing energy –> temperature drops [as we define temp as the average energy of the particles])
- Distance from the Sea - Oceans heat up and cool down much more slowly than land –> coastal locations tend to be cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter than inland areas at the same latitude and altitude.
How do ocean currents and atmospheric pressure belts affect climatic conditions?
Britain has a maritime climate. Warm ocean currents such as the North Atlantic Drift keep Britain warmer and wetter than places in continental Europe.
Hadley Cell
- heat at equator causes the hot air to rise (LOW pressure belts)
- air expands and cools as it rises causing high precipitation as water vapour condenses to form clouds (cool air can’t hold as much moisture as warm air can–> falls)
- Air spreads out and separates as it cools, moving North and South as it hits the Stratosphere (almost 17cm up). Rains away moisture until the air becomes cooler and denser
- cool dense air sinks, creating HIGH pressure belts.
