The Climate Of The British Isles

Question 1

What is the main factor that influences the climate in the British isles

Answer 1

Latitude and it’s maritime position

Question 2

Where does the UK lie

Answer 2

Within the cool temperate western maritime (CTWM)

Question 3

Summarised climate of the British isles

Answer 3

Not extreme
Precipitation throughout
Unpredictable

Question 4

Why is the UK weather system unpredictable

Answer 4

Dominance of low pressure systems

Question 5

Mean summer UK temperatures

Answer 5

Lower than average for the latitude

But can reach 30 degrees

Question 6

Why is the UK cooler than average in the summer

Answer 6

Cooling influence of the Atlantic Ocean

Question 7

Why is the UK warmer than average in the winter

Answer 7

Warming influence of the sea and ensure a year round growing season

Question 8

Average range of temperature within the CTWM

Answer 8

Relatively small but increases with distance from the west coast

Question 9

Average range temperature for Plymouth, Devon

Answer 9

10 degrees Celsius

Question 10

Average temperature range for Cambridge, East Anglia

Answer 10

14 degrees Celsius

Question 11

How much precipitation can upland areas reach

Answer 11

2,500 mm

Question 12

How much precipitation can lowland areas reach

Answer 12

500 mm

Question 13

Why is the summer in the U.K. Generally the driest season followed by winter

Answer 13

Because high pressure weather systems (anticyclones) are more likely to become established in these seasons and block the approaching fronts, deflecting them to the north or south

Question 14

Where does the UK generally receive wind from

Answer 14

Air streams from the west, however easterly winds do occur. These generally bring spells of dry weather

Question 15

Wind in autumn

Answer 15

Can be strong and gales are common

Question 16

What are the strong winds in autumn influenced by

Answer 16

Low pressure weather systems, where rising air in the centre of the low results in a steep gradient on the group surface, causing air to rush in to replace what has risen

Question 17

Define anticyclone

Answer 17

A high pressure weather system with diverging air near the ground. Winds in the northern hemisphere flow clockwise in the system and the weather is dry

Question 18

Define climate

Answer 18

The average weather over an area, usually taken from records of the last 30 years. Climate describes the seasonal pattern of temperature and precipitation.

Question 19

Define cool temperate western maritime climate (CTWM)

Answer 19

The seasonal pattern of weather experienced in the mid latitudes (between 45 and 60 degrees) on the western side of continental land masses

Question 20

Define depression

Answer 20

A low intensity cyclone or low pressure system, frequently experienced in the CTWM climate. This weather system is associated with rising air, wind and precipitation. In the northern hemisphere winds blow in an anti-clockwise direction towards the centre of the low pressure.

Question 21

Define weather

Answer 21

Day to day state of the atmosphere