The Restless Atmosphere Flashcards
What are the gases that make up the atmosphere
78% nitrogen
21% oxygen
1% others
What is solar energy
Energy from the sun
What does the sun provide us with
Heat and light
What happens to the Suns energy
50% goes to earth
25% is deflected by dusts and clouds in the atmosphere back into space
25% is absorbed as it passes through the atmosphere
What is latitude
Distance north or south of the equator
What is latitude measured in
Degrees
When a country is closer to the equator it’s cold
True or false
False
It’s colder further ways and warmer closer up
What a re the reasons for countries closer to the equator being Warner and countries further being cooler?
At the poles the atmosphere is thicker and so not as much heat gets through there
At the equator the sun sines directly overhead which means heat is concentrated on a small area and that area will become hot
At tech poles the Suns energy is slanted and has to heat up a larger area so this area does not heat up as much
What is wind
Moving air
True or false
Air move form high pressure areas to low pressure areas
True
Why do some areas have high pressure and others have low pressure?
Warm aire rises leaving areas of low pressure
Cold air descends crating areas of high pressure
What creates wind
Areas of different pressure
WHat is the coriolis effect
The earth spins on its axis so winds are reflected at an angle
They are deflected to the right in yen northern hemisphere and to he left in the Southern Hemisphere
What a re surface ocean currents
The water of the ocean surface moving in a regular pattern e
What do the movement of ocean currents result from
Unequal heating of the oceans
The prevailing winds
The rotation of the earth
What are warm currents
Warm currents are currents that flow from the equator towards higher latitudes and bring warm water eg north atlantic drift
What ace cold currents
Currents that flow from the direction of the poles and bring cold water eg the Labrador
What is an air mass
A body of air with its own temperature, pressure and humidity level
They can effect the weathers of the countries they pass over
Why does Ireland s weather change a lot
Because many air masses meet over Ireland
What are the four air masses which effect Ireland s weather
Polar air masses(cold)
Continental air masses (dry)
Tropical air masses (warm)
Maritime air masses (rain)
What is a front
A boundary are where two different air masse meet
How do cold fronts occurs
A cold front occurs when cold air moves towards warm air
The cold air forces the light warm air to rise
As the warm air rises it cools and condensation occurs
Clouds are formed and this leads to heavy rainfall
What are the types of fronts
Warm fronts
Cold fronts
Stationary fronts
Occluded fronts
How are warm fronts formed
A warm front develops when warm air moves in toward cold air
The warm light air rises up over the cold air
As it rises it cools and condensation occurs
Clouds are formed and this ,ends to rainfall
What is the atmosphere
A blanket of gases surrounding the. Earth
What is a depression
An area of low atmospheric pressure
What are depressions also known as
Cyclones
Do Depressions depressions often pass over Ireland ?
Yes
What type of weather do depressions bring
Wet and windy
What is an anticyclone
An area of high pressure
What type of weather do anticyclones bring
Clear and sunny
Few clouds and a gentle breeze
How are clouds made
When water vapour condenses into tiny droplets
What a re the three type of clouds
Cirrus
Cumulus
Stratus
Apearance of cirrus cloud
Wispy like a lock oh hair
Appearance of a cumulus cloud
Fluffy , woolly and pitch black
Appearance of stratus cloud
Puffy and grey
Location of cirrus cloud
High altitude above 8000 m
Location of cumulus cloud
Medium altitude below 5000 m
Location of stratus cloud
Low altitude below 2000 m
Fact about cirrus cloud
Made of ice crystals
Fat about cumulus clouds
Also known as fair weather clouds
Fact about stratus cloud
If they reach ground level they are called fog
What type of weather do cumulus clouds bring
Thunderstorms and heavy rain g
What type of weather do cirrus clouds bring
Fair
Dry
Sunny
What type of weather do stratus clouds bring
Drizzle/light rain
What is precipitation
Rain
Hail
Sleet
Snow
What is the Most common type of precipitation
Rain
How does rain occur
When warm air is forced to rise. As it rises it cools. Cold air cannot hold as much water vapour as warm air so condensation occurs. Clouds are formed and rain occurs
Why are there 3 different types of rain
Because there are 3 different reasons why warm air is forced to rise
How many different types of rain is there
3
What are the 3 different types of rain
Relief rainfall
Frontal (cyclonic) rainfall
Convectional rainfall
What do we talk about when we talk about the weather
Temperature Precipitation Sunshine Wind speed Wind direction Atmospheric pressure Humidity
Where are weather measuring instruments usually
A weather station
What is temperature measured using
Thermometer
What is temperature measured in
Degrees Celsius
Lines showing equal areas of temperature on a weather map are called
Isotherms
What is the mean temperature
All monthly temperatures divided by 12
What is the temperature range
Take the lowest temperature from the highest
What is precipitation measured using
Rain gauge
What is precipitation measure in
Millimetres
Lines on a map shoeing equal areas of precipitation are called
Isohyets
What is sunshine measured with
Campbell strokes sunshine recorder
What is sunshine measured in
Hours per day
Lines on a map showing equal areas of sunshines are Called
Isohels
What are the three things we can measure about the wind
Speed
Direction
Strength
What is used to measure wind speed
Anemometer
What is used to measure wind direction
Wind vane
What is used to measure wind strength
Beaufort scale
Describe the Beaufort scale
It describes the effects the wind has on the landscape
It shows that Wind strength is dived into 12 forces
It was invented by an Irishman
What is atmospheric pressure measured with
Barometer
Or barograph
What is atmospheric pressure measured in
Millibars
Lines on weather map showing areas of equal pressure are called
Isobars
What is humidity measure with
Hygrometer
A common type of hygrometer is a wet and dry bulb hygrometer
It is expressed as a percentage
100% is the max.
What a re the four stages of the water cycle
Condensation
Evaporation
Precipitation
Run off
