The UK’s climate

Question 1

Define the term ‘weather’

Answer 1

Day-to-day changes in our atmosphere

Question 2

Define the term ‘climate’

Answer 2

Average weather conditions of an area (usually over 30 years)

Question 3

What are the three areas which comprises the UK’s climate?

Answer 3

The temperature
The prevailing winds
The precipitation

Question 4

State three things about the temperature of the UK

Answer 4

Cool, wet weather
Temperate weather
Gulf Stream keeps UK temperatures above other latitudes such as Moscow, average °C in Cornwall is 7°C
, average °C in Moscow is -9°C

Question 5

State 2 things about the prevailing winds in the UK

Answer 5

The prominent direction of the wing is from the South-West of the UK
The average maritime wind is temperate (cold)

Question 6

State two things about the precipitation in the UK

Answer 6

Rains more on the south west and west coast.
Less rainfall in the east.

Question 7

What is airmass?

Answer 7

A large volume of air which is all the same temperature, humidity and density.

Question 8

What is tropical airmass?

Answer 8

Airmass which is warm

Question 9

What is polar airmass?

Answer 9

Airmass which is cold

Question 10

What is continental airmass?

Answer 10

Airmass which is dry

Question 11

What is maritime airmass?

Answer 11

Airmass which is wet

Question 12

Define the term ‘temperate’

Answer 12

No extremes of temperature / precipitation

Question 13

What causes weather to vary?

Answer 13

The intensity of prevailing winds

Question 14

Describe the climate of the Uk.

Answer 14

The Uk has a temperate climate, meaning, there typically is wet and cold winters and warm, wet summers. Extremes vary as of the region and weather conditions.

Question 15

State 2 characteristics of the prevailing winds coming from the SouthWest

Answer 15

The air is warm and moist due to hot seas.
The air is travelling over large areas of ocean.

Question 16

What circulation cells is the Uk located near?

Answer 16

The boundary between the northern Ferrel and Polar circulation cells.
At this boundary, warm air from south and cooler air from north west meets, leading to depressions in weather.

Question 17

Why is the Uk raining a lot?

Answer 17

As the Uk is surrounded by open seas, most of the air that reaches contains lots of moisture.

Question 18

Why are coastal areas warmer than inland areas during winter?

Answer 18

The sea retains heat and warms up the land

Question 19

What is the altitude of the Uk?

Answer 19

Around 60°N

Question 20

State 2 ways altitudes vary

Answer 20

The higher the altitude of an area, the cooler the place will be
1°C lost for every 100m above sea level

Question 21

State what happens when air is forced to rise above high mountainous areas.

Answer 21

The air is forced to cool, leading to condensation of the air’s moisture leading to cloud formation. Precipitation then occurs.

Question 22

What is the North Atlantic drift around the UK?

Answer 22

This is a warm ocean current that brings warm water to the Uk from the Gulf of Mexico, driven by prevailing winds.

Question 23

Why does latitude affect climate and temperatures?

Answer 23

Temperatures drop the further an area is from the equator due to the curvature of the earth.