The World's Climate Flashcards
Where are global temperatures the hottest?
The equator
Where are global temperatures the coolest?
The poles
What is energy from the sun called?
Solar radiation
Why does the equator have the hottest temperatures?
It receives more solar radiation
Why do the poles have the coolest temperatures?
The rays that hit the poles are at a much lower angle than the ones that hit the equator making them more spread out over a large area
At what angle do the suns rays hit the equator?
A right angle
How are the suns rays so hot at the equator?
The rays hit at a right angle which makes them much more concentrated than the poles’ ones
Why does warm water flow from the equator to the poles?
The cold water sinks at the poles and drags the warm water up to the equator with the help of the North Atlantic Drift and back down with the help of the Labrador Current
Why does the cold water sink?
It is much denser
What is the North Atlantic Drift?
A powerful warm western boundary current that extends the Gulf Stream north-eastward
How does the North Atlantic Drift affect Britain?
It keeps Britain warmer and wetter than places in continental Europe.
What is the Labrador Current?
A cold current in the North Atlantic Ocean which flows from the Arctic Ocean South along the coast of Labrador and passes around Newfoundland.
What is pressure?
The weight of the air
What happens when warm air rises?
We have low pressure and there is lots of rainfall
What happens when cold air sinks?
We have high pressure and the weather is arid
