Theme C: Weather And Climate

Question 1

What is weather?

Answer 1

Weather is the day to day condition of our atmosphere

Question 2

What is climate?

Answer 2

Climate is the average weather conditions in an area based on the average weather over 30 years or longer

Question 3

What does a thermometer measure?

Answer 3

Temperature

Question 4

What units does a thermometer use?

Answer 4

Degrees Celcius/Farenheit

Question 5

What does a Steevensons Screen store?

Answer 5

Thermometers

Question 6

What colour is a Steevensons screen and why is it this colour?

Answer 6

White - To reflect sunlight

Question 7

What measures Precipitation?

Answer 7

Rain Gauge

Question 8

What units is Precipitation measured in?

Answer 8

Millimetres (mm)

Question 9

What measures wind direction?

Answer 9

Wind Vane

Question 10

What units are used to measure Wind direction?

Answer 10

The 8 Points on a compas

Question 11

What measures Wind Speed?

Answer 11

Anemometer

Question 12

What unit is wind speed commonly measured in?

Answer 12

Knots

Question 13

What measures Atmospheric Pressure?

Answer 13

Barometer

Question 14

What unit is Atomspheric Pressure measured in?

Answer 14

Millibars (mb)

Question 15

What is cloud cover measured in?

Answer 15

Oktas

Question 16

What are Stratus clouds like?

Answer 16

Layered clouds, low.
Grey + shapeless
Bring drizzle and rain

Question 17

What are Cumulus clouds like?

Answer 17

White , fluffy, cotton wool appearance.
Can bring rain and showers - especially when base is grey

Question 18

What are Cumulonimbus clouds like?

Answer 18

Deeper clouds
Climb high into atmosphere
Often have heavy rain, thunder + lightning storms

Question 19

What are Cirrus clouds like?

Answer 19

High clouds
Wispy
Made from ice crystals

Question 20

What sources are used for data for weather forecast?

Answer 20

Weather Buoys
Rainfall Radar
Satellites
Land Based Weather Stations

Question 21

How does latitude affect climate?

Answer 21

The sun shines directly overhead at the equator, causing its rays to concentrate on a small area which means it heats up a lot. Near the Poles the same amount of sun energy is spread over a larger area, causing it to not heat up as much.

Question 22

How does Prevailing wind affect climate?

Answer 22

If the prevailing wind comes from a warm place, it will bring warm air. If from a cold place, it will bring cold air. If it comes from over the sea, it’ll pick up water and bring rain. If it comes from over land, it’ll be dry.

Question 23

How does Altitude affect climate?

Answer 23

As the altitude increases, the air is thinner which makes it very difficult for heat to be transferred between the molecules as they’re further apart.

Question 24

How does Distance from the sea affect climate?

Answer 24

Places inland heat and cool more quickly than the sea so are colder in winter because the land loses heat and the sea holds its heat longer.

Question 25

What is tropical maritime air mass and what conditions does it bring ?

Answer 25

Warm and moist air. Mild conditions in winter, wet weather in summer. Brings clouds, drizzle & fog

Question 26

What is tropical continental air mass and what conditions does it bring ?

Answer 26

Warm and dry Mild conditions in winter

Question 27

What is Polar Maritime air mass and what conditions does it bring ?

Answer 27

Cold and Moist Causes rain fail in summer Creates clouds due to unstable air

Question 28

What is polar continental air mass and what conditions does it bring ?

Answer 28

Cold and dry Brings cold conditions in winter Milder Conditions in summer Can bring unstable air in winter producing snow, usually brings cool dry conditions

Question 29

What is an anticyclone?

Answer 29

A weather system of high pressure

Question 30

In anti cyclone, how does the air move?

Answer 30

It sinks

Question 31

In an anti cyclone, what is the cloud cover?

Answer 31

0 as clouds can not form

Question 32

What is the wind direction in an anticyclone?

Answer 32

Clockwise

Question 33

What is the duration of an Anticyclone?

Answer 33

Long duration as it remains the same for several days, weeks or more

Question 34

What is a depression?

Answer 34

A weather system of low pressure

Question 35

What is the air movement in a depression?

Answer 35

It rises

Question 36

What is the wind speed in an anticyclone?

Answer 36

Gentle, blowing out from centre. Isobars far apart

Question 37

What is the cloud cover of a depression?

Answer 37

There is cloud cover as air rises , cools and condenses to form clouds

Question 38

What is the wind direction of a depression?

Answer 38

Anti clockwise

Question 39

What is the duration of a depression?

Answer 39

Around 24 hours

Question 40

Describe the sequence of weather in a depression

Answer 40

Warm front approaches. At front warm air rises over cold air and forms clouds and rainfall. Warm Sector causes temperatures to rise, heavy rain stops and chance of drizzle. Cold front arrives. Warm moist air lifted over clouds air, clouds and heavy rain occur. Cold sector approaches lowering temperature and breaking up clouds causing showers to become fewer.

Question 41

How is a warm front formed?

Answer 41

When warm tropical maritime air rises over a mass of cold polar maritime air

Question 42

What is a cold front?

Answer 42

A transition zone where a cold polar maritime air mass is replacing the warmer tropical maritime air mass

Question 43

What is an occluded front?

Answer 43

The point where a cold front takes over a warm front or vice versa

Question 44

What do occluded fronts bring?

Answer 44

Changeable weather conditions