Unit 1 - Physical Flashcards
What are the 4 key elements of weather?
- temperature
- air pressure
- wind
- precipitation
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather refers to short term weather conditions, but climate refers to the avg. conditions over a long period of time, usually 30 years.
What is temperature?
A measurement of how cold or warm the air is
Unit of measurement for temperature?
°C
Instrument of measurement for temperature?
Max. - min. Thermometer
Where is the thermometer kept?
In a Stevenson Screen on stilts to ensure only air temperature is being measured. It is also kept in the shade
Unit of measurement for precipitation?
mm
Is precipitation just rain? Or are there other types of precipitation?
Precipitation includes rain, snow, sleet, etc.
Instrument of measurement for precipitation?
Rain Gauge
Where is the Rain Gauge kept?
In an open area, away from shelter, often partly sunk in to the ground to avoid being knocked over.
Instrument used to measure Wind Direction?
Wind Vane
Unit of measurement for Wind direction?
The 8 compass points
How to read Wind Vane?
It points in to the wind, therefore wind direction is directly opposite to where it is pointing
What is the Beaufort Scale?
It measures wind intensity on a scale of 0-12 by considering the effects it has on the environment to estimate it’s speed. ie. Destroying buildings would be a 12
Instrument used to measure Wind Speed?
Anemometer
Unit of measurement for Wind Speed?
Knots per hour (kph)
How does the anemometer measure Wind Speed?
As the cups around the anemometer spin, a dial records the speed
What is the Air Law?
Air moves from areas of High Pressure to areas of Low Pressure
What is Air Pressure?
The weight of a column of air?
Instrument used to measure Air pressure?
Barometer
Instrument used to measure cloud cover?
Eyesight
Unit of measurement for cloud cover?
Oktas
If a symbol showing cloud cover has an X in the circle, what does this mean?
Fog
What are Cirrus Clouds?
These clouds are the highest clouds and have a wispy appearance, almost like hair. Cirrus is Latin for hair in fact
What are cumulus clouds?
They are the quite low lying clouds that have a fluffy appearance. Cumulus is Latin for ‘ heap ‘ in fact
What are Stratus Clouds?
These are very low lying clouds, that appear to just be even sheets across the sky.
What are nimbus clouds?
Nimbus refers to anything that is rain bearing. You can tell by it’s grey colour.
What are cumulonimbus clouds?
These clouds bring lightning and thunder, and are storm clouds. The base is often very low
Name 5 sources of data used to create a weather forecast?
- Land Based Stations
- Weather balloons
- Buoys
- Weather Ships
- Satellites
Characteristics of Tropical Maritime air masses?
Warm air, with some moisture
Characteristics of Tropical Continental?
Hot and dry weather
Characteristics of Polar Maritime?
Cold and wet weather
Characteristics of Polar Continental?
Cold and dry in Winter, HOT and dry in Summer
What is a Synoptic chart?
A scientific term for a weather map
What direction does air move in Low Pressure Systems?
Inwards, anticlockwise and up
What direction does the wind move in High Pressure Systems?
Outwards, clockwise and down
What is the proper name for a High Pressure System?
Anti Cyclone
What is the proper name of a Low Pressure System?
Depression
Anti Cyclones tend to stay for pro longed periods of time. True or false?
True
Widely spread isobars means strong winds. True or False?
False
Positive of Summer Anticyclones on people?
Encourages outdoor activities and lightens people’s moods
Negative of Summer Anticyclones on People?
Possibility of drought
Positive of Summer Anti cyclones on the economy?
Home tourism increase
Negative of Summer Anti Cyclones on the Economy?
Irrigation is too expensive for agriculture
Positive of Winter Anti Cyclones on people?
Provides break from wind and rain
Negative of Winter Anti Cyclones on the economy?
Heavy fog restricts traffic and air traffic
Negative of Winter Anti Cyclones on people?
Hard for people with respiration problems to breathe
Positive of Depressions on people?
They bring warmer weather in Winter
Positive of depressions on the economy?
They bring water for crops
Negative of Depressions on People?
One depression is usually followed by another
Negative of depressions on the economy?
High speed winds damage crops
What is the difference between The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming?
The Greenhouse Effect is when gases like CO2 or Nitrous Oxide trap heat in the atmosphere. But Global Warming is the rise of the world’s avg. temperature
How do volcanoes contribute to Climate Change?
It sends large amounts of gas and ash in to the atmosphere, blocking out the sun’s rays. But in the long term this traps more heat and raises the world’s temperature
What are natural climatic cycles, and how do they cause Climate Change?
These cycles all link with the sun. Every 100,000 years, the world will have slightly changed its orbit, either cooling or warming the earth. Sunspots on the sun create more energy, so the more sunspots, the warmer it gets
What is the Kyoto Agreement?
An International Agreement between the countries involved that they would reduce carbon emissions by 5.2% in order to slow down Global Warming
Was the Kyoto Protocol Successful and Sustainable?
No, because MEDC’s feared that their economy would be damaged, and LEDC’s felt in order to develop, they couldn’t afford to cut carbon emissions
What is alternative energy?
Sources of energy that are renewable and don’t affect the environment negatively. Eg. Solar energy, wind energy, etc. instead of fossil fuels like oil
Is Alternative Energy sustainable?
No because these sources of energy can’t be relied on as continuous and they are very inefficient
What is reduction of private car usage?
Reducing the number of private cars used, by possibly placing congestion charging zones, or promoting public transport
Is it sustainable and effective to reduce private car usage?
Yes as in London, congestion charging zones were placed and in these areas traffic has dropped by 15%
What strategies are used to slow down Deforestation?
One strategy is creating reserves in Rainforests and jungles like the Amazon
Is slowing down Deforestation a sustainable strategy?
No, simply due to the massive size and area of these reserves, it is almost impossible to protect all of it
Give 4 problems with international agreements associated with Climate change?
- MEDC’s reluctant to change lifestyle
- LEDC’s wish to catch up with the MEDC’s and can’t afford to cut emissions of carbon
- Some countries and individuals are slow to realise climate change is a genuine problem
- LEDC’s can’t afford the technology to reduce carbon emissions
Definition of weather?
Weather is the day to day condition of the atmosphere, such as how hot it is, or whether it is raining
Definition of climate?
Climate is the average weather taken over a long period of time, usually around 30 years long
How to measure wind speed? Unit of measurement?
Anemometer: kph
How to measure precipitation? Unit of measurement?
Rain gauge: mm
How to measure temperature? Unit of measurement?
Max. - Min. Thermometer: °C
How to measure air pressure? Unit of measurement?
Barometer: mb
How to measure wind direction? Unit of measurement?
Wind vane: compass points
Describe how to measure precipitation using a Rain gauge?
- Place in open area, sunk in to ground
- Read level of water in gauge using measuring cylinder
- Same time each day
Describe how to measure temperature using a Max. - Min. Thermometer?
- Place thermometer in shade, inside Stevenson Screen so as to only measure air temperature
- Mercury pushes metal markers up; they stay there
- Read bottom of each marker to get Max. Min. Temperature
Describe how to measure wind speed using an Anemometer?
- Anemometer has small cups; catch wind; spin around
- A digital readout then shows speed of wind
Describe how to measure wind direction using a wind vane?
- Place wind vane high up
- Wind vane then points in direction wind is coming from
Describe how to measure cloud cover and cloud type?
- Look at Sky; estimate amount of Oktas of sky covered
- In doing this also identify cloud type
Describe how to measure air pressure using a Barometer?
- Needle on Barometer shows how air pressure is currently measured as
- Might be a second needle to show pressure at any certain time
What are the other 5 ways in which Forecasters gather weather data?
- Land based stations
- Weather buoys
- Weather balloons
- Ships
- Satellites: Geostationary and Polar
What is the difference between a Geostationary and Polar satellite?
- Geostationary stays above a certain part of Earth all the time
- Polar travels around the world 14 times a day
What is Surface Run Off? Input? Output? Storage? Transfer?
This is water that has hit an impermeable surface, with no pores, eg. Tarmac, and therefore cannot infiltrate the soil, so instead flows as run off in to the nearest river. Transfer
What is River Discharge? Input? Output? Storage? Transfer?
This is the volume of water that flows in a river per unit of time. Output
Name the 4 processes of Erosion?
Attrition
Abrasion
Hydraulic Action
Corrosion
What is Abrasion?
This is the erosion caused by the grinding of rocks against the river bed and bank. This can cause the channel to widen and deepen
What is Corrosion?
This is when water chemically reacts with minerals in the rocks and dissolves them
What is Attrition?
The collision of rocks against one another. They become smaller and smoother over time
What is Hydraulic Action?
Erosion caused by the force of moving water. This can cause Undercutting of river banks in meanders, or erosion in waterfall cliffs
Name 4 processes of Transportation?
Traction
Saltation
Suspension
Solution
What is Traction?
Rolling of large rocks along the river bed
What is Saltation?
The bouncing of medium sized rocks along the river bed
What is Suspension?
When very small load is held up continually in water, as it flows
What is solution?
When soluble minerals dissolve in water and are carried in solution
What is Deposition?
This occurs when the energy in the river decreases (velocity decreases) and it can therefore no longer transport material, so heavy load is dropped
Name an Upper Course River Feature?
Waterfall
Name a Middle Course River Landform?
Meanders
Name a lower course River Landform?
Floodplain
How are Waterfalls and Gorges formed?
They form when a layer of hard rock lies over a layer of soft rock. When water flows over soft rock, a step is created. Step deepens with Hydraulic Action and Abrasion, and waterfall is formed. Plunge pool is created, undercutting hard rock, creating overhang. When it becomes unstable, it collapses. Process repeats creating gorge
How are Meanders formed?
They are created when fast flowing water erodes a bend in the river, continually creating a larger meander. Fast flowing water spirals, and therefore erodes and undercuts river bank, creating river cliff. Cliff eventually collapses, process repeats, and meander becomes larger. Slow flowing water in inside bend deposits material
Give 3 Soft Engineering River Management Strategies?
- Afforestation in Upper Course of River
- Land use zoning (areas likely to flood protected from urban development)
- Washlands (areas of land where river can flood temporarily)
Give 3 hard engineering river management strategies?
Building dam or reservoir in upper course
Deepening and straightening river channel
Building and reinforcing levees
What 2 types of waves affect the Coast?
Constructive
Destructive
What 3 things affect the size and energy of a wave?
How long wind has been blowing
Strength of wind
How far wave has travelled (Fetch)
What is Swash?
When a wave breaks and water is washed up on to the beach
What is backwash?
When water runs back down the beach
What is a constructive wave?
When the Swash is stronger than the backwash
What is a destructive wave?
When the backwash is stronger than the Swash
What is the name given to the process of Transportation in coastal areas?
Longshore Drift
Name 3 Coastal Erosional Landforms?
Cliff
Wave cut platform
Cave, Arch, Stack, Stump (CASS)
How are cliffs formed at the coast? (3 steps)
Waves undercut and erode the bottom of the cliff
Wave cut notch formed
Unsupported cliff collapses
How are Wave Cut Platforms formed?
When a wave cut notch is created on a cliff, and the unsupported cliff eventually collapses, the collapsed rock forms a platform. Wave cut Platform
How are CASS’s formed? (Cave, Arch,…)
Faults in cliff are widened and deepened by waves. Constant erosion causes the cave to deepen so much that it cuts through the cliff, creating an arch. Arch is eroded at the side and widens, until the unsupported roof collapses, forming a stack. Stack over time is undercut and collapses, forming stump
How are Beaches formed?
They are formed in Sheltered Environments like bays. When Waves are constructive, deposition occurs
Name 2 Coastal Depositional Landforms?
Beaches
Spits
How are Spits formed?
When large amounts of sediment are transported by Longshore Drift, at a point where the coastline changes direction very suddenly, and a sheltered shallow area of water is created. Sediment will continue to be transported away from coastline, and if wind direction changes, waves may begin to deposit sediment more inland, making Spit become hooked
Name 4 examples Coastal Land Use?
Residential
Tourism
Transport
Industry
Give 1 issue and 1 conflict with Residential zones in Coastal Areas?
Issue: House prices higher near coast
Conflict: Demand for holiday homes can create Winter Ghost Town
Give 1 issue and 1 conflict with Tourism in Coastal Areas?
Issue: Tourism brings jobs and money to local area
Conflict: Local residents don’t want lots of tourists
Give 1 issue and 1 conflict with Transport in Coastal Areas?
Issue: As more people live in an area, more transport is needed
Conflict: More pressure on transport and more pollution
Give 1 issue and 1 conflict with Industry in Coastal Areas?
Issue: Industry brings jobs and money
Conflict: Many tourists and residents don’t want ugly industry
What 2 reasons do Coastal Areas need Management?
To keep the sea out
Retain cliffs and beaches
What Coastal Defences is used to keep the sea out?
Sea wall
Name 2 Soft and 2 Hard Engineering Coastal Management Strategies used to retain beaches and cliffs?
Soft: - Beach Nourishment
- Managed Retreat
Hard: - Groynes
- Rock armour, Boulder barriers, Rip Rap
Give an advantage or disadvantage of Sea Walls?
Advantage: Protects base of cliffs from erosion
Disadvantage: Very expensive, may begin to erode and maintenance expensive also
Give an advantage and disadvantage of Groynes?
Advantage: Prevents beach material from moving along the coast
Disadvantage: Unattractive and expensive
Give an advantage and disadvantage of Rock armour or Rip Rap?
Advantage: Absorb energy of waves
Disadvantage: Expensive to obtain and transport boulders
Give an advantage and disadvantage of Beach Nourishment?
Advantage: Replaces lost beach or cliff material
Disadvantage: Requires constant maintenance
Give an advantage and disadvantage of Managed Retreat?
Advantage: Encourages development of Beaches and Salt Marshes
Disadvantages: Can make areas seem as low value
What is Precipitation? Input? Output? Storage? Transfer?
Precipitation is when water in the atmosphere has cooled and condensed to form liquid. Input
What is Interception? Input? Output? Storage? Transfer?
This is when Precipitation is prevented from falling to the ground by plants, which slows run off and reduces the risk of flooding. Storage
What is Surface Storage? Input? Output? Storage? Transfer?
This is when a water is captured, in a pond or lake. Storage
What is Infiltration? Input? Output? Storage? Transfer?
This is the movement of water in to the soil. Transfer
What is Soil Moisture? Input? Output? Storage? Transfer?
Water that is held in the small pores and air spaces in the soil. Storage
What is Percolation? Input? Output? Storage? Transfer?
The downward, vertical movement of water from the soil, in to the bedrock. Transfer
What is Groundwater? Input? Output? Storage? Transfer?
Water which is contained in the small airspaces and pores in the bedrock. Storage
What is the water table?
This is the point at which the soil and rock becomes saturated, and therefore water can’t percolate through it, and instead flows over it
What is Groundwater Flow? Input? Output? Storage? Transfer?
The movement of water in the saturated bedrock, which eventually reaches the river channel. Transfer
What is Through - Flow? Input? Output? Storage? Transfer?
This is when water that has infiltrated through the soil reaches the water table, and can’t move any further downward, so therefore flows laterally along the water table. Transfer
What is Transpiration? Input? Output? Storage? Transfer?
This is when moisture that has been intercepted by plants, evaporates back in to the atmosphere. Output
What is Evaporation? Input? Output? Storage? Transfer?
This is when water on the surface evaporates in to the atmosphere. Output
