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