Unit 2 Flashcards
What are the 6 classifications of the World’s Climate?
- equatorial
- Arid
- Mediterranean
- Temperate
- Mountains
- Polar
What are the characteristics of Tropical Equatorial and an example of a location?
e.g. South America and Africa
avg. temps = 20 to 30 degrees
precipitation = 60mm every month
Tropical monsoons = seasonal heavy rainfall
Tropical savannah = dry season
What are the characteristics of the Desert climate and what is an example of a location?
e.g. Sahara Desert
extremely dry area, cloudless
large temperature swings, can go below freezing at night
hot sandy environments
What are the characteristics of the Temperate Climate and what is an example of the location?
e.g. Western Europe
coldest month avg. between 0 and 18 degrees
distinct seasons, dry and wet
prevailing weather or topography can often influence
What are the characteristics of the Mediterranean Climate and what is an example of the location?
characterised by dry summers and mild wet winters
often brings particular vegetation
What are the characteristics of the Polar Climate and what is an example of a location?
e.g. the Arctic
ice cap climate that dominates region
plants cannot grow
What are the characteristics of the Tundra climate and what are some examples of the location?
e.g. Northern Canada, Alaska
warmest months avg. temp = 0 to 10 degrees
Plants can grow, they are small as they have a short growing season
What is the definition of the heat equator?
the point of the Earth’s surface where the sun is directly overhead at 90 degrees to the surface
When does the northern hemispheres summer solstice occur and what happens in the southern hemisphere?
21st June
This is the southern hemispheres winter solstice
Where is the heat equator on the 21st of June?
Tropic of Cancer
When does the southern hemisphere experience its summer solstice and what is happening in the northern hemisphere?
21st December
This is the northern hemispheres winter
Where is the heat equator on the 21st December?
Tropic of Capricorn
What happens between Sep 22 and March 21st?
The Earth experiences the Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes , when the heat equator is on the Earth’s equator
Where does the ITCZ shift between December and June?
Northwards
Where does the ITCZ shift between June to December?
Southwards
What is the difference between the ITCZ on Ocean compared to land?
Moves further north/south on land due to land heating faster than ocean. (land has a lower specific heat capacity)
When on ocean remains constant and ‘straight’.
What is a Monsoon climate?
refers to a seasonal change in wind direction, which links to changes in the atmospheric pressure, this leads to a pronounced dry and wet season
Which area is used for the Monsoon case study?
North West of India
this area receives 90% of its annual rainfall in the wet season
What occurs from March to May in India and what does this cause?
HOT, so land heats up quicker than ocean creates a huge area of low pressure
What happens from June to October in India, in regards to the climate?
frontal rainfall near the Himalayas region causes HEAVY rainfall
In May what is the temperature difference between the ocean and land in India?
land = 40 + degrees
ocean = 20 degrees
(heat equator shifts north)
When is the dry season in India?
Feb to May
When is the wet season in India?
June to August
(heat equator shifts south)
During the wet season in India what is the average precipitation levels?
between 300mm and 700mm
Due to the orographic uplift effect near the Himalayas, how much rainfall does the North east of India receive?
exceed 12,000mm
12 meters
When is the cool dry season in India and how does it occur?
heat equator travels south, because land has a lower specific heat capacity than ocean = land cools down quicker
the cold land mass experiences high pressure
the wind direction reverses, cold northerly winds travel over dry land
avg temp = below 15 degrees
How do Ocean currents impact on tropical climates? (other factor)
El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
(Near Australia) low pressure = warm water pool
(Near South America) high pressure = drier conditions, upwelling cool air pushed upwards
What is the difference between El Nino and El Nina?
El Nina = weakened trade winds
El Nino = strengthened trade winds
How does the altitude impact of climate?
Mountainous areas cause orographic rainfall
e.g. Himalayas and The Andes (Atacama Desert)
What is the climate zone that the U.K is located in?
cool, temperate climate
lies between sub-tropical and polar zones
What is the avg. yearly precipitation like in the U.K?
800mm
What are the avg. yearly temperatures in the U.K?
5 to 20 degrees
What is the temperature of Irkutsk in Russia compared to London in January? What is the thing in common between these locations?
They are on the same latitude.
Russia = - 20 degrees
London = 4 degrees
(due to continentality)
The U.K experiences all the types of rainfall, what are they?
- Frontal
- Convectional
- Orographic
What are some of the wettest locations in the U.K, and how much do they receive, and what are some of the driest?
wettest = Snowdonia, The Lake District receive over 3000mm of rain a year
driest = Essex receive an average of 507mm annually
What % of our wind blows from the South, South West and West compass directions?
46%
What are the six different air masses?
PM
AM
PC
TC
TM
RPM
What is the origin and weather characteristics of the Tropical Continental air mass?
origin = South, from Mediterranean/ Sahara Desert
Weather = hot, sunny, dry and thunderstorms
What is the origin and weather characteristics of the Tropical Maritime air mass?
origin = South West and from the tropics, and sub - tropics
Weather = dull, damp, mild, moisture + fog, rain shadow in the East
What is the origin and weather characteristics of the Polar continental air mass?
origin = North East and Eastern Europe and Scandinavia
Weather = bitterly cold, wind chill drier west than east = ‘Beast from the East’.
What is the origin and weather characteristics of the Polar Maritime air mass?
origin = North west, Greenland and Canada
Weather = 4 seasons in one day, unstable, thunder, hail, snow, sunshine
What is the origin and weather characteristics of the Arctic Maritime air mass?
origin = North from the Arctic
Weather = Unstable, shower clouds, snow at northern coasts, clear sky but cold winds
What is the origin and weather characteristics of the Returning Polar Maritime air mass?
origin = West Greenland/ Arctic/ Canada
Weather = Unstable, heavy showers, clouds
Which direction does high pressure are does the wind turn?
clockwise
Which direction in a low pressure area does the wind turn?
anticlockwise
What is the latitude of the U.K , and which atmospheric circulation cells is it located in between?
latitude = 50 to 60 degrees
Polar cells and Ferrel cells
low pressure systems
What is the polar front?
meeting point of the Ferrel cell and Polar Cell
At what altitude does the jet stream flow?
5 to 7 miles
At what speed and direction does the jet stream flow?
200 mph
Flows in the Northern Hemisphere from the North to the East
What does the jet stream flow faster in the winter?
warm air is trying to get to the cool air quicker, due to the gradient being greater
What are Rossby waves?
meanders in the jet stream
What are depressions and where do they form?
Form when the TM air mass collides with the PM air mass creating areas of low pressure where air rises
What is a warm front?
warm air = less dense being forced over the cold air and forced to rise
What is a cold front?
cold air = more dense, undercuts warm air causing the warm air to rise
Where do low pressure systems (depressions) form?
In the North Atlantic Ocean, pushed to the U.K by the Jet stream
