Urban Climate

Question 1

Urban climate

Answer 1

Set of climatic conditions that prevail on a large metropolitan area
Differ from the climat to the rural surroundings

Question 2

Albedo

Answer 2

Reflectivity of a surface
Light surface reflect more than dark surfaces and therefore have a greater albedo

Question 3

Insolation

Answer 3

Incoming solar radiation

Question 4

Anticyclonic (3)

Answer 4

High atmosphere pressure = fine weather = dry calm conditions
Summer = heat waves
Winter = cold with blue skies

Question 5

Hygroscopic nuclei (2)

Answer 5

Water attracting
Dust in which raindrops can form on

Question 6

Microclimate

Answer 6

Small scale variations in temperature, percipation, humidity, wind speed and evaporation that occur in a particular environment such as an urban area

Question 7

Urban dome (2)

Answer 7

Area within which the weather is different from that of the surrounding rural area
2 levels = urban canopy and the urban boundary layer

Question 8

Particulates

Answer 8

Microscopic matter

Question 9

Photochemical pollution

Answer 9

Form of air pollution
Mainly occurs in cities and is dangerous to health
Exhaust fumes become trapped in temp inversions and in the presence of sunlight = low level ozone forms

Question 10

Temperature inversions (2)

Answer 10

An atmospheric condition in which temperature increases with height.
As inversions are extremely stable conditions and do not allow convection, they trap pollution in the lower layer of the atmosphere

Question 11

Urban heat island effect

Answer 11

zone around and above an urban area, which has higher temperatures than the surrounding rural areas

Question 12

Isotherm

Answer 12

line joining places with equal temperature

Question 13

Channelling

Answer 13

Wind redirected down long, straight canyon-like streets where there is less friction.
These are sometimes referred to as urban canyons