Variable Weather & Changing Climate

Question 1

define weather

Answer 1

condition of atmosphere at particular place & time

Question 2

define climate

Answer 2

avg condition of atmosphere of specific place over long period of time

Question 3

difference between weather & climate

Answer 3

climate is long term
weather is short term

Question 4

4 elements of weather

Answer 4

1. temperature
2. relative humidity & clouds
3. rainfall
4. air pressure

Question 5

4 Factors affecting the temperature of a place

Answer 5

1. latitude
2. altitude
3. distance from sea
4. cloud cover

Question 6

what is a small vs large temperature range?

Answer 6

small: <10
large: >15 celsius

Question 7

define latitude

Answer 7

distance of any point on the earth measuring from the north or south of the equator

Question 8

How does latitude affect temp.?

Answer 8

sun rays strike at different angles at places with different latitude

Question 9

Why at places with higher latitudes, there is lower temp.?

Answer 9

sun rays strike earth at smaller angles of incidence
more heat is lost b/c of longer distance travel

Question 10

Why is the Equator high in temperature?

Answer 10

sun rays strike earth at right angle
larger incidence cause heat to be more intense, concentrated
less heat is lost to atmosphere b/c shorter distance travel

Question 11

define altitude

Answer 11

the height of a place in relation to sea level

Question 12

when altitude increase…

Answer 12

temperature decreases

Question 13

Why temp decrease when altitude increase?

Answer 13

earth surface absorbs shortwave radiation
greenhouse gas absorb longwave radiation
atmosphere is mainly heated by earth surface
denser air absorbs more heat, but less dense air is found at high altitude

Question 14

2 effects caused by distance from sea

Answer 14

1. Maritime effect
2. Continental effect

Question 15

How does dist from sea affect temp.?

Answer 15

sea heats & cools faster than land

Question 16

describe maritime effect briefly

Answer 16

cooler summer: cooler air by sea, lowers temp at coastal area b/c sea heats up slower
warmer winter: warmer air by sea, increase temp at coastal area b/c sea cools down slower

Question 17

describe continental effect briefly

Answer 17

inland areas have no sea,
land heats and cools faster
warmer summer, cooler winter

Question 18

describe how cloud cover affect temperature of a place

Answer 18

day: reflect large amount of sun energy back to space, reduce amount of sun energy from reaching earth surface

Question 19

what is relative humidity?

Answer 19

ratio btwn actual amt of water vapour present in mass of air & maximum amt that air can hold at given temp

Question 20

what is saturation

Answer 20

situation when relative humidity is 100%

Question 21

how does saturation occur?

Answer 21

when max amt of water vapour that air can hold is reached

Question 22

how are clouds formed

Answer 22

1. water evaporates into vapour
2. vapour rises, cooling starts
3. vapour cools to dew point temp, condense and collide with each other to form large water droplets clouds

Question 23

what is precipitation?

Answer 23

water in any form that fall from atmosphere to earth surface

Question 24

ex of precipitation

Answer 24

snow, hail, rain

Question 25

2 types of rain are

Answer 25

1. convectional
2. relief

Question 26

describe convectional rain process

Answer 26

1. earth surface heated excessively
2. air becomes unstable as it expand & rise
3. as air rise, temp decrease
4. condensation occurs & formation of clouds
5. heavy droplets rain down

Question 27

describe process of relief rain

Answer 27

air passes over sea, picks up moisture before reaching coast, when moist air rise up windward side, it cools and rain by relief rain, most relief rain moisture falls on windward side

Question 28

what is air pressure?

Answer 28

force exerted on unit area of earth surface by weight of column of air above it

Question 29

whats the relationship between air pressure and altitude?

Answer 29

air pressure increase when alt decrease
air pressure decrease when alt increase

Question 30

what are winds?

Answer 30

movement of air from area of high pressure to area of low pressure

Question 31

what are monsoon winds?

Answer 31

regional wind patterns that reverse direction seasonally

Question 32

describe formation of land breeze

Answer 32

land lose heat faster than sea, land has lower temp, air pressure higher, so air moves from land to sea

Question 33

coriolis effect is a force produced by earth rotation. winds are deflected in which direction, in which part of the hemisphere

Answer 33

northern hemisphere: wind deflect right
southern hemisphere: wind deflect left

Question 34

when does southwest monsoon occur

Answer 34

between june & september

Question 35

when does northeast monsoon occur

Answer 35

between october & feb

Question 36

for southwest monsoon, where does the monsoon come from and go to?

Answer 36

australia -> central asia

Question 37

how does northeast monsoon occur

Answer 37

air over australia heats up, expand, rise, causes area of low pressure. since northern hemisphere experiences winter, air from asia moves to australia

Question 38

3 types of climate

Answer 38

monsoon, equatorial, cool temperate

Question 39

characteristics of equatorial climate

Answer 39

10 degrees N/S of equator
high temp & mean annual temp, small annual temperature range of 2 C, convectional rain

Question 40

characteristics of monsoon climate

Answer 40

5 & 25 degrees N/S of equator
high annual mean temp
concentrated rainfall between june and sept
distinct wet & dry seasons

Question 41

characteristics of cool temperate climate

Answer 41

40-60 degrees N/S of equator
4 distinct season, large annual temp range
mild winter cool summer
no distinct wet/dry seasons

Question 42

what is global warming

Answer 42

increase in global temp over a long period of time

Question 43

what 2 main causes lead to global climate change

Answer 43

natural & human activities

Question 44

examples of natural causes that cause global warming

Answer 44

variations in solar output
volcanic eruptions

Question 45

examples of human activities that cause global warming

Answer 45

burning of fossil fuels
deforestation
changing land use

Question 46

how does variations in solar output affect global climate change?

Answer 46

when no. of sunspot increase, solar radiation become higher, areas surrounding sunspot release more energy, thus creating high & low cycle of temp

Question 47

sunspot is what?

Answer 47

appear as dark spots & are the cooler regions on sun’s surface

Question 48

how does volcanic eruptions affect global climate change?

Answer 48

eruption materials such as sulfur based particles, ash & dust can reflect solar energy back into space & causes cooling influence

Question 49

what is greenhouse effect?

Answer 49

gases in atmosphere trap longwave radiation from earth surface & warm atmosphere

Question 50

list some greenhouse gases

Answer 50

CO2, CH4,O3, NO2, CFCs, water vapour

Question 51

what is shortwave radiation

Answer 51

electromagnetic radiation w shorter wavelengths & easily absorbed by hard surfaces

Question 52

what is longwave radiation

Answer 52

electromagnetic radiation w longer wavelengths & easily absorbed by greenhouse gases

Question 53

describe the PROCESS of greenhouse effect

Answer 53

shortwave radiation emitted by sun in visible light
some shortwave radiation reflected back into space, mostly absorbed
earth surface emit longwave radiation in atmosphere