Weather Flashcards
Weather vs Climate
Weather is day to day
Climate is over the course of years or decades
How to measure elements
Temperature (digital thermometer – °C)
Precipitation (rain gauge – mm)
Wind direction (wind vane – eight compass points)
Wind speed (anemometer – knots)
Atmospheric pressure (barometer – mb)
Cloud cover (observation – oktas)
Cloud types
Stratus, cumulus, cumulonimbus and cirrus
Sources of data for a weather forecast
On land (land-based stations and rainfall radar)
In the air (satellites – geostationary and polar)
At sea (buoys)
How do the following factors effect climate
Latitude: Places near the equator are hotter than places that aren’t
Prevailing winds: Bring different amounts of moisture and heat depending on where they come from
Distance from the sea: Influences temperature range as the sea heats up slower than land but holds the heat for longer
Altitude: Higher altitudes tend to be wetter and colder as cold air is forced upwards
Summer anticyclone
Brings clear skies, hot temperatures and bright sunshine throughout the day. At night the temperatures drop quickly
Winter anticyclone
Brings fog and mist which stays around most the time
Tropical maritime
Mild & wet in winter. Mild and warm in summer
Tropical continental
Mild & dry in winter. Hot & dry in summer
Polar maritime
Cold & wet in winter and in summer
Polar continental
Hot & dry in winter and in summer
