Weather and Climate Flashcards
What is weather?
The condition of the atmosphere at a particular place and time.
What is climate?
The average condition of the atmosphere of a specific place over a long period of time, typically over 30 years.
What are the 6 elements of weather?
- Temperature
- Relative humidity
- Clouds
- Rainfall
- Air pressure
- Wind
What is temperature?
The degree of hotness or coldness of a place.
What is diurnal temperature range?
The difference between the maximum and minimum temperatures recorded in a day.
What is annual temperature range?
The difference between the maximum and minimum mean monthly temperatures recorded in a year.
What are the 4 factors that influence the temperature of places?
- Latitude
- Altitude
- Distance from the sea
- Cloud cover
Is it possible for places along the same latitude to face different temperatures? Why?
Yes. Even though latitude affects temperature strongly, the other factors (altitude, distance from sea and cloud cover) are also considerable in influencing temperature.
For example, Singapore and Quito, Ecuador.
What is relative humidity?
The ratio (typically expressed as a percentage) between actual amt. of water vapour present in a mass of air and the max. amt, of water vapour the air could hold at given temp.
What is saturation?
When the air holds the max. amt. of water vapour and relative humidity is at 100%
How are clouds formed?
Evaporation due to heating of water. As it rises, it cools. When water vapour cools to dew point temperature, condensation ensues if there exists tiny particles (condensation nuclei) for water vapour to condense on. Water droplets in the air will merge and grow bigger in a process named coalescence. Thus, clouds form.
What are the 2 types of rain?
- Convectional rain
- Relief rain
What is air pressure?
The force exerted on a unit area of the earth’s surface by the weight of a column of air above it
What is wind?
Movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
What is prevailing wind?
Wind which blows most frequently from a specific direction
What is land breeze?
Wind that blows from land to sea due to differences in air pressure caused by different rates at which land and water bodies cool. This happens during night
What is sea breeze?
Wind that blows from sea to land due to differences in air pressure caused by different rates at which land and water bodies heat up. This occurs during day
What are monsoon winds?
Regional wind patterns that reverse direction seasonally and bring seasonal changes in precipitation
What is Coriolis effect? How does it affect winds?
Force produced by the earth’s rotation, resulting in deflection of winds (bending of winds to the right in northern hemisphere and to the left in southern hemisphere).
Name the 2 monsoons
- Southwest monsoon
- Northeast monsoon
What are the 3 climatic types?
- Equatorial climate
- Monsoon climate
- Cool temperate climate (Marine west coast climate)
Describe equatorial climate and give examples of countries
-A climatic type of areas between 10 degrees north and south of the Equator
e.g. SG, Johor Malaysia
-High mean annual temp. of ~27 degrees celsius throughout year
-Small annual temp. range of ~2 degrees celsius
-Rain generally falls throughout year, no distinct wet or dry seasons. Some months have very heavy rainfall while others have moderate to heavy rainfall
- High total annual rainfall of more than 2,000mm
Describe monsoon climate and give examples of countries.
-A climatic type of areas between 5 and 25 degrees north and south of the Equator.
e.g. India, Bangladesh
-High mean annual temp. ~25 degrees celsius throughout the year
-Small annual temp. range of 3-4 degrees celsius
-Distinct wet and dry seasons, rainfall is unevenly distributed
-High rainfall during wet season ~2000mm
-Low rainfall during dry season ~750mm
Describe cool temperate climate (marine west coast climate) and give examples of countries.
-A climatic type of areas between 40 and 60 degrees north and south of the Equator
e.g. US, UK, S. Korea
-Low mean annual temp. of ~10.5 degrees celsius throughout year
-Large annual temp. range of ~21 degrees celsius
-Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout year, no distinct wet or dry seasons
-Low total annual rainfall ~300 to 900mm
What is global climate change?
Variation in the global climate or climatic patterns in the long term
What is global warming?
Increase in global temperatures over a long period of time
What are two natural causes of recent climate change?
- Variations in solar output
- Volcanic eruptions
What is the greenhouse effect?
A natural process by which greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere trap longwave radiation emitted from the earth’s surface, warming the atmosphere.
What are greenhouse gases? Name some examples
Gases that absorb longwave radiation.
Examples include:
-Water vapour
-Carbon dioxide
-Methane
-Nitrous oxide
-Ozone
-Halocarbons (like chlorofluorocarbons, aka CFCs)
What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?
An increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere leading to a rise in global temperatures.
What are anthropogenic factors?
Factors caused by human activities
What are some anthropogenic factors contributing to enhanced greenhouse effect?
- Deforestation
- Agriculture
- Industries
- Urbanisation
Describe deforestation
The loss of forests due to the removal or clearance of trees in forested areas
Describe agriculture
The practice of cultivating land, producing crops and raising livestock
Describe industries
Production of goods and services within a country
Describe urbanisation
The process by which an increasing number of people live in urban areas such as cities or towns
What are the four impacts of climate change?
- Sea level rise
- More frequent extreme weather events
- Spread of some infectious insect-borne diseases
- Lengthen the growing season in certain regions
What is sea level rise?
The increase in the mean height of the sea’s surface between high tide and low tide relative to land
What is insect-borne disease?
A disease that is transmitted to human or animals by an insect
What are two types of responses to climate change?
- International agreements
- National responses
What is an international agreement? Give an example.
Contracts signed by two or more countries
An example is the Kyoto Protocol
What is a national response? Give some examples.
Measures taken by a country to do sth to itself (e.g. reduce greenhouse gas emissions).
In SG, some national responses include:
-Singapore Green Plan 2012
-Green Mark Scheme
-Plant-A-Tree Programme
