Weather and climate Flashcards
What is weather?
Weather is the state of the atmosphere and its changes over time (minute to minute, hour to hour, day to day, or week to week). Weather can vary frequently in some places and remain consistent in others.
What do people ask about the weather?
Questions about the weather often focus on the short term, such as:
- “What is the weather like today?”
- “How hot is it today?”
- “Will it rain tomorrow?”
What are the components of weather?
Weather is a combination of:
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Precipitation
- Cloudiness
- Visibility
- Wind
Why are weather measurements important?
To predict future conditions. To identify patterns in the weather. To prepare for extreme weather, such as snowstorms or heat waves, which can affect:
- Transportation systems.
- Food production.
- Power usage in homes.
- Consumer behavior in shops.
How does weather vary by location?
Examples of weather in different locations include:
- Scotland: Snowy.
- Namibia: Hot and arid.
- New Zealand: Stormy.
- Canada: Misty and lush.
- Republic of Ireland: Rainy with rainbows.
- Bangladesh: Windy and prone to storms.
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather: The state of the atmosphere over a short period (hours, days, or weeks).
Climate: The average weather in an area over a long period (usually 30+ years).
What does climate information include?
Statistics about:
- Normal weather patterns.
- Range of extreme weather in a location.
What factors affect weather and climate?
Weather: Affected by temperature, humidity, cloudiness, and precipitation.
Climate: Affected by two key factors:
1. Temperature
2. Precipitation
What are the studies of weather and climate called?
The study of weather: Meteorology.
The study of climate: Climatology.
What are the main climate zones?
Polar
Tundra
Mountains
Temperate
Mediterranean
Arid
Tropical
What does the map of climate zones show?
Different regions of Earth are classified into zones based on their climate characteristics (e.g., tropical, temperate, polar).
What are the climate zones and their descriptions?
- Polar: Very cold and dry all year.
- Temperate: Cold winters and mild summers.
- Arid: Hot and dry all year.
- Tropical: Hot and wet all year.
- Mediterranean: Mild winters and hot, dry summers.
- Mountains/Tundra/Taiga: Very cold all year.
Which climate zone do you live in?
Answer depends on your location (e.g., Saudi Arabia is in the Arid zone).
Name two countries in the Arid zone.
Examples: Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Name two countries with a Mediterranean climate but not near the Mediterranean Sea.
Examples: California (USA) and South Africa.
Name three countries in the Tropical zone.
Examples: Brazil, India, and Indonesia.
What is the difference between the Arid and Tropical zones?
Arid zone: Hot and dry all year with little to no rainfall.
Tropical zone: Hot and wet all year with frequent rainfall.
What is the difference between the Temperate and Mediterranean zones?
Temperate zone: Cold winters and mild summers.
Mediterranean zone: Mild winters and hot, dry summers.
