WEATHER AND CLIMATE Flashcards
Define weather
Weather is the day-to-day changes in the atmosphere.
Is there a difference between weather and climate?
YES
Define climate
Climate is the overall pattern of weather, usually based on an average of 30 years.
How does Britain’s climate vary?
Britain’s climate varies from place to place and season to season.
Summer temperatures are the same/not the same all over Britain
Not the same the south is warmer than the north. Places near the Equator are much warmer than places near to the north or south poles. This explains why the south of Britain is warmer than the north.
Why do temperatures vary from place to place?
There are many reasons but the main one is that the sun does not give the same amount of heat all over the world.
Are you able to draw and label the diagram how the sun heats the earth.
When you are confident, tick five.
Why does the sun not heat the earth the same in all places?
Because the Earth is round.
Is Britain colder in the north than the south?
Yes, because it is further away from the Equator and closer to the North Pole.
Why do geographers describe Britain’s winter climate as mild?
A warm ocean current called the NORTH ATLANTIC DRIFT is the reason why Britain is not nearly as cold in winter than nearby countries.
Explain the NORTH ATLANTIC DRIFT
The current begins in the Caribbean as the Gulf Stream and flows some 7,000 km across the Atlantic to warm Britain’s shores.
Where is the effect of the NORTH ATLANTIC DRIFT greater?
The effect of the warming is greater in the west than the east.
Why does Britain receive a lot of rain?
Largely because it is an island surrounded by water.
Where is the main wind from?
From the west or south-west
What happens as the wind passes over the Atlantic Ocean?
It picks up moisture from the sea and this moisture often turns to rain as it reaches land.
