Weather and Climate

Question 1

what is the quaternary period?

Answer 1

the past 1.8 million years of the world’s history

Question 2

what are the causes of natural climate change?

Answer 2

• solar radiation
• Miankovitch cycles
• surface impact
• volcanic eruptions

Question 3

what is the evidence of natural climate change?

Answer 3

• ice cores
• pollen analysis
• dendrochronology
• historical records
• retreating glaciers

Question 4

what is the greenhouse effect?

Answer 4

A natural process which keeps the Earth’s surface warm and sustains life.

Question 5

what is the process of the greenhouse effect?

Answer 5

• Energy warms the Earth’s surface
• Earth radiates heat energy back into the atmosphere
• This energy has a different wavelength to that coming from the sun, some is absorbed by gases in the atmosphere

Question 6

what is the enhanced greenhouse effect?`

Answer 6

Refers to the impact on the global climate due to the increased amount of Carbon Dioxide and other greenhouse gases that humans have released into the atmosphere.

Question 7

what has caused humans to affect the climate?

Answer 7

• Industry
• Transport
• Energy (fossil fuels)
• Farming (methane from rice and cattle farming)

Question 8

what are the negative effects that climate change is having on the environment and people?

Answer 8

• changing patterns of crop yield
• rising sea levels
• retreating glaciers

Question 9

what are the four main greenhouse gases?

Answer 9

water vapour
methane
carbon dioxide
nitrous oxide

Question 10

define global atmospheric circulation

Answer 10

the worldwide movement of air which transports heat from tropical to polar latitudes

Question 11

define ITCZ

Answer 11

Inter Tropical Convergence Zone

Question 12

define Troposphere

Answer 12

the lowest layer of the atmosphere.

Question 13

How is the surplus of energy at the tropics and a deficit in polar areas redistributed around the world?

Answer 13

air currents

ocean currents

Question 14

what is the tricellular model?

Answer 14

a three cell model of global atmospheric circulation, in which air in each cell moves in a circular movement to transfer surplus heat from the equator to the cells.

Question 15

where does the Hadley cell occur?

Answer 15

between the equator and 30N and S

Question 16

where does the ferrel cell occur?

Answer 16

between 30N and 60N and 30S and 60S

Question 17

where does the polar cell occur?

Answer 17

between 60N and the North Pole and 60S and the South Pole

Question 18

what is the main source of heat energy for the world?

Answer 18

the sun

Question 19

where are deserts found in the world and why?

Answer 19

approximately 25 degrees N and 25 degrees S of the equator as cols air is sinking bringing very dry air and high pressure

Question 20

why is there a surplus of energy at the tropics and a deficit in polar areas?

Answer 20

The sun heats the Earth’s surface unevenly; it heats the earth more at the equator than at the poles which causes a heat surplus at the equator and a deficit at the poles.

Question 21

what is the coriolis force?

Answer 21

deflects winds and ocean currents due to the Earth’s spin