Weather and Climate

Question 1

Weather

Answer 1

Day to day changes in the atmosphere at a certain time or place- variables measured are temperature, precipitation, wind speed/direction, cloud cover and air pressure.

Question 2

Climate

Answer 2

Long-term weather pattern of an area (total of average weather conditions recorded over 30 years)- variables measured are temperature, precipitation and wind.

Question 3

Temperature

Answer 3

Exactly how hot or cold it is

Question 4

Temperature measurement

Answer 4

°C

Question 5

Temperature measuring equipment

Answer 5

Thermometer

Question 6

Precipitation

Answer 6

Water falling from the sky (e.g. rain, snow etc.)

Question 7

Precipitation measurement

Answer 7

mm

Question 8

Precipitation measuring equipment

Answer 8

Rain gauge

Question 9

Humidity

Answer 9

The amount of water vapour in the air

Question 10

Humidity measurement

Answer 10

%

Question 11

Humidity measuring equipment

Answer 11

Hygrometer

Question 12

Wind speed

Answer 12

How fast the wind is blowing

Question 13

Wind speed measurement

Answer 13

kph

Question 14

Wind speed measuring equipment

Answer 14

Anemometer

Question 15

Wind direction

Answer 15

Where the wind is blowing from

Question 16

Wind direction measurement

Answer 16

North(N), East(E), South(S), West(W)

Question 17

Wind direction measuring equipment

Answer 17

Wind vane

Question 18

Air pressure

Answer 18

How heavy the air is around us

Question 19

Air pressure measurement

Answer 19

millibars

Question 20

Air pressure measuring equipment

Answer 20

Barometer

Question 21

Cloud type

Answer 21

Different types of clouds can tell us about weather higher in the atmosphere

Question 22

Cloud cover

Answer 22

How much of the sky is covered with clouds

Question 23

Cloud cover measurement

Answer 23

oktas

Question 24

Cloud cover measuring equipment

Answer 24

Okta index cards

Question 25

Precipitation (cause)

Answer 25

The sun heats the Earth- but unevenly. Earth in turn warms the air, which rises. Rising air leads to wind, because air from a colder place flows in to replace it. The Sun's heat also causes water to evaporate, giving water vapour. When the air rises it cools. So the water vapour condenses, giving clouds of water droplets. Droplets join to make larger drops, which falls as rain (or snow, or sleet, or hail).

Question 26

1st layer of the atmosphere

Answer 26

Troposphere

Question 27

Troposphere

Answer 27

Contains half of the Earth's atmosphere. Weather occurs in this layer.

Question 28

2nd layer of the atmosphere

Answer 28

Stratosphere

Question 29

Stratosphere

Answer 29

Many planes fly here, because it's very stable. Also, the ozone layer absorbs harmful sun rays.

Question 30

3rd layer of the atmosphere

Answer 30

Mesosphere

Question 31

Mesosphere

Answer 31

Meteors or rock fragments burn up in this layer.

Question 32

4th layer

Answer 32

Thermosphere

Question 33

Thermosphere

Answer 33

The layer with auroras and where the space shuttle orbits.

Question 34

5th layer of the atmosphere

Answer 34

Exosphere

Question 35

Exosphere

Answer 35

The layer where the atmosphere merges with space. This layer is very thin.

Question 36

Where the water cycle moves water

Answer 36

All around the Earth

Question 37

Inputs

Answer 37

Entering the system

Question 38

Flows or transfers

Answer 38

Movement in the system

Question 39

Stores

Answer 39

Held in the system

Question 40

Outputs

Answer 40

Leaving the system

Question 41

Reservoir

Answer 41

A large lake where water is stored

Question 42

Water cycle

Answer 42

The cycle of water between the oceans, atmosphere and land

Question 43

Surface runoff

Answer 43

Water flowing overground (e.g. rivers)

Question 44

Groundwater

Answer 44

Water held underground in soil or rock

Question 45

Transpiration

Answer 45

Water released from plant leaves into the atmosphere

Question 46

How clouds form

Answer 46

When the sun heats up the ground, the air at ground level rises and joins with molecules in the atmosphere.

Question 47

Synoptic charts

Answer 47

Charts of surface pressure. They help meteorologists predict the weather.

Question 48

Isobars

Answer 48

lines joining areas of equal pressure

Question 49

Low pressure system

Answer 49

When pressure decreases towards the middle of the system

Question 50

High pressure system

Answer 50

When pressure increases towards the middle of the system

Question 51

Rising air

Answer 51

cools down and condensation occurs. This makes clouds and rain.

Question 52

Falling air

Answer 52

warms up and any moisture becomes absorbed. This leads to clear skies.

Question 53

Sunlight

Answer 53

The amount of daylight.

Question 54

Sunlight duration and intensity measuring equipment

Answer 54

Campbell-Stokes sunshine recorder

Question 55

High pressure weather

Answer 55

Fine weather, the higher the pressure the calmer the weather. It brings clear skies, meaning very hot weather in the summer and very cold weather in the winter

Question 56

Low pressure

Answer 56

Unsettled weather, the lower the pressure the stormier the weather. It brings cloudy skies, meaning very wet and windy weather.

Question 57

Extreme weather

Answer 57

An unusual weather event that is unpredictable and can cause widespread damage.