weather and climate

Question 1

define weather

Answer 1

the short term properties of the troposphere at a specific place and time

Question 2

climate

Answer 2

a region’s general pattern of weather or atmospheric conditions over a long period of time

Question 3

the amount of insolation changes due to what

Answer 3

1) the seasons with their respective weather patterns

2) earth tilt - 23.5 degrees

Question 4

why is summer warmer than winter?

Answer 4

because the sun’s rays hit earth at a more direct angle during summer - less amount passes through atmosphere .
in winter they hit earth at a glancing angle
in summer the daylight hours are also longer which causes the warming effect

Question 5

drivers of natural climate change;

Answer 5

1) solar activity - there are cyclic change in the amount of energy given off by the sun - may result in the periodic climate change
2) the milankovitch cycles - periodic changes in earth’s rotation around its axis and in its orbit around the sun - occur over thousand of years - linked to episodes of glaciation
3) changes in earth’s axis - the degree at which it’s tilted
4) volcanic activity - contributes to short term climate change - ash and dust circulate in atmosphere - volcanic dust scatters the sun’s rays reducing solar energy
5) the ice albedo effect - ice and snow reflect huge amounts of solar energy -cooling effect of earth
6) plate tectonics - plate movement affects the ocean circulation and distribution of solar energy - moves landmasses affecting the amount of insolation