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Geography Edexcel A > Weather And Climate (physical) > Flashcards

Weather And Climate (physical) Flashcards

1
Q

What is Atmospheric Circulation?

A

The general movements of air around the Earth due to pressure and temperature.

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2
Q

What is Climate Change?

A

A distinct change in global or regional patterns of climate, such as changes in temperature or precipitation patterns.

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3
Q

What is a Convection Current?

A

The movement of a fluid caused by a difference in temperature or density.

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4
Q

What is the Coriolis Effect?

A

The effect of the earth’s rotation on wind movements.

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5
Q

What is a Cyclone?

A

A tropical cyclone that hits Oceania or Madagascar.

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6
Q

What is a Drought?

A

A prolonged dry period in the natural climate cycle that can occur anywhere in the world.

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7
Q

What is Eccentricity?

A

A measure of how much the Earth’s orbit around the Sun changes from a circular shape to an ellipse.

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8
Q

What is the Eye of a tropical cyclone?

A

An area of a tropical cyclone with extremely low pressure and calm conditions.

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9
Q

What is the Eyewall of a tropical cyclone?

A

An area of a tropical cyclone with the most intense, powerful winds and torrential rain.

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10
Q

What is a Ferrel Cell?

A

At around 60° North and South of the equator, moist air rises, and travels to lower latitudes at around 30°. Here, it sinks along with air travelling from the equator.

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11
Q

What are Fossil Fuels?

A

Fuels made up of the remains of organic material, such as oil, coal and gas.

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12
Q

What are Greenhouse Gases?

A

Gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that trap energy in the Earth’s system and contribute to the greenhouse effect.

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13
Q

What is a Hadley Cell?

A

Warm, moist air rises near the equator and then cools as it travels to higher latitudes (30°) where it sinks.

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14
Q

What is Hazard Risk?

A

The probability that a natural hazard will negatively affect a population.

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15
Q

What is a Hurricane?

A

A tropical cyclone that hits the USA, Latin America or the Caribbean.

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16
Q

What is Hydrological Drought?

A

When reduced precipitation impacts water supply.

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17
Q

What is an Ice Core?

A

A cylinder of ice extracted from an ice sheet or glacier, which is used to analyse past environmental conditions.

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18
Q

What are Immediate Responses?

A

Actions taken as soon as the hazard occurs and in its immediate aftermath.

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19
Q

What is the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)?

A

An area surrounding the equator where global winds converge, causing an area of low pressure with rainy conditions.

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20
Q

What are Long-term Responses?

A

Actions taken after the immediate responses when the effects of the hazard have been minimised (weeks, months, and years after the event).

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21
Q

What is Meteorological Drought?

A

When the amount of precipitation received in an area is below average.

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22
Q

What are Milankovitch Cycles?

A

The cyclical variations in the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. Includes: Eccentricity, Obliquity (tilt) and Precession (wobble of Earth’s axis).

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23
Q

What is Obliquity (or Axial Tilt)?

A

The tilt of the Earth’s axis, which changes from 21.5° to 24.5°.

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24
Q

What are Ocean Currents?

A

The predictable, continuous circulation of ocean water which transfers heat around the globe.

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25
What is a Polar Cell?
At 60° north or south of the equator, moist air rises, and travels to the poles (90°), where it sinks.
26
What is Precession?
The 'wobble' of the Earth's axis.
27
What is a Pressure Belt?
A region of the Earth which is generally under the same pressure.
28
What are Primary Effects?
The effects that are directly caused by the hazard itself.
29
What is the Quaternary Period?
The geological time period which began 2.6 million years ago and extends into the present.
30
What are Secondary Effects?
Impacts that are a result of the primary effects of a hazard.
31
What is a Storm Surge?
When a tropical cyclone pushes a large amount of sea water onto the shore, causing a rise in sea level.
32
What is Subduction?
A process that occurs at a destructive plate boundary when a plate is pushed below another plate, forcing it to sink into the asthenosphere.
33
What is The Enhanced Greenhouse Effect?
A process where the Earth's surface is heated by the greenhouse effect at an increased rate due to larger greenhouse gas emissions from human activities.
34
What is The Greenhouse Effect?
A natural process where greenhouse gases trap the energy from the Sun inside the Earth's atmosphere, warming the Earth's surface.
35
What is a Track in relation to tropical cyclones?
A typical pathway that a tropical cyclone takes which is driven by global wind circulation.
36
What are Tree Rings?
A ring in a tree trunk that grows annually, indicating the conditions in the year it grew.
37
What is a Tropical Cyclone?
A very large, spinning storm with high winds and torrential rain that forms in the tropics.
38
What is a Typhoon?
A tropical cyclone that hits India, Japan or the Philippines.
39
What is atmospheric circulation?
The movement of air within the Earth’s atmosphere caused by the sun’s energy, pressure differences, and Earth’s rotation.
40
What are the three main atmospheric cells?
• Hadley Cell: Warm, moist air rises at the equator, moves to 30°, and sinks. • Ferrel Cell: Air rises at 60°, moves toward 30°, and sinks. • Polar Cell: Air rises at 60°, moves to poles (90°), and sinks.
41
How do pressure belts form?
• Rising air = low pressure • Sinking air = high pressure These belts are found at the equator (low), 30° (high), 60° (low), and poles (high).
42
What causes wind?
Wind moves from high pressure to low pressure.
43
Why do winds curve instead of moving straight?
Due to the Coriolis Effect – caused by Earth’s rotation: • Northern Hemisphere: winds deflected right • Southern Hemisphere: winds deflected left.
44
What are ocean currents and what drives them?
Movements of water in oceans driven by wind, the Coriolis Effect, tides, and density differences.
45
How do ocean currents affect climate?
They transfer heat – e.g., the Gulf Stream makes Europe warmer by bringing warm water from the equator.
46
What is the Quaternary Period?
The last 2.6 million years – marked by cycles of glacial (cold) and interglacial (warm) periods.
47
How has climate changed in recent years?
Global temperatures have risen by 0.85°C since 1880, mostly since the 1970s.
48
What are the three Milankovitch cycles?
• Eccentricity: Earth’s orbit changes shape (~100,000 years) • Obliquity: Earth’s tilt changes (~41,000 years) • Precession: Earth’s axis wobbles (~20,000 years).
49
What is the sunspot cycle?
An 11-year cycle of solar activity. More sunspots = more solar energy.
50
How do volcanic eruptions affect climate?
They cause short-term cooling by blocking sunlight (ash & aerosols). ## Footnote Examples: • 1815 Tambora: “Year Without a Summer” • 1783 Laki (Iceland): Cold winter & crop failures.
51
What are the four types of evidence for past climate change?
1. Ice cores – CO2 levels and temperature 2. Pollen records – show past vegetation and climate 3. Tree rings – wider rings = warmer, wetter years 4. Historical sources – paintings, journals, migration patterns.
52
What human activities cause global warming?
• Burning fossil fuels: releases CO2, methane, nitrous oxides • Agriculture: methane from rice and livestock, nitrous oxide from fertilisers • Deforestation: reduces carbon storage and increases CO2.
53
What is the Enhanced Greenhouse Effect?
Increased trapping of heat due to more greenhouse gases from human activity.
54
What are some effects of climate change?
• Melting ice caps, rising sea levels • More extreme weather events • Changes in ecosystems • Threats to food and water supplies • Health risks and migration.
55
What type of climate does the UK have?
Temperate oceanic – seasons, mild temperatures, high rainfall.
56
What air masses affect UK weather?
• Maritime – mild & wet • Polar – cold & dry • Tropical – warm & dry • Arctic – cold & dry.
57
What is a depression?
A low-pressure system bringing rain and storms.
58
What is an anticyclone?
A high-pressure system bringing clear, settled weather.
59
What are tropical storms called in different regions?
• Hurricanes – USA • Cyclones – Australia • Typhoons – SE Asia.
60
What conditions are needed for a tropical storm to form?
• Sea temperature ≥ 26°C, 50m deep • Unstable low pressure • Wind shear not too strong • Coriolis effect (5–15° from equator).
61
What are the main parts of a tropical storm?
• Eye – calm, low pressure • Eyewall – strongest winds, rain, thunder.
62
How does climate change affect tropical storms?
• Distribution: May form in new areas (e.g., Brazil, 2004) • Frequency: No significant increase • Intensity: Increasing, more Category 4 & 5 storms likely.
63
What is a drought?
A period of low water availability, usually due to lack of rainfall and high temperatures.
64
What human actions can cause or worsen droughts?
• Overuse in agriculture • Pollution of freshwater • High water prices • Deforestation and urbanisation.
65
Why are some areas more prone to droughts?
• High pressure at 30° latitude causes sinking dry air – found in deserts. • Climate change shifts rainfall patterns and air flows.
66
What are primary vs secondary effects of droughts?
• Primary: Water shortage • Secondary: Crop failure, famine, migration, ecosystem damage.
67
What is climate change mitigation?
Actions to reduce or prevent the causes of climate change. ## Footnote Examples: • Renewable energy (e.g., wind, solar) • Carbon capture (storing CO₂ underground) • Afforestation • International agreements (e.g., Paris Agreement 2015).
68
What is climate change adaptation?
Adjusting to cope with the effects of climate change. ## Footnote Examples: • Flood defences (e.g., Thames Barrier) • Drought-resistant crops • Water conservation • Raising buildings or sea walls.
69
Give an example of an extreme weather event in the UK.
Beast from the East (2018) • Cold wave from Siberia • Brought snow and sub-zero temperatures • Schools closed, transport disrupted • Caused deaths and economic disruption.
70
How are tropical storms measured?
Using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (Category 1 to 5). ## Footnote • Category 1: 74–95 mph winds (minimal damage) • Category 5: ≥157 mph (catastrophic damage).
71
What’s the difference between short-term and long-term responses to tropical storms/droughts?
• Short-term: Immediate aid (rescue, food, shelter) • Long-term: Rebuilding, improving infrastructure, education/prevention.
72
What are the social, economic, and environmental effects of a tropical storm?
• Social: Deaths, injuries, homes destroyed • Economic: Businesses closed, transport damage • Environmental: Flooding, landslides, destruction of ecosystems.
73
What is climate change mitigation?
Mitigation refers to actions that reduce or prevent the causes of climate change.
74
Give 4 examples of climate change mitigation.
1. Renewable energy (wind, solar, hydro) 2. Carbon capture and storage 3. Afforestation (planting trees) 4. International agreements (e.g. Paris Agreement 2015)
75
What is climate change adaptation?
Adaptation means responding to the impacts of climate change by adjusting to new conditions.
76
Give 4 examples of adaptation.
1. Flood defences (e.g. Thames Barrier) 2. Drought-resistant crops 3. Water conservation schemes 4. Raising buildings or relocating communities
77
What is the Saffir-Simpson Scale used for?
It measures the intensity of tropical storms based on wind speed (Categories 1 to 5).
78
What are the wind speeds for each category?
• Category 1: 74–95 mph (minimal damage) • Category 2: 96–110 mph • Category 3: 111–129 mph (extensive damage) • Category 4: 130–156 mph • Category 5: 157+ mph (catastrophic damage)
79
What was the Beast from the East?
A cold wave that hit the UK in February–March 2018, caused by easterly winds from Siberia.
80
What were the effects of the Beast from the East?
• Up to 50 cm of snow in some areas • Transport disruption (roads, rail, flights) • Schools and businesses closed • 17 deaths reported • Supermarket shortages due to delivery issues
81
What was Typhoon Haiyan?
A Category 5 tropical storm that struck the Philippines in November 2013.
82
What were the primary effects of Typhoon Haiyan?
• Over 6,000 deaths • 1.1 million homes damaged or destroyed • 4.1 million displaced
83
What were the secondary effects of Typhoon Haiyan?
• Widespread looting and violence • Outbreaks of disease due to lack of clean water • Economic damage over $2 billion
84
How did people respond to Typhoon Haiyan?
• International aid from the UN and UK • Rebuilding programs and relocation of communities • New storm shelters and improved warning systems
85
What caused the California drought?
• Below-average rainfall and snowfall • High temperatures and evaporation • Overuse of water for agriculture and urban areas
86
What were the impacts of the California drought?
• Wildfires worsened by dry vegetation • Water restrictions for residents • Economic loss in farming (billions of dollars) • Damage to ecosystems and fish stocks
87
What responses were taken during the California drought?
• Promotion of water-saving technology (low-flush toilets, drip irrigation) • Investment in desalination and recycled water • Public education campaigns and fines for overuse

Geography Edexcel A (4 decks)

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