Weather & Climate Flashcards
what is the definition of weather?
hourly and daily weather conditions, sun, type of precipitation, wind, temperature etc.
what is the definition of climate?
average weather conditions over a long period of time
what is a thermometer?
measures temperature in degrees centigrade.
mercury fills the tube.
mercury expands at higher and contracts according to temperature.
how is rainfall measured?
in a rain gauge.
it is sunk into the ground in the open.
the rim is 30 cm above the ground to avoid splashing
the water collected can be poured into a measuring jug.
how is air pressure measured?
it is recorded on a barograph or barometer.
as the weight of the air changes the cylinder moves causing the pen to draw a graph.
how is wind direction measured?
by a wind vane.
north, south, east, west with an arrow for direction.
how is speed measured?
by an anemometer.
4 rotating cups.
what is a Stevenson Screen
it is a store for weather measuring equipment.
white to reflect sunlight.
slatted to allow air to circulate.
should be placed on open ground away from buildings and trees.
what is in the water cycle?
1a. evaporation - water from the sea (or lake) evaporates to form water vapour.
1b. transpiration - water vapour released from plants
2. the water vapour rises and condenses to forms clouds
3. precipitation - as clouds are pushed up by the land they cool and and precipitation occurs.
4. some water falling may be interpreted by leaves on trees.
5a. surface storage - water can be stored on the surface as snow.
5b. infiltration - some water will infiltrate the soil vertically.
5c. surface run off - rapid flow of water on land
6. throughflow - water travels horizontally through soil
7. percolation - downwards movement of water through permeable rocks.
8. groundwater - stored in porous rocks.
what are the three types of rainfall?
relief - clouds pushed up in high ground, cool and rain
convection - hot day, water evaporates, clouds form, rain
frontal - warm air mass meets cold air mass creates precipitation.
what factors affect temperature in a location?
latitude altitude distance to the sea ocean current prevailing wind
Factors affecting temperature in a location: altitude
Altitude - every 150m you rise temp drops by 1 degree
Distance from the sea - in the summer land is hotter and by the sea is cooler. in the winter inland is cooler and by the coast warmer. why? because the land heats and cools more quickly than the sea.
Factors affecting temperature in a location: latitude
latitude - temperature in the northern hemisphere rises as you move towards the equator (south) and cools as you move towards the pole (north).
Factors affecting temperature in a location: ocean currents
In the UK the North Atlantic Drift and Gulf Stream mean that the country is warmer on the eastern side.
Factors affecting temperature in a location: prevailing wind direction
In the UK the wind blows from the south-west for 80% of the time. This is a warm wind. (We also sometimes get north and easterly winds these are cold. South winds are hot)
what is the climate like in the south east of Britain?
warm summers (latitude) cold winters (no warming ocean current). dry (in the rain shadow)
what is the climate like in the north east of Britain?
mild summers (due to latitude) very cold winters (due to latitude) dry (in the rainshadow)
what is the climate like in the south west of Britain?
warm summers (due to latitude) mild winters (due to ocean current) wet (due to relief and direction of prevailing wind)
what is the climate like in the north west of Britain?
mild summers (due to latitude) mild winters (due to ocean current) wet (due to relief and direction of prevailing wind)
what does a chloropleth map show?
A chloropleth map shows rainfall. darker colours more rainfall.
What is a humid tropical climate like
average annual rainfall over 200cm/2m
temperature range 1 degree - same all year
West Africa, Amazon Brazil, Northern Australia, South East Asia.
on the Equator.
Convectional rainfall daily.
what is a microclimate?
A microclimate is the local climate of a small area.
what factors effect a micro climate?
physical features of an area: valley, hills, lake
aspect - which direction does it point (south is warmer)
prevailing wind direction
proximity to buildings - building release heat and provide shelter.
what surfaces - dark surfaces absorb heat
distance from the sea - in winter places near the sea are warmer than those inland.
What factors are special to an urban microclimate?
1 degree warmer than rural areas in the day.
man made heat is released from buildings, cars etc.
4 degrees warmer than rural areas at night. Tarmac absorbs heat in the day and releases it at night.
Buildings act as wind breaks.
More convectional rainfall than rural areas.
Less snow than rural areas.
What factors are special to an rural microclimate?
Affected by the shape of the land.
Aspect is important. South facing warmer, north facing cooler. Valley floors cooler because of sinking cold air.
Often experiences stronger winds because there is less shelter.
words to learn:
air mass air pressure atmosphere climate condensation desert drought
More words to learn:
equator evaporation front hemisphere humidity infiltration interception
words to learn:
irrigation isotherm microclimate praecipitation vegetation
more words to learn:
altitude anemometer anticyclone aspect barograph/barometer
words to learn:
climate graph convectional rainfall depression dew point fog frontal rainfall
more words to learn:
ground water Gulf Stream humid temperate climate (UK) humid tropical climate isobars latitude
words to learn:
maximum thermometer minimum thermometer North Atlantic Drift percolation prevailing wind rain gauge rain shadow wind vane
more words to learn:
relief rainfall seasonal Stevenson Screen surface run-off throughflow transpiration water cycle weather
