Weather & Climate

Question 1

What is weather?

Answer 1

Weather is the day to day condition of the atmosphere. It includes temperature, precipitation (rain & snow) and wind direction, wind speed, humidity, clouds & air pressure.
The weather describes the conditions of the atmosphere at a particular time.

Question 2

What is climate?

Answer 2

The climate of a place is its average weather taken over many years (usually 30 years).
Climate is the seasonal changes in temperature and rainfall over a year.

Question 3

List the factors affecting weather/climate.

Answer 3

Factors affecting climate are

1. latitude
2. distance from the sea
3. prevailing winds
4. altitude
5. Ocean currents

Question 4

What is atmosphere?

Answer 4

Atmosphere is the layer of air around earth

Question 5

What is precipitation?

Answer 5

Precipitation is water falling from the atmosphere to Earth’s surface (e.g. rain and snow).

Question 6

Explain air pressure

Answer 6

Air pressure is an important weather element. When warm air rises, the air pressure is reduced and when the cold air sinks, the air pressure is increased.

Question 7

What causes wind?

Answer 7

The movement of air from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure causes the wind.

Question 8

Explain humidity

Answer 8

Humidity is the amount of moisture in the air

Question 9

Explain solar energy in relation to equator

Answer 9

Solar energy is strongest near the equator and weakest near the north and south poles.

Question 10

Explain prevailing wind

Answer 10

Prevailing wind is the usual direction of the wind in a place

Question 11

How does latitude affect weather?

Answer 11

The further you go from the equator the colder it gets

Question 12

How does altitude affect weather?

Answer 12

Locations at a higher altitude have colder temperatures

Question 13

How does distance from the sea affect weather?

Answer 13

Places that are a long way from the sea have a continental climate, with cold snowy winters and hot, dry summers. The sea can moderate temperatures.

Question 14

How does prevailing wind affect weather?

Answer 14

Winds that blow from the sea often bring rain to the coast and dry weather to inland areas.Winds that blow from inland areas can be warm, cold and dry.

Question 15

How do ocean currents affect weather?

Answer 15

Ocean currents can increase or decrease temperatures.

Question 16

Why latitude affects the weather?

Answer 16

This is because the Earth’s surface is curved – which means the sun’s energy isn’t distributed evenly. In areas closer to the poles, sunlight has a larger area of atmosphere to pass through and the sun is at a lower angle in the sky. As a result, more energy is lost and temperatures are cooler.

Question 17

How does distance from the sea affect weather?

Answer 17

Oceans heat up and cool down much more slowly than land. The sea is cooler than the land in summer, but warmer in winter. This is because it takes longer to heat up, but it is slower to cool down.

Question 18

What is the climate of British Isles called? Why?

Answer 18

Because we’re surrounded by sea, the climate of the British Isles is called maritime. The sea moderates our climate, making temperatures more even throughout the year.

Question 19

What is the climate of Siberia called? Why?

Answer 19

Places that are a long way from the sea have a continental climate, with cold snowy winters and hot, dry summers. Siberia and central areas of the USA have this type of climate.