weather hazards and climate change

Question 1

Weather

Answer 1

Weather is the day-to-day conditions of the atmosphere - temperature, precipitation and cloud cover.

Question 2

Climate

Answer 2

The average weather conditions of an area occurring over many years.

Question 3

What are the three atmospheric circulation cells called?

Answer 3

The Hadley cells occur between 0-30°N and S. The Ferrel cells occur between 30-60°N and S. The Polar cells occur between 60-90°N and S.

Question 4

What happens to air at the Equator?

Answer 4

Warmed air rises to about 15km, causing low pressure. The air current divides, cools and moves north and south to form the Hadley cells.

Question 5

What happens to air at 30°N and 30°S?

Answer 5

The cooled air sinks at 30°N and S, leading to high pressure. Some of the cooled air moves back towards the Equator as trade winds. The rest travels towards the Poles, forming the lower part of the Ferrel cells.

Question 6

What happens to air at 60°N and 60°S?

Answer 6

The warmer air of the Ferrel cells meets colder polar air. The warmer air rises to form the Polar cells. This causes low pressure and the air travels towards the Poles.

Question 7

What happens to air at the Poles?

Answer 7

The air above the Poles cools and sinks, forming areas of high pressure and low precipitation.

Question 8

Coriolis effect

Answer 8

The deflection of air movement by the Earth’s rotation. Air travelling from north to south appears to have travelled in a curve.