Weather Studies Flashcards
What is the difference between weather and climate?
1.
Time:
Weather —> shorter duration e.g hours
Climate —> longer duration
Minimum:30 years
For e.g. Indic’s tropical monsoon climate
2.
Space:
Weather: applicable to smaller area (small island) micro climate—> has variation of temp in different parts
Climate:
Can apply to larger area and smaller area e.g. like between latitude 30 degrees north and altitude 30 degrees south has a certain climate e.g. regions continent
3.
Weather: weather conditions in the atmosphere
Climate: average weather conditions
To put it simply, climate is what you expect weather is what you get.
What is atmosphere?
Atmosphere is the layer of gas around earth.
What is the most important layer that you should know?
Troposphere. (The lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere)
What are the conditions of the atmosphere/ weather elements to study?
Rainfall
Wind
(Relative) humidity
(Relative) rainfall
(Air) pressure
Why does air temp vary across Earth’s surface?
Air temp vary across Earth’s surface due to factors of latitude and altitude.
What is the formula of mean annual temperature and annual temperature range?
Formula of mean annual temperature:
Sum (12 mean monthly temperatures of a year)/12
Formula of annual temperature range:
Warmest monthly mean- coldest monthly mean (one number)
For e.g.
Working: 27-10 =17 17 degrees celcius (17 degrees celcius is the annual temperature range)
What is the definition of mean annual temperature?
Average of mean monthly temperatures of the 12 months in a particular year.
What is the definition of annual temperature range?
Difference between the warmest and coldest monthly mean temperatures.
How does latitude cause a variation of air temperatures across Earth’s surfaces?
The spherical shape of the Earth—> unequal distribution of solar energy over the Earth’s surface
The sun’s rays strike different parts of the Earth’s surface at different angles. The angle at which the sun’s rays strikes the Earth’s surface is called the angle of incidence.
For higher latitudes (smaller angle of incidence):
Temperatures are lower at higher latitudes because the angle of incidence is smaller, which means that the sun’s rays strike at a slanted/smaller/oblique angle and the solar energy is spread out over a larger area, and hence heat is more dispersed/less concentrated.
The sun’s rays pass through a longer distance through the atmosphere, causing more solar energy to be lost by reflection, scattering and absorption by dust particles and water in the atmosphere and resulting in lower temperatures.
For lower latitudes: (larger angle of incidence (90 degrees)
Temperatures are higher at lower latitudes because they receive sun’s rays which are vertical, striking at a right angle. The solar energy is hence more concentrated solar energy over a smaller area.
The sun’s rays pass through a shorter distance through the atmosphere, causing lesser solar energy to be lost by reflection, scattering and absorption by dust particles and water in the atmosphere and resulting in more heating over a smaller area. This results in higher temperature and higher solar energy absorbed by equator.
How does altitude cause a variation of air temperatures across Earth’s surfaces?
Higher altitude
- lower air density
- weaker gravitational force
- less air molecules
- lower ability to absorb and radiate heat
- Air–> less dust and water vapour
- less heat is trapped
- heat from the earth’s surface at higher altitude escapes more rapidly
- lower temp at higher altitudes
At lower altitudes:
- Air becomes more dense due to stronger gravitational force–> more air molecules–> higher ability to absorb & radiate heat
- air also contains more dust and water vapour–> more heat is trapped
- heat from the earth’s surface at lower altitude does not escape as easily
Hence, higher temp at lower altitudes.
Don’t repeat the ans twice if it is a comparison question. just use comparative words e.g. “er” lower, higher.
For every 1000m increase in height, there will be a _______.
For every 1000m increase in height, there will be a drop of 6.5 degrees celcius.
What is the position of earth in relation to the sun, the solar radiation and the temperature during day time of the day?
Position of earth in relation to the sun
- earth is facing towards the sun.
During midday:
- The sun is directly above the earth’s surface.
before and after midday:
- the sun is not above
Solar radiation and
Due to earth’s spherical shape,
During midday:
Temperature is highest in the day because at lower latitudes, the earth receives sun’s rays which are vertical, strikes at a right angle, so the angle of incidence is at a right angle. The solar energy and radiation is hence concentrated over a smaller area. Solar radiation is spreads order a smaller area and hence is more concentrated.—> add in angle of incidence
Before and after midday:
Solar radiation is spreads order an over a larger area and hence is less concentrated. The temperature is lower than midday.
What is the position of earth in relation to the sun, the solar radiation and the temperature during night time of the day?
Position of earth in relation to the sun
- Earth is facing away from the sun.
Solar radiation
- It does not receive Solar radiation and loses heat in the form of long wave radiation.
temperature:
Hence it experiences lower temperature. The temperature is lowest just before sunrise as the place has lost heat for the longest period of time.
