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physical geography paper 1 > 2. atmosphere and weather > Flashcards

2. atmosphere and weather Flashcards

1
Q

what is the atmosphere

A

the gaseous envelope that surrounds a celestial body

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2
Q

first layer of the atmosphere

A

troposphere 0-10km

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3
Q

second layer of the atmosphere

A

stratosphere 10-50km

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4
Q

third layer of the atmosphere

A

mesophere 50-90km

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5
Q

fourth layer of the atmosphere

A

thermosphere 90+km

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6
Q

diurnal energy budget

A

the amount of energy reaching, warming and leaving an area over 24 hours

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7
Q

nightime energy budget

A

does not take into account albedo or insolation

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8
Q

factors affecting energy budget

A

-insolation
-albedo
-latent heat transfer
-sensible heat transfer

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9
Q

insolation affect on energy budget

A

the amount of solar radiation that reaches a given area. sunlight from the sun can be influenced by solar constant, distance from sun ,angle of sun and length of day

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10
Q

albedo effect on energy budget

A

the albedo is the amount of energy reflected back to the atmosphere. this varies according to color and surface materiall

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11
Q

sensible heat transfer effect on energy budget

A

this refers to the movement of particles of air in and out of a particular area

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12
Q

latent heat transfer effect on energy budget

A

when water evaporates to a vapor heat is used up. 25% of the insolation energy leaves the surface via latent heat

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13
Q

clouds effect on energy budget

A

clouds have a higher albedo than the surface below

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14
Q

global energy budget

A

the difference between how much energy the globe gets from the sun and how much it radiates

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15
Q

heat budget in summer

A

in our Sumer there is a deficit in the south and a surplus in the north

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16
Q

heat budget in winter

A

in our winter there is a deficit in the north

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17
Q

atmospheric transfers

A

-wind belts
-ocean currents

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18
Q

wind belts

A

air masses are large bodies of air with consistent temperature and moisture characteristics. they are separated from eachother by frontal zones. air moves from high to low pressure

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19
Q

upper westerlies

A

there are fast moving westerly winds between 30degrees and 50 degrees resulting from strong temperature gradient and the Coriolis effect

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20
Q

Rossby waves

A

large horizontal undulations associated with polar front. polar air moves towards the tropics and cyclones form.

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21
Q

jet streams

A

fast, narrow ribbons of air and form at a high level where temperature and pressure gradient is at its greatest.

22
Q

ocean currents

A

driven mainly by prevailing surface winds and all another way in which surplus heat energy is distributed. cold water originates in the polar regions and flows towards the tropics and warm water originates in the tropics and flows towards the polar regions

23
Q

coriolis effect

A

the result of the earths rotation on weather patterns and ocean currents. the Coriolis effect makes storms swirl clockwise in the southern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere.

24
Q

influence of latitude

A

-angles of rays
-thickness of atmosphere
-lengths of daylight

25
Q

angle of suns rays

A

-at the equator, suns rays are vertical all year at noon. insolation is tense. at the poles, rays strike at lower angles, increasing area and reducing intensity

26
Q

thickness of atmosphere

A

the higher the latitude, the greater the thickness of the atmosphere so thee is more opportunity for absorption, scattering and reflection

27
Q

lengths of daylight

A

in the summer the lengths of days increase towards the poles

28
Q

net radiation

A

incoming-outgoing radiation

29
Q

distribution of land and sea

A

land heats and cools more quickly than the sea. sea retains heat for much longer. coastal areas have low heat ranges and are mild all year around. inland areas have large ranges

30
Q

evaporation

A

heat energy is absorbed and liquid turns to gas. it is effected by humidity ,temp and wind

31
Q

condensation

A

heat energy is released and gas turns to liquid when an air mass drops temps to its due point or it becomes fully saturated

32
Q

sublimation

A

solid changes directly into gas in low humidity situations

33
Q

types of precipitation

A

-convection rainfall
-orographic uplift
-radiation cooling
-frontal uplift

34
Q

convection rainfall

A

the sun heats the ground and warms the air which rises, cools and condenses forming precipitation

35
Q

orographic rainfall

A

air is confronted by mountains and has to ascend where it cools and condenses

36
Q

radiation cooling

A

the surface begins to lose heat in LWR which causes air to cool forming surface fog

37
Q

frontal uplift

A

a warm front approaches a colder air mass on the back of a dense mass. it cools and performs precipitation

38
Q

clouds

A

a viable mass of condensed water vapor held in suspension in the atmosphere

39
Q

stratus

A

layer clouds form when there is little vertical uplift over a wide area

40
Q

cumulus

A

heaped clouds with flat bases and globular tops occur with a localised uplift

41
Q

cirrus

A

wispy clouds made of ice occur when condensation occurs at high levels

42
Q

dew

A

the name for condensation of water on a surface. this normally occurs because the surface is cool and has caused the air to cool and become saturated.

43
Q

hail

A

the top parts of clouds are below freezing so more latent heat transfer is released when water droplets are formed and carried up, freezing around the nucleus. at these altitudes freezing is rapid so layers of ice form. they fall again and are covered in water before rising and freezing again. once it is heavy enough it falls through the air

44
Q

mist/fog

A

air is cooled close to the ground. this can occur through radiation fog, or advection fog in which warm moist air passes over a cold surface and is chilled

45
Q

enhanced greenhouse effect

A

refers to the addition of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere by human activity

46
Q

co2 is formed by

A

burning fossil fuels and deforestation- stays in atmosphere 62yrs avg

47
Q

methane is formed by

A

bacteria in padi fields and waste landfill
-25x more effective than co2

48
Q

CFCs is formed by

A

old aerosols and fridges
-efficient absorbers of LWR

49
Q

atmospheric impacts

A

-melting arctic ice reduces albedo
-warmer temps in high pressure areas such as USA
-if Siberian permafrost melts, methane will be released

50
Q

urban microclimate formation

A

-heat islands can enhance uplift and generate thermals that intensify storms
-storm cells refueled by contact with warm surfaces
-showery rain in summer, intense in winter

51
Q

urban microclimate winds

A

-tall buildings disturb air flows
- less windy than urban areas but turbulent winds funneled between buildings

52
Q

urban microclimate humidity

A
  • 6% lower in urban areas as the air is water so can hold more moisture
    -lack of vegetation limits evapotranspiration
    -dark roads and buildings increase temp

physical geography paper 1 (4 decks)

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