Weather and climate

Question 1

Can you draw a diagram to show relief rainfall?

Answer 1

Question 2

Can you draw a diagram to show frontal rainfall?

Answer 2

Question 3

Can you draw a diagram to show convectional rainfall?

Answer 3

Question 4

Can you name five key words from the water cycle? (Try to think about the spellings - they are tricky)

Answer 4

1. Evaporation
2. Condensation
3. Precipitation
4. Infiltration
5. Interception
6. Evapotranspiration
7. Throughflow
8. Surface flow/ runoff

Question 5

What instrument would you use to measure air pressure?

Answer 5

A barometer

Question 6

What instruments would you use to measure wind speed and direction?

Answer 6

Anemometer - wind speed

Wind vane - direction

Question 7

What instrument would you use to measure rainfall?

Answer 7

A rain guage

Question 8

How would you define the word ‘weather’?

Answer 8

The day-to-day state of the atmosphere at a particular time and in a particular place.

Question 9

How would you define the word ‘climate’?

Answer 9

The average weather in a particular place, usually calculated over a 30 year average.

Question 10

What is a microclimate?

Answer 10

The local climate of a small area.

Question 11

What is a ‘front’ in weather terms?

Answer 11

The boundary between warm and cold air masses.

Question 12

What is condensation?

Answer 12

When water vapour cools, it turns back into water droplets.

Question 13

What word is described here:

“As liquid water is heated, the molecules turn into water vapour, a gas.”

Answer 13

Evaporation

Question 14

What is infiltration?

Answer 14

When water on the surface seeps into the soil.

Question 15

How does altitude influence temperatiure?

Answer 15

Temperature decreases by 1^oC for every 150 metres gain in height.

Question 16

What are the five main factors influencing the climate of the British Isles?

Answer 16

1. Latitude
2. Altitude
3. Distance from the sea
4. Prevailing wind
5. Ocean currents

Question 17

How does the North Atlantic Drift influence the climate of the British Isles?

Answer 17

The North Atlantic Drift is an ocean current that brings warm water from the Caribbean across the Atlantic to Britain. It makes our climate warmer than it should otherwise be.

Question 18

How do buildings create their own microclimates?

Answer 18

Buildings change wind speed and direction, and because they give out heat, they can warm temperatures by 2-3^oC.

Question 19

What does ‘aspect’ mean?

Answer 19

The direction that something is facing.

Question 20

Who does aspect effect temperature?

Answer 20

In Britain, places facing south are warmer than places facing north because they get more direct sunlight.