Weather & Climate Flashcards
what is the definition of weather?
hourly and daily weather conditions, sun, type of precipitation, wind, temperature etc.
what is the definition of climate?
average weather conditions over a long period of time
what is a thermometer?
measures temperature in degrees centigrade.
mercury fills the tube.
mercury expands at higher and contracts according to temperature.
how is rainfall measured?
in a rain gauge.
it is sunk into the ground in the open.
the rim is 30 cm above the ground to avoid splashing
the water collected can be poured into a measuring jug.
how is air pressure measured?
it is recorded on a barograph or barometer.
as the weight of the air changes the cylinder moves causing the pen to draw a graph.
how is wind direction measured?
by a wind vane.
north, south, east, west with an arrow for direction.
how is speed measured?
by an anemometer.
4 rotating cups.
what is a Stevenson Screen
it is a store for weather measuring equipment.
white to reflect sunlight.
slatted to allow air to circulate.
should be placed on open ground away from buildings and trees.
what is in the water cycle?
1a. evaporation - water from the sea (or lake) evaporates to form water vapour.
1b. transpiration - water vapour released from plants
2. the water vapour rises and condenses to forms clouds
3. precipitation - as clouds are pushed up by the land they cool and and precipitation occurs.
4. some water falling may be interpreted by leaves on trees.
5a. surface storage - water can be stored on the surface as snow.
5b. infiltration - some water will infiltrate the soil vertically.
5c. surface run off - rapid flow of water on land
6. throughflow - water travels horizontally through soil
7. percolation - downwards movement of water through permeable rocks.
8. groundwater - stored in porous rocks.
what are the three types of rainfall?
relief - clouds pushed up in high ground, cool and rain
convection - hot day, water evaporates, clouds form, rain
frontal - warm air mass meets cold air mass creates precipitation.
what factors affect temperature in a location?
latitude altitude distance to the sea ocean current prevailing wind
Factors affecting temperature in a location: altitude
Altitude - every 150m you rise temp drops by 1 degree
Distance from the sea - in the summer land is hotter and by the sea is cooler. in the winter inland is cooler and by the coast warmer. why? because the land heats and cools more quickly than the sea.
Factors affecting temperature in a location: latitude
latitude - temperature in the northern hemisphere rises as you move towards the equator (south) and cools as you move towards the pole (north).
Factors affecting temperature in a location: ocean currents
In the UK the North Atlantic Drift and Gulf Stream mean that the country is warmer on the eastern side.
Factors affecting temperature in a location: prevailing wind direction
In the UK the wind blows from the south-west for 80% of the time. This is a warm wind. (We also sometimes get north and easterly winds these are cold. South winds are hot)
