A:Atmospheric Environment

Question 1

Define Climate

Answer 1

Long term (at least 30 years), atmospheric patterns in a specific area

Question 2

Macro-climate

Answer 2

Global or continental scale climate regions

Question 3

Meso-climate

Answer 3

Regional climates

Question 4

Micro-climate

Answer 4

climate of a restricted area

Question 5

Name the 7 main climatic zones

Answer 5

Equatorial, Semi arid tropical, Arid Tropical, Arid Temperate, Humid temperate, Boreal and Arctic

Question 6

Characteristics of Equatorial Climate

Answer 6

• Lies between Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn
• High Rainfall
• High temperatures, with little seasonal variation
• Indonesia

Question 7

Characteristics of Semi-Arid Climate

Answer 7

• Found at the edge of deserts
  -Long dry summer days
  High temperatures 21-27
  -Nigeria

Question 8

Characteristics of Arid-Tropical

Answer 8

-Extremely dry, less than 25cm annual rainfall
-Extreme diurnal temperature ranges
15-30 N and S of equator
-Mexico

Question 9

Characteristics of Arid-Temperate

Answer 9

• West Coast of continents
• 30-40 N and S of equator
• Hot, dry summers
• Warm, wet winters
• Chile

Question 10

Characteristics of Humid Temperate

Answer 10

-Distinct wet and dry season
-Very high annual rainfall
-High average temperatures
Sri Lanka

Question 11

Characteristics of Boreal

Answer 11

- North of 60
Warmest months above 10, coldest below -25
-Light precipitations
Short summers
-Finland

Question 12

Characteristics of Arctic

Answer 12

• Cold all year round, ground is permanently frozen
• Covers 20% of earth
• Greenland

Question 13

Name 3 classification systems

Answer 13

Koppen, Thornthwaite and Miller

Question 14

Describe Koppens classification system

Answer 14

• Its based on average annual and monthly values for temperature and precipitation
• 5 major climatic groups, then broken down into sub groups

Question 15

Advantages of Koppen

Answer 15

• Based on readily available data
• Easy to measure and compare areas
• One of the most widely used systems

Question 16

Disadvantages of Koppen

Answer 16

-Doesn’t take into account the causses of climate

Question 17

Describe Thornthwaites classification system

Answer 17

• Based on average rainfall, temperature and vegetation
• Uses aridity index and potential evapotranspiration
• Divides into 6 climate groups

Question 18

Advantages of Thornthwaite

Answer 18

• Fewer symbols so easier to remember and use

- More accurate than Koppen as uses additional data

Question 19

Disadvantages of Thornthwaite

Answer 19

• Uses complicated calculations

- Doesn’t work for tropical or arid areas

Question 20

Describe Millers classification system

Answer 20

• Temperature zones are used for the foundation

- Subdivisions are based on seasonal distribution, rainfall causes and total precipitation

Question 21

Advantages of Miller

Answer 21

• The classification is simple and broad

Question 22

Disadvantages of Miller

Answer 22

• Suffers from oversimplification

- Huge number of sub-climates

Question 23

Difference between Empiric and Genetic classification?

Answer 23

Empiric is based on the observations and the effects of the climate elements. Whereas genetic is based on the causes of climate such as Air masses and Ocean Currents

Question 24

Define weather

Answer 24

Day to day conditions of the atmosphere, but can range over a temporal scale of minutes to months