Geography - Weather Flashcards
(30 cards)
1
Q
weather
A
- day-to-day conditions of the atmosphere
- able to change quickly (Day 1 - dry II Day 2 - rain)
e.g. sunshine, rain, hail …
2
Q
climate
A
- average weather conditions (over a long period of time & large areas)
- usually measured over 30 years
e.g. tropical, polar, continental…
3
Q
elements of weather
A
- humidity
- sunshine
- air pressure
- temperature
- wind
- precipitation
- drought
4
Q
humidity
A
- how much moisture there is in the air
5
Q
sunshine
A
- light and heat that comes from the sun
6
Q
air pressure
A
- whether the air is rising/falling
7
Q
wind
A
- movement of air
8
Q
temperature
A
- how hot or cold somewhere is
9
Q
precipitation
A
- anything made out of water that falls from the sky
10
Q
drought
A
- unusually dry weather
11
Q
factors affecting local weather
A
- physical features
- shelter
- aspect
- buildings
- surface
12
Q
physical features
A
- trees provide shade & shelter, creating cool areas
- water makes the area colder (e.g. lakes and seas)
- hill tops are usually cool and windy
13
Q
shelter
A
- trees, hedges, walls, buildings & hills provide shelter from the wind
- wind speed may be reduced & direction can change
- places sheltered from wind = warm
14
Q
aspect
A
- the direction a place is facing is called aspect
- places facing the sun will be more warmer than those in the shadow
- south facing places get the most sun & therefore is the warmest
15
Q
buildings
A
- give off heat that has been stored from the sun during the day
- can reduce the wind speed
16
Q
surface
A
- color of the ground affects the temperature of the ground
- dark surfaces (tarmac & soil) will be warmer than light surfaces (grass)
17
Q
importance of rain
A
- essential part of water cycle
- understanding reasons it rains, helps us understand the weather reports
- can be channeled and stored in reservoirs (can be used agriculture, growing crops)
- flooding can be avoided if warned
- with very little rain drought can occur
- can be used for hydroelectric electricity
18
Q
why are the polar regions cold and dry?
A
the angle of sunlight is small => the sun is always low in the sky => solar energy is less concentrated (weaker)
19
Q
types of rainfall
A
=> convectional
=> relief
=> frontal
20
Q
low pressure system
A
- blows wind inwards
- clouds in the sky
21
Q
high pressure systems
A
- blows wind outwards
- cloudless skies
22
Q
frontal rainfall
A
- An area of warm air meets the area of cold air
- The warm air is forced over the cold air
- Where the air meets the warm air is cooled and water vapor condenses
- Cloud form and precipitation occurs
places:
east asia
north america
new Zealand
Europe
23
Q
relief rainfall
A
- prevailing winds bring warm, moist air to the western British isles
- air is forced to rise over high areas
- air cools and condenses
- cloud form and it rains
- air descends on the other side of the mountains
- it warms up and therefore become drier
places:
east coast of usa
uk
japan
24
Q
convectional rainfall
A
- the sun heats the ground and warm air rises
- as the air rises it cools and water vapor condenses to form clouds
- when the condensation point is reached large cumulonimbus clouds are formed
- heavy rain storms occur. these usually include thunder and lighting due to the electrical charge created by unstable conditions
places:
south east asia
central Africa
25
extreme weather
- weather event is significantly different from the average or usual weather pattern
- can take place over one day or a period of time
26
weather warning system
to alert people to potentially dangerous weather
27
extreme weather examples
- heat waves
- cold waves
- droughts
- hail
- heavy rain
28
impacts of extreme weather
- injuries when attempting to escape
- deaths
- mental health
29
precipitation
- any form of water
- liquid or solid
e.g. rain, sleet, snow, hail
30
prevailing wind
- come from the south west carrying moisture from the Atlantic ocean
