The atmosphere

Question 1

Incoming radiation is…

Answer 1

short wave

Question 2

in the tropics there is a A ___ of heat and a B___ in the poles

Answer 2

A-Surplus B- Deficit

Question 3

Factors influencing surface temperature

Answer 3

angle of incidence
thickness of the atmosphere
colour of surface
altitude
ocean currents

Question 4

Air moves from…

Answer 4

High to low pressure areas

Question 5

the closer the isobars, the ___ the pressure gradient

Answer 5

steeper

Question 6

Gradient pressure force

Answer 6

Force affecting wind speed NOT wind direction

Question 7

Coriolis force/effect

Answer 7

Any moving body is deflected by Coriolis force
Deflects left in S hemisphere
Deflects right in N hemisphere

Question 8

Geostrophic flow

Answer 8

When Coriolis force and pressure gradient force move in opposite directions. Results in wind blowing parallel to isobars

Question 9

Low pressure cells

Answer 9

Air cools as it rises
rotates clockwise
air sucked in at surface
associated with clouds and rain

Question 10

High pressure cells

Answer 10

air warms as it sinks
air is repelled at the surface
air rotates anticlockwise
associated with calm, cloudless conditions

Question 11

Factors affecting the formation of seasons

Answer 11

sphericity
rotation
tilt of the earth's axis
revolution
Axial parallelism

Question 12

Summer solstice in S hemisphere

Answer 12

21 Dec

Question 13

Temperature will increase and decrease as ___ does

Answer 13

Pressure

Question 14

Explain the formation of a sea breeze

Answer 14

The land is heated and the sea remains cool
Hot air rises from the land resulting in a low pressure
Air over the sea has a higher pressure
Air moves from high pressure to low pressure
Sea breeze is formed

Question 15

Hadley cell

Answer 15

circulation between equator and 30 latitude

Question 16

Ferrel cell

Answer 16

circulation between Hadley and Polar cells

Question 17

Polar cells

Answer 17

Circulation towards LP polar belt at 60 N & S

Question 18

Air masses

Answer 18

bodies of air with the same temperature and moisture characteristics

Question 19

Maritime

Answer 19

Moist air over the ocean

Question 20

Continental

Answer 20

Dry Air over the continent

Question 21

Tropical air is (a) and Polar is (b)

Answer 21

a) warm b) cold

Question 22

Monsoon winds

Answer 22

seasonal reversal of atmospheric pressure, winds and rainfall
Caused by shift in pressure belts with the sun and ITCZ

Question 23

ITCZ

Answer 23

Inter tropical convergence zone

Question 24

DALR

Answer 24

Dry adiabatic lapse rate
air cools -1 as rises
air heats +1 as it sinks

Question 25

WALR

Answer 25

Wet adiabatic lapse rate | Air is saturated so cools -0.5 as rises

Question 26

Fohn winds

Answer 26

general name for a hot, dry wind that originates in a mountainous region

Question 27

Jet streams

Answer 27

Strong winds blowing W to E in the upper atmosphere | Can reach very high speeds

Question 28

El Nino

Answer 28

- -warm water flows from W to E pacific (reverses) - -HP develops over Indonesia - -Descending air warms and dries conditions over the sea - -Heavy rain occurs over S America

Question 29

La Nina

Answer 29

- -Normal LP over Indonesia drops even lower and HP over pacific ocean becomes even higher - -Causes higher than usual rainfall in Indonesia, drought in S America

Question 30

Effects of El Nino

Answer 30

Forest fires in Indonesia (now dry conditions) Flooding in Peru Reduction in upwelling of cold water= less fishing

Question 31

What is a drought

Answer 31

an extended period of a deficit of rainfall relative to the area's average

Question 32

Types of drought

Answer 32

Meteorological Agricultural Hydrological Socio-economic

Question 33

Causes of drought

Answer 33

- excessive heat build up over the earth's surface | - winds carrying continental air masses instead of oceanic ones

Question 34

Effects of drought

Answer 34

- decrease in tourism - crop failure - threatened ecosystems - bushfires

Question 35

Desertification

Answer 35

The process of land degradation in semi-arid areas resulting from climate change and human activities

Question 36

Human activities causing desertification

Answer 36

- overgrazing - surface mining - increasing population and poor planning