The UK’s climate Flashcards
(24 cards)
Define the term ‘weather’
Day-to-day changes in our atmosphere
Define the term ‘climate’
Average weather conditions of an area (usually over 30 years)
What are the three areas which comprises the UK’s climate?
The temperature
The prevailing winds
The precipitation
State three things about the temperature of the UK
Cool, wet weather
Temperate weather
Gulf Stream keeps UK temperatures above other latitudes such as Moscow, average °C in Cornwall is 7°C
, average °C in Moscow is -9°C
State 2 things about the prevailing winds in the UK
The prominent direction of the wing is from the South-West of the UK
The average maritime wind is temperate (cold)
State two things about the precipitation in the UK
Rains more on the south west and west coast.
Less rainfall in the east.
What is airmass?
A large volume of air which is all the same temperature, humidity and density.
What is tropical airmass?
Airmass which is warm
What is polar airmass?
Airmass which is cold
What is continental airmass?
Airmass which is dry
What is maritime airmass?
Airmass which is wet
Define the term ‘temperate’
No extremes of temperature / precipitation
What causes weather to vary?
The intensity of prevailing winds
Describe the climate of the Uk.
The Uk has a temperate climate, meaning, there typically is wet and cold winters and warm, wet summers. Extremes vary as of the region and weather conditions.
State 2 characteristics of the prevailing winds coming from the SouthWest
The air is warm and moist due to hot seas.
The air is travelling over large areas of ocean.
What circulation cells is the Uk located near?
The boundary between the northern Ferrel and Polar circulation cells.
At this boundary, warm air from south and cooler air from north west meets, leading to depressions in weather.
Why is the Uk raining a lot?
As the Uk is surrounded by open seas, most of the air that reaches contains lots of moisture.
Why are coastal areas warmer than inland areas during winter?
The sea retains heat and warms up the land
What is the altitude of the Uk?
Around 60°N
State 2 ways altitudes vary
The higher the altitude of an area, the cooler the place will be
1°C lost for every 100m above sea level
State what happens when air is forced to rise above high mountainous areas.
The air is forced to cool, leading to condensation of the air’s moisture leading to cloud formation. Precipitation then occurs.
What is the North Atlantic drift around the UK?
This is a warm ocean current that brings warm water to the Uk from the Gulf of Mexico, driven by prevailing winds.
Why does latitude affect climate and temperatures?
Temperatures drop the further an area is from the equator due to the curvature of the earth.
