Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Weather and Climate > Unit 2 > Flashcards

Unit 2 Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 6 classifications of the World’s Climate?

A
  • equatorial
  • Arid
  • Mediterranean
  • Temperate
  • Mountains
  • Polar
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the characteristics of Tropical Equatorial and an example of a location?

A

e.g. South America and Africa
avg. temps = 20 to 30 degrees
precipitation = 60mm every month
Tropical monsoons = seasonal heavy rainfall
Tropical savannah = dry season

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the characteristics of the Desert climate and what is an example of a location?

A

e.g. Sahara Desert
extremely dry area, cloudless
large temperature swings, can go below freezing at night
hot sandy environments

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the characteristics of the Temperate Climate and what is an example of the location?

A

e.g. Western Europe
coldest month avg. between 0 and 18 degrees
distinct seasons, dry and wet
prevailing weather or topography can often influence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the characteristics of the Mediterranean Climate and what is an example of the location?

A

characterised by dry summers and mild wet winters
often brings particular vegetation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the characteristics of the Polar Climate and what is an example of a location?

A

e.g. the Arctic
ice cap climate that dominates region
plants cannot grow

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the characteristics of the Tundra climate and what are some examples of the location?

A

e.g. Northern Canada, Alaska
warmest months avg. temp = 0 to 10 degrees
Plants can grow, they are small as they have a short growing season

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the definition of the heat equator?

A

the point of the Earth’s surface where the sun is directly overhead at 90 degrees to the surface

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

When does the northern hemispheres summer solstice occur and what happens in the southern hemisphere?

A

21st June
This is the southern hemispheres winter solstice

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Where is the heat equator on the 21st of June?

A

Tropic of Cancer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

When does the southern hemisphere experience its summer solstice and what is happening in the northern hemisphere?

A

21st December
This is the northern hemispheres winter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Where is the heat equator on the 21st December?

A

Tropic of Capricorn

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What happens between Sep 22 and March 21st?

A

The Earth experiences the Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes , when the heat equator is on the Earth’s equator

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Where does the ITCZ shift between December and June?

A

Northwards

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Where does the ITCZ shift between June to December?

A

Southwards

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the difference between the ITCZ on Ocean compared to land?

A

Moves further north/south on land due to land heating faster than ocean. (land has a lower specific heat capacity)
When on ocean remains constant and ‘straight’.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is a Monsoon climate?

A

refers to a seasonal change in wind direction, which links to changes in the atmospheric pressure, this leads to a pronounced dry and wet season

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Which area is used for the Monsoon case study?

A

North West of India
this area receives 90% of its annual rainfall in the wet season

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What occurs from March to May in India and what does this cause?

A

HOT, so land heats up quicker than ocean creates a huge area of low pressure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What happens from June to October in India, in regards to the climate?

A

frontal rainfall near the Himalayas region causes HEAVY rainfall

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

In May what is the temperature difference between the ocean and land in India?

A

land = 40 + degrees
ocean = 20 degrees
(heat equator shifts north)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

When is the dry season in India?

A

Feb to May

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

When is the wet season in India?

A

June to August
(heat equator shifts south)

24
Q

During the wet season in India what is the average precipitation levels?

A

between 300mm and 700mm

25
Due to the orographic uplift effect near the Himalayas, how much rainfall does the North east of India receive?
exceed 12,000mm 12 meters
26
When is the cool dry season in India and how does it occur?
heat equator travels south, because land has a lower specific heat capacity than ocean = land cools down quicker the cold land mass experiences high pressure the wind direction reverses, cold northerly winds travel over dry land avg temp = below 15 degrees
27
How do Ocean currents impact on tropical climates? (other factor)
El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) (Near Australia) low pressure = warm water pool (Near South America) high pressure = drier conditions, upwelling cool air pushed upwards
28
What is the difference between El Nino and El Nina?
El Nina = weakened trade winds El Nino = strengthened trade winds
29
How does the altitude impact of climate?
Mountainous areas cause orographic rainfall e.g. Himalayas and The Andes (Atacama Desert)
30
What is the climate zone that the U.K is located in?
cool, temperate climate lies between sub-tropical and polar zones
31
What is the avg. yearly precipitation like in the U.K?
800mm
32
What are the avg. yearly temperatures in the U.K?
5 to 20 degrees
33
What is the temperature of Irkutsk in Russia compared to London in January? What is the thing in common between these locations?
They are on the same latitude. Russia = - 20 degrees London = 4 degrees (due to continentality)
34
The U.K experiences all the types of rainfall, what are they?
- Frontal - Convectional - Orographic
35
What are some of the wettest locations in the U.K, and how much do they receive, and what are some of the driest?
wettest = Snowdonia, The Lake District receive over 3000mm of rain a year driest = Essex receive an average of 507mm annually
36
What % of our wind blows from the South, South West and West compass directions?
46%
37
What are the six different air masses?
PM AM PC TC TM RPM
38
What is the origin and weather characteristics of the Tropical Continental air mass?
origin = South, from Mediterranean/ Sahara Desert Weather = hot, sunny, dry and thunderstorms
39
What is the origin and weather characteristics of the Tropical Maritime air mass?
origin = South West and from the tropics, and sub - tropics Weather = dull, damp, mild, moisture + fog, rain shadow in the East
40
What is the origin and weather characteristics of the Polar continental air mass?
origin = North East and Eastern Europe and Scandinavia Weather = bitterly cold, wind chill drier west than east = 'Beast from the East'.
41
What is the origin and weather characteristics of the Polar Maritime air mass?
origin = North west, Greenland and Canada Weather = 4 seasons in one day, unstable, thunder, hail, snow, sunshine
42
What is the origin and weather characteristics of the Arctic Maritime air mass?
origin = North from the Arctic Weather = Unstable, shower clouds, snow at northern coasts, clear sky but cold winds
43
What is the origin and weather characteristics of the Returning Polar Maritime air mass?
origin = West Greenland/ Arctic/ Canada Weather = Unstable, heavy showers, clouds
44
Which direction does high pressure are does the wind turn?
clockwise
45
Which direction in a low pressure area does the wind turn?
anticlockwise
46
What is the latitude of the U.K , and which atmospheric circulation cells is it located in between?
latitude = 50 to 60 degrees Polar cells and Ferrel cells low pressure systems
47
What is the polar front?
meeting point of the Ferrel cell and Polar Cell
48
At what altitude does the jet stream flow?
5 to 7 miles
49
At what speed and direction does the jet stream flow?
200 mph Flows in the Northern Hemisphere from the North to the East
50
What does the jet stream flow faster in the winter?
warm air is trying to get to the cool air quicker, due to the gradient being greater
51
What are Rossby waves?
meanders in the jet stream
52
What are depressions and where do they form?
Form when the TM air mass collides with the PM air mass creating areas of low pressure where air rises
53
What is a warm front?
warm air = less dense being forced over the cold air and forced to rise
54
What is a cold front?
cold air = more dense, undercuts warm air causing the warm air to rise
55
Where do low pressure systems (depressions) form?
In the North Atlantic Ocean, pushed to the U.K by the Jet stream

Weather and Climate (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions