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Pure Geography > Variable Weather & Changing Climate > Flashcards

Variable Weather & Changing Climate Flashcards

1
Q

define weather

A

condition of atmosphere at particular place & time

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2
Q

define climate

A

avg condition of atmosphere of specific place over long period of time

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3
Q

difference between weather & climate

A

climate is long term
weather is short term

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4
Q

4 elements of weather

A
  1. temperature
  2. relative humidity & clouds
  3. rainfall
  4. air pressure
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5
Q

4 Factors affecting the temperature of a place

A
  1. latitude
  2. altitude
  3. distance from sea
  4. cloud cover
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6
Q

what is a small vs large temperature range?

A

small: <10
large: >15 celsius

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7
Q

define latitude

A

distance of any point on the earth measuring from the north or south of the equator

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8
Q

How does latitude affect temp.?

A

sun rays strike at different angles at places with different latitude

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9
Q

Why at places with higher latitudes, there is lower temp.?

A

sun rays strike earth at smaller angles of incidence
more heat is lost b/c of longer distance travel

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10
Q

Why is the Equator high in temperature?

A

sun rays strike earth at right angle
larger incidence cause heat to be more intense, concentrated
less heat is lost to atmosphere b/c shorter distance travel

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11
Q

define altitude

A

the height of a place in relation to sea level

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12
Q

when altitude increase…

A

temperature decreases

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13
Q

Why temp decrease when altitude increase?

A

earth surface absorbs shortwave radiation
greenhouse gas absorb longwave radiation
atmosphere is mainly heated by earth surface
denser air absorbs more heat, but less dense air is found at high altitude

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14
Q

2 effects caused by distance from sea

A
  1. Maritime effect
  2. Continental effect
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15
Q

How does dist from sea affect temp.?

A

sea heats & cools faster than land

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16
Q

describe maritime effect briefly

A

cooler summer: cooler air by sea, lowers temp at coastal area b/c sea heats up slower
warmer winter: warmer air by sea, increase temp at coastal area b/c sea cools down slower

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17
Q

describe continental effect briefly

A

inland areas have no sea,
land heats and cools faster
warmer summer, cooler winter

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18
Q

describe how cloud cover affect temperature of a place

A

day: reflect large amount of sun energy back to space, reduce amount of sun energy from reaching earth surface

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19
Q

what is relative humidity?

A

ratio btwn actual amt of water vapour present in mass of air & maximum amt that air can hold at given temp

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20
Q

what is saturation

A

situation when relative humidity is 100%

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21
Q

how does saturation occur?

A

when max amt of water vapour that air can hold is reached

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22
Q

how are clouds formed

A
  1. water evaporates into vapour
  2. vapour rises, cooling starts
  3. vapour cools to dew point temp, condense and collide with each other to form large water droplets clouds
23
Q

what is precipitation?

A

water in any form that fall from atmosphere to earth surface

24
Q

ex of precipitation

A

snow, hail, rain

25
Q

2 types of rain are

A
  1. convectional
  2. relief
26
Q

describe convectional rain process

A
  1. earth surface heated excessively
  2. air becomes unstable as it expand & rise
  3. as air rise, temp decrease
  4. condensation occurs & formation of clouds
  5. heavy droplets rain down
27
Q

describe process of relief rain

A

air passes over sea, picks up moisture before reaching coast, when moist air rise up windward side, it cools and rain by relief rain, most relief rain moisture falls on windward side

28
Q

what is air pressure?

A

force exerted on unit area of earth surface by weight of column of air above it

29
Q

whats the relationship between air pressure and altitude?

A

air pressure increase when alt decrease
air pressure decrease when alt increase

30
Q

what are winds?

A

movement of air from area of high pressure to area of low pressure

31
Q

what are monsoon winds?

A

regional wind patterns that reverse direction seasonally

32
Q

describe formation of land breeze

A

land lose heat faster than sea, land has lower temp, air pressure higher, so air moves from land to sea

33
Q

coriolis effect is a force produced by earth rotation. winds are deflected in which direction, in which part of the hemisphere

A

northern hemisphere: wind deflect right
southern hemisphere: wind deflect left

34
Q

when does southwest monsoon occur

A

between june & september

35
Q

when does northeast monsoon occur

A

between october & feb

36
Q

for southwest monsoon, where does the monsoon come from and go to?

A

australia -> central asia

37
Q

how does northeast monsoon occur

A

air over australia heats up, expand, rise, causes area of low pressure. since northern hemisphere experiences winter, air from asia moves to australia

38
Q

3 types of climate

A

monsoon, equatorial, cool temperate

39
Q

characteristics of equatorial climate

A

10 degrees N/S of equator
high temp & mean annual temp, small annual temperature range of 2 C, convectional rain

40
Q

characteristics of monsoon climate

A

5 & 25 degrees N/S of equator
high annual mean temp
concentrated rainfall between june and sept
distinct wet & dry seasons

41
Q

characteristics of cool temperate climate

A

40-60 degrees N/S of equator
4 distinct season, large annual temp range
mild winter cool summer
no distinct wet/dry seasons

42
Q

what is global warming

A

increase in global temp over a long period of time

43
Q

what 2 main causes lead to global climate change

A

natural & human activities

44
Q

examples of natural causes that cause global warming

A

variations in solar output
volcanic eruptions

45
Q

examples of human activities that cause global warming

A

burning of fossil fuels
deforestation
changing land use

46
Q

how does variations in solar output affect global climate change?

A

when no. of sunspot increase, solar radiation become higher, areas surrounding sunspot release more energy, thus creating high & low cycle of temp

47
Q

sunspot is what?

A

appear as dark spots & are the cooler regions on sun’s surface

48
Q

how does volcanic eruptions affect global climate change?

A

eruption materials such as sulfur based particles, ash & dust can reflect solar energy back into space & causes cooling influence

49
Q

what is greenhouse effect?

A

gases in atmosphere trap longwave radiation from earth surface & warm atmosphere

50
Q

list some greenhouse gases

A

CO2, CH4,O3, NO2, CFCs, water vapour

51
Q

what is shortwave radiation

A

electromagnetic radiation w shorter wavelengths & easily absorbed by hard surfaces

52
Q

what is longwave radiation

A

electromagnetic radiation w longer wavelengths & easily absorbed by greenhouse gases

53
Q

describe the PROCESS of greenhouse effect

A

shortwave radiation emitted by sun in visible light
some shortwave radiation reflected back into space, mostly absorbed
earth surface emit longwave radiation in atmosphere

Pure Geography (7 decks)

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