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Geography > Weather > Flashcards

Weather Flashcards

1
Q

What is the atmosphere?

A

The atmosphere is a thin layer of gases that surrounds the Earth. It is made up by 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen and 1% Trace gases.

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2
Q

What is the troposphere

A

The troposphere is the lowest layer in the Earth’s atmosphere.
– It reaches from ground or water level up to about 17 km.
– Weather and clouds occur in the troposphere.
– The temperature generally decreases as the altitude increases.

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3
Q

What is the stratosphere

A

The stratosphere is the next layer after the troposphere.
- It extends from 17 km to 50 km from the Earth’s surface.
- The ozone layer is located in the stratosphere.
- Some of the highest clouds can be found in the lower stratosphere.

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4
Q

What is solar energy?

A

Energy from the sun is called solar energy. Solar energy is the Earth’s main source of heat.

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5
Q

Explain why all of the sun’s energy does not reach the surface of the earth.

A

19% of Solar energy is absorbed by the clouds, 30% is reflected back from the clouds and then 51% of solar energy is absorbed by the Earth.

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6
Q

What is latitude? And explain how latitude influences climate with a diagram.

A

Measures distance above and below the equator. ((Diagram slide 7))

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7
Q

What is the equator?

A

The equator is an imaginary line dividing the northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere.

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8
Q

What are trade winds?

A

Trade winds are air movements towards the equator.

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9
Q

What is the Coriolis effect?

A

Coriolis effect makes the trade winds appear to curve towards the west, regardless of whether they are travelling to the equator from the south or north.

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10
Q

Explain what wind is.

A

The unequal heating of the atmosphere and the Earth’s surface leads to movements of air, known as wind. Winds blow from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.

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11
Q

What are the doldrums?

A

The doldrums is an area of calm weather.

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12
Q

What are the horse latitudes?

A

The horse latitudes are found at 30° north and south of the equator. They form a belt that blows between the trade winds and the prevailing westerlies. They tend to be weak and encourage clear, bright weather.

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13
Q

What are the polar easterlies?

A

The polar easterlies form when the atmosphere over the poles cools. This cool air then sinks and spreads over the surface.

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14
Q

What is a current?

A

The movement of water is referred to as a current.

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15
Q

Why do ocean currents occur?

A
  1. Differences in temperature
  2. The Earth rotating on its axis
  3. Wind
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16
Q

What currents are warm?

A

Currents flowing from the equator are warm.

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17
Q

Where do cold currents come from?

A

Cold currents flow from areas in high latitudes towards the equator.

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18
Q

Name two currents?

A
  1. The Labrador Current
  2. The Canary Current
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19
Q

What are air masses?

A

Air masses are large moving pockets of air that are distinct from the surrounding atmosphere.

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20
Q

Explain 2 characteristics all air masses have.

A
  1. The temperature, pressure and moisture are similar at any point within the air mass.
  2. They travel across the atmosphere as a single unit.
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21
Q

Explain 4 types of air masses.

A
  1. Tropical continental Air masses from the Sahara bring dry sunny weather.
  2. Arctic Air masses from the North Pole bring cold weather conditions.
  3. Tropical maritime Air masses from the south-west bring rain all year round.
  4. Polar continental Air masses from north-east Europe bring dry, cold and frosty nights and heavy snowfall in winter.
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22
Q

What are isobars?

A

Isobars are lines on a weather map which join together places of equal atmospheric pressure (measured in millibars)

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23
Q

How do fronts occur?

A

Fronts occur where two different air masses meet.

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24
Q

How are warm fronts formed?

A

Warm fronts are formed when warm air rises over a mass of cold air.

25
Q

Learn how to draw ‘Development of a warm front’ on slide 30

A
26
Q

How does a cold front occur?

A

A cold front occurs where a cold air mass replaces a warmer air mass.

27
Q

Learn ‘Development of a cold front’ on slide 32

A
28
Q

How do occluded fronts occur?

A

Occluded fronts occur at the point where a cold front takes over a warm front or the other way around.

29
Q

What is a cloud?

A

A cloud is a large collection of very tiny droplets of water or ice crystals held in the atmosphere.

30
Q

What are stratus clouds?

A

Stratus clouds occur below 2000m. They look like flat sheets of cloud, and indicate an overcast or rainy day. These clouds are usually a uniform grey colour, and cover most of the sky.

31
Q

What are cumulus clouds?

A

Cumulus clouds are fluffy or wooly in appearance, they occur below 5000m, they are also known as fair weather clouds, and they can bring rain if they darken in colour.

32
Q

What are cirrus clouds?

A

Cirrus clouds usually occur at 8000m. They are wispy because there is very little water vapour at this height so big thick clouds cannot form. They are made of ice crystals and they are associated with fair weather.

33
Q

What is precipitation?

A

Precipitation is any form of water – liquid or solid – that falls from the sky. It includes rain, sleet, snow, hail and drizzle.

34
Q

What is condensation?

A

Condensation is the process by which the water vapour held in the air is turned back into water droplets that fall as rain.

35
Q

Explain how convectional rainfall occurs. (Diagram - slide 42)

A

The warm air rises because it is less dense. As the warm air rises it becomes cooler and condenses to form clouds. These clouds produce rain. They also occasionally produce thunder and lightning.

36
Q

Explain how cyclonic (or frontal) rain occurs (diagram - slide 44)

A

The lighter, less dense, warm air is forced to rise over the denser cold air. This causes the warm air to cool and begin to condense. As it rises, further condensation occurs and rain is formed. Frontal rain brings a variety of clouds, which cause moderate to heavy rainfall.

37
Q

Explain how relief rainfall occurs (diagram - slide 46)

A

Prevailing winds pick up moisture from the sea as they travel across it, making the air moist. When this moist air reaches the coast it is forced to rise up over the coastal mountains and hills where it cools and condenses, forming clouds. As air continues to be forced over the mountain it drops its moisture as relief rain. Once over the mountain, the air will usually drop down the other side, warming as it does so. This means it can hold more moisture and so there is little rain on the far side of the mountain. This area is called the rain shadow.

38
Q

What is the difference between weather and climate

A

Weather refers to the state of the atmosphere at a given time and place.
Climate describes the common, average weather conditions at a particular place over a long period of time.

39
Q

What is a meteorologist?

A

an expert in or student of meteorology; a weather forecaster.

40
Q

Who is the weather forecast important to?

A
  1. Farmers so they can plan when to harvest crops and sow seeds.
  2. Airlines so they can cancel flights if the weather forecast is expected to be bad.
41
Q

What is a weather station?

A

A weather station is a place with equipment and instruments for observing and recording the weather.

42
Q

What are synoptic charts?

A

The information gathered from weather stations is put onto weather maps called synoptic charts.

43
Q

What is a thermometer?

A

A thermometer is the instrument used to measure air temperature.

44
Q

What are isotherms?

A

Isotherms are lines on a weather map that join places of equal temperature.

45
Q

Learn how to draw water cycle.

A
46
Q

What is a maximum thermometer and what is a minimum thermometer?

A

A maximum thermometer measures the highest temperature.
A minimum thermometer contains alcohol and shows the lowest temperature.

47
Q

What is temperature range?

A

The temperature range is the difference between the highest temperature and the lowest temperature. It can be calculated for daily, monthly or annual.

48
Q

What is atmospheric pressure?

A

Atmospheric pressure is the weight of the atmosphere pressing down on the Earth.

49
Q

What is a barograph used for?

A

A barograph is the instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure, which consists of a small container with a moveable top.

50
Q

What is humidity?

A

Humidity is the amount of water vapour or moisture in the air.

51
Q

What is a hygrometer used for?

A

A hygrometer is used to measure the humidity of the air.

52
Q

What is a Stevenson Screen?

A

A Stevenson screen is a box that is painted white to reflect the heat of the sun. It has slatted sides to allow air to pass through the screen. This ensures accurate readings as the instruments (thermometer, barograph, hygrometer) are not in direct sunlight.

53
Q

What is a wind vane?

A

A wind vane is the instrument used to show the direction of the wind.

54
Q

What is an anemometer used for?

A

An anemometer is an instrument that measures the wind strength or speed

55
Q

What is a rain gauge?

A

A rain gauge is used to measure the amount of rainfall.

56
Q

What are isohyets?

A

Isohyets are lines on a weather map showing areas of equal rainfall.

57
Q

What instrument is used to measure sunshine?

A

Sunshine is measured using a Campbell-Stokes
sunshine recorder.

58
Q

What is solar radiation?

A

The energy that travels through space from the sun is called solar radiation.

Geography (10 decks)

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