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21 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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what is weather? |
condition of atmosphere at a particular place and time |
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what is climate? |
average condition of atmosphere of a specific place over a long period of time, usually over 30 years |
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elements of weather |
1. temperature 2. relative humidity 3. clouds 4. rainfall 5. air pressure 6. wind |
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temperature |
degree of hotness or coldness of a place. determined by energy from sun which reaches earth. energy from sun mostly travels through atmosphere & is absorbed by earth's surface, causes surface to warm up, in turn heats atmosphere. |
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temp: latitude |
D: distance of any point on the earth measured N or S from equator. measured in degrees. most important factor affecting temperature. inversely proportionate. El: earth tilts at 23.5 degrees on its own axis. sun's rays strike at various angles at different parts of earth. Ex: higher latitudes lower temp as solar angle is lower so solar energy spread out over wider area. lower latitudes higher temp (tropics) as solar angle is high, heat from sun concentrated on a small area. |
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temp: altitude pt. 1 |
D: height of place in relation to sea level. temp decreases by 6.5 degrees every 1000m. directly proportionate. El: atmosphere mostly heated by earth's surface. sun's solar energy enters atmosphere, reaches earth' surface in form of shortwave radiation, about 45% directly absorbed by earth's surface, heating it up. warm surface emits heat in form of long wave radiation. higher up you go, further from earth's surface which is heated by sun. |
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temp: altitude pt. 2 |
air is less dense at higher altitudes. dense air able to absorb more heat from long wave radiation from earth's surface-- higher temps. gravity pulls air molecules down towards earth's core, so more air molecules at lower altitudes, denser air. less dense air at higher altitudes less ability to absorb heat and vice versa. |
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temp: distance from sea maritime effect |
D: effect that large ocean bodies have on climate of coastal areas. causes coastal areas to have smaller annual temp range. El: summer-- air over sea cooler than land as land heats up quicker than sea. cooler air over sea helps lower temp of coastal areas. inland hotter. winter-- air over sea remains warmer than land as sea cools slower than land. warmer air over sea increases temp of coastal areas. inland colder cooler summers, warmer winters, small annual temp range. |
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temp: distance from sea continental effect |
D: effect that continental surfaces have on climate of inland areas. causes inland areas to have larger annual temp range. El: inland areas further away from sea, temp not influenced by sea. warmer summers, colder winters, large annual temp range. |
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cloud cover |
D: extent of sky covered by clouds. amount of cloud cover influences temp on earth's surface in the day and night. El: more cloud cover, smaller diff between day & night temps so diurnal temp range is smaller. |
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cloud cover pt. 2 |
high cloud cover (small temp range) day: large portion of sun's energy reflected back into space by clouds. clouds absorb heat from ground. low daytime temp. night: clouds absorb more heat from ground, less heat escapes to space. high nighttime temp. low cloud cover (large temp range) day: small portion of sun's energy reflected back into space by clouds. earth heats up quickly. high daytime temp. night: abscence of clouds allows more heat to escape to space. low nighttime temp. |
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relative humidity |
relative humidity (%) = actual amount of water vapour in air (g/m3)max amount of water vapour air can hold (g/m3) ×100% amount of water vapour in air affects humidity. RH varies with temp. inverse rs: temp increase,air can hold more water, RH decrease |
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saturation |
when the air holds max amnt of water vapour it can hold. occurs when RH at 100%. temp at which is occurs is dew pt temp where condensation starts to occur. |
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clouds |
visible mass of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in atmosphere. water from ground evaporates when ground heats up. as it rises water vapour cools to dew pt. temp. condenses on tiny partices called condensation nuclei. water droplets merge through coalescence to form clouds |
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rainfall |
precipitation = water in any form that falls from atmosphere to earth's surface e.g. hail, snow, sleet rain |
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convectional rain |
D: occurs when earth's surface intensely heated. associated with lightning/thunder and lasts short time but brings heavy rainfall. El: air around earth's heated up surface heats up up and rises. cools to dew pt. temp as it rises, condenses to form cumulonimbus clouds. when clouds become too heavy, fall as rain Ex: Singapore, Brazil |
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relief rain |
D: occurs when warm, moist air forced to rise over landforms e.g. mountain range. in places near water bodies El: wind blows over sea, collects large amounts of water vapour. moist air blown towards mountain where air forced to rise, cool, condense into clouds which fall as rain when water droplets are too heavy. relief rain falls on windward side of mountain, not leeward |
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air pressure |
force exerted on unit area of earth's surface by weight of column of air above it. measured in millibars (mb) with a barometer. air pressure decreases as alititude increases. (dense air example) |
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wind |
air moving from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure. hot air, low pressure; cold air, high pressure |
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land breeze |
blows from land to sea at night. air moves from area of high pressure (land) to low pressure (sea). sea hotter, land cooler. |
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sea breeze |
blows from sea to landin the day. air moves fr higher pressure (sea) to lower pressure (land). |
