Explain Geography of Weather And Climate Flashcards

-Weather refers to the conditions of the atmosphere at a specific place over a relatively short period of time. -
-Climate refers to the atmospheric conditions of a specific place over a considerable period of time usually up to 30-35 years.

Temperature, Relative Humidity, Precipitation, Pressure and Winds

The Sun's rays strikes the Earth's surface at different angles at different latitudes. The Sun's rays strike the equator perpendicularly, hence the solar radiation there is concentrated over a small area. This explains why places near the equator have hot climates. On the other hand, the Sun's rays strike the North and South poles at an angle, hence the solar radiation is spread over a larger area. This explains why places in the poles have cold climates.

At higher altitudes, the air is thinner and made up of a smaller concentration of gas, dust, and water vapour than compared to the dense air at sea level. Thin air cant absorb heat as effectively as the dense air at sea level as there is a smaller concentration of gases to trap heat.

-Maritime effect refers to the effect that large ocean bodies have on the climate of coastal areas. It causes places to have a smaller temperature range annually.
-Continental effect refers to the effect that continental surfaces have on the climate of inland areas far away from the sea. It causes these places to have a larger temperature range annually.

In places with lack of cloud cover, such as deserts, it allows large amounts of solar radiation to reach the surface during the day.However at night, the lack of cloud cover enables heat to escape quickly to the surroundings. Hence, places with less cloud cover experiences a large day and night temperature difference.
In places with more cloud cover, it reflects some of the Sun's rays back to space. Hence, less solar radiation is absorbed by the Earth's surface. At night, the cloud cover traps the heat from escaping into the surroundings. Hence, places with more cloud cover experiences a smaller day and night temperature difference.

Places with a higher relative humidity tend to have more rainfall, such as Singapore. With a higher relative humidity, the maximum amount of water vapour that the air can hold will be more. On the other hand, paces with lower relative humidity, such as deserts, will have lesser water vapour present in the air and hence, less rainfall occurs. However, temperature of both places are high.

As the Earth's surface is heated up, water from water bodies are evaporate, increasing the amount of water vapour present in the air, thereby increasing relative humidity. At the same time, the heated air above the Earth's surface rises and decreases in temperature as it rises up to higher altitudes until the air reaches its saturation point. This is the point where the air is carrying the maximum amount of water vapour it can hold. Hence, water vapour condenses on microscopic dust particles found in the air, forming water droplets which fall back down to the Earth as rain.

Convectional rain occurs when there is intense heating of the Earth's surface and usually occurs in places with tropical climates in the morning or early afternoon. The high temperatures in tropical regions increase the relative humidity of the place. The air rises quickly as it is heated and once it reaches the saturation point, it condenses and falls as rain. Convectional rain is usually brief and can be described as heavy rain falls accompanied by thunder and lightning.

It occurs mainly in places where moist air from the sea is forced over a highland such as a mountain. When wind blows across the sea, it picks up large amounts of water vapour from the water surface. As a result, relative humidity increases and is forced to rapidly rise up a mountain range (if there is one present). Clouds are formed when the air reaches its saturation point and rain falls. The rain mostly falls on the windward side of the mountain which is the side facing the oncoming wind. The rain usually ceases once it reaches he other side of the mountain known as the leeward side as the air would have lost most or all of its moisture. On descending the leeward side, the air is warmed by hear near the Earth's surfaces and becomes a dry wind. This is known as the "rain shadow effect" or "leeward side effect".

Sea breezes occur when cool air over the sea blow towards the land and replaces the warm air there. This happens when during the day, the land heats up faster than the sea. As a result, the air above the land gets heated and rises, creating an area of low pressure over the land. On the other hand, an area of high pressure develops over the water surface as the sea does not heat up as quickly as the land. As wind always blows from an a area of high to low pressure, the air over the sea blows toward the land.

Land breezes occur when the wind from the land blows towards the sea. At night, the land loses heat faster than the sea and hence, the air above the land cools and sinks, creating an area of high pressure. The sea loses heat slowly, hence the air above the sea is warmer and rises, creating an area of low pressure. As wind always blows from an a area of high to low pressure, the air over the land blows towards the sea.