Weather

• Describe how a prolonged small Summer with a tropical Continental air mass would affect the people of the UK

  1. Tropical continental air mass will bring hot dry weather in Summer

  2. Droughts, hosepipe bans

  3. Grass and crops might wither and die causing problems for livestock

  4. Ice cream sales might rise as people make the most of the Summer weather and head for the beach

  5. Congestion

  6. Very hot and difficult to do physical work outside

  7. Heavy rain from thunderstorms might cause flash floods

  8. People may suffer from heat stroke and put pressure on health services
• Factors that affect UK weather

  • Altitude
  • North Atlantic drift which dumps rain in the west first
  • West is warmer than east
  • South facing areas get more warmth than north facing
  • Latitude - the closer to the equator the warmer
  • Every 100m height you lose 1°C
  • Land heats up quicker than the sea
  • South England warmer than north of Scotland in winter but colder in summer
• Air masses that affect the UK

  • Arctic Maritime
  • Polar Maritime
  • Tropical Maritime
  • Polar Continental
  • Tropical Continental
• Arctic Maritime


  • Very common, cold winds, showers of rain or snow
• Polar Continental


  • Spring-fog, Summer-warm & Dry, Winter-cold possible snow
• Tropical Maritime


  • Winds from SW, very common airflow, only in winter very cold winds, snow showers
• Tropical Continental


  • Wind from Sahara desert, Summertime air mass, Hot and dry = heat wave, Warm air picks up less moisture