Geography weather

• weather is the day to day changes in the conditions of the atmosphere
• climate is the average conditions in the weather taken over a long periods of time (usually 35 years)
• rain gauge is a cylinder which catches rainfall and has a funnel which directs it into a measuring flask. the flask is taken out each day to measure rainfall in mm
• a digital thermometer contains a thermistor. when the temperature rises the thermistor becomes more conductive. a microcomputer pinpoints the temperatures by measuring the conductivity. this is displayed on a LCD screen which is programmed to record the highest and lowest temperature over 24 hours. this is measured in degrees celcius
• a barometer measures air pressure, it balances the weight of mercury against the weight of air. this is measured in milibars (mb).
• barometer high pressure (dry/ calm): when the weight of air pushes the level of mercury up
• barometer low pressure (wet/ windy): when weight of mercury is greater than air pressure the mercury levels fall
• an amemometer is 3 hemisphereical cups which spins when the wnd blows. this is records wind speed in km/h
• wind vane measures wind direction it has 4 main compass points with a indicator dial which is free to move. the arrows point to the direction from which the wind is blowing
• cirrus clouds are wispy and high in sky
• cumulus clouds are low clouds with a flat base
• cumulo- nimbus clouds are high as 10km and storm clouds
• stratus clouds are sheets which cover all/ most of the sky and are very low in the sky
• cloud cover is measured in OKTAS
• land based stations collect data on elements of the weather every synoptic hour (every 3 hours). they do this every day of the year and this can be completed manually or by using a digital display
• rainfall radar- radar units are made up of a transmitter and a reciever. the transmitter sends out microwaves in a circular patter and sends back to the reciever. pattern of the scattering is mapped
• weather buoys are either moored or free floating in the ocean. transmits weather data via satellites to weather centres
• satellites are small spacecrafts which carry weather instruments. they take pictures of cloud patters and record wind speeds. this helps us forecast the weather
• geostationary satellite is positioned over one place and moves at the sae
• geostationary satellite is positioned over one place and moves at the same speed as the earth. it only provides data for that one place
• polar satellite provides daily global coverage. it is able to collect global data from different places on a daily basis
• latitude: places near the equator is warmer and places near the poles are colder
• latitude equator: places near the equator experience more concentrated sun rays. the rays travel through a shorter distance in the atmosphere meaning less energy is loss. also the suns rays approach the location at a 90 degree angle experiencing more direct sunlight
• latitude poles: places near the poles experience more dispersed sun rays because of the curvature of the earth which means the rays approach at an oblique angle. the rays travel through a longer distance which means more energy is loss
• prevailing winds are the most frequent wind direction a location can experience. this has the ability to influence both temperature and rainfall levels
• altitude increase the temperature decrease. as the air pressure decreases the altitude increases the air pressure becomes more thinner lowering the ability to hold heat so temperature decreases
• distance from the sea description: areas close to the sea have a smaller annual temperature range and areas inland have larger annual temperature range
• distance from the sea: in summer the sea heats up slowly- longer than land but holds heat longer. in winter the warm sea which surrounds the coastal area spreads heat to the nearby land. the land quickly heats up however looses heat quickly. this creates larger temperature difference between summer and winter
• air masses is a body of air which takes on moisture and temperature characteristics from its place of origin
• polar maritime: winter- cold and wet and summer- cool and damp. wet- travels over the Atlantic ocean and wet- originates from northern canada
• polar continental: winter- dry and cold and summer- hot and dry. dry- travels over landmass
• tropical maritime: winter- wet and mild and summer- rainy and warm. wet- travels over the Atlantic ocean and mild/ warm- originates from Azores
• tropical continental: winter- mild and dry and summer- hot and dry. dry- travel over landmass and mild/ hot- originates from sahara
• depressions warm front: TM air meets PM air which they both have different densities so they do not mix. lighter TM air rises cool and condenses bringing clouds and rain
• depressions warm sector: warm TM air holds more moisture as water vapour therefore it drizzles or stays dry. air also slowly rises here
• depressions cold front: colder PM air undercuts TM air forcing the TM air to rise cool and condense forming large clouds and heavy rainfall
• depressions move from west to east
• anticyclones dry/ bright: air is sinking warms up and holds moisture as water vapour. no condensation occur or no clouds formation allowing sunlight to radiate with ease
• anticyclones calm conditions: isobars are far apart gentle pressure gradient. wind slowly moves areas of high pressure to low
• anticyclones summer high temperature: air is sinking so no condensation or no clouds meaning skies are clear full of insulation of suns rays. high angles sun means long hours of daylight and long hours of insulation