UK Weather and Climate Factors

Flashcards covering key concepts related to UK weather and climate factors.

What is the effect of latitude on temperature in the UK?

It's warmer near the equator due to intense heating from the Sun; temperatures drop 1°C every hundred meters in height.

How does relief affect rainfall in the UK?

Places that face west towards the Atlantic Ocean receive more warm rain, while places inland are drier as clouds lose moisture.

What type of air mass is Arctic Maritime (Am)?

Arctic Maritime is a cold and wet air mass from the north.

What happens to air pressure as altitude increases?

Air pressure decreases as altitude increases because there is less air above pushing down.

What are the characteristics of high pressure systems?

High pressure is also known as an anticyclone, with isobars typically above 1000 millibars, leading to calm, dry conditions.

What occurs during low pressure systems?

Low pressure, also known as a weather depression, has isobars generally below 1000 millibars and leads to cloud formation and precipitation.

What are occluded fronts?

Occluded fronts occur when a cold front catches up with a warm front, forcing the warm air to rise.

Describe the process of how it rains.

1. Air rises. 2. Air cools under warm air, forcing it to rise. 3. Condensation occurs, forming clouds. 4. Precipitation occurs, commonly in the form of rain.

What are the conditions in summer due to high pressure?

Warm temperatures, good visibility, heat haze, few clouds, and calm gentle winds.

What symbols are used on station circles to represent cloud cover?

Oktas are used to indicate cloud cover, ranging from clear sky (0 oktas) to sky obscured (8 oktas).