Nat 5 Weather

Latitude

Latitude determines the angle at which the Sun's rays hit the Earth's surface.

Relief

Temperature decreases on average 1 degree Celsius for every 100 metres.

Aspect

In the northern hemisphere, south facing slopes get more sunlight than the southern hemisphere, and the southern hemisphere's northern facing slopes get more sun.

Distance from the sea

Places nearer to the sea are mild and places further from the sea have more extreme temperatures.

Air mass

An air mass is a large volume of air that is determined by the region it has come from.

Arctic maritime

Comes from the north.

Polar continental

Comes from the east.

Tropical continental

Comes from the south.

Tropical maritime

Comes from the southeast.

Polar maritime

Comes from the northeast.

Maritime

Means coming over the sea.

Continental

Means coming over land.

Weather characteristics of air masses

Over arctic = cold, over tropics = warm, over land = dry, over water = wet.

Tightly packed isobars

Indicate low air pressure and high wind speeds.

Spaces out isobars

Indicate high air pressure and low wind speeds.

Low pressure system

Another name is Depression.

Movement of a depression

It moves anticlockwise and brings clouds, rain, and fast winds.

Nimbostratus clouds

Dark, grey, featureless layers of cloud, thick enough to block out the Sun.

Cumulonimbus cloud

Menacing looking multi-level clouds, extending high into the sky, the only cloud that can produce hail, thunder, and lightning.

High pressure system

Another name is Anticyclone.

Movement of a high pressure system

Moves clockwise and brings high temperatures.

Advantages of an anticyclone

Warm weather improves people's mood and rises sales of summer goods such as sun cream and ice cream.

Disadvantages of an anticyclone

Hose pipe bans, droughts, and people can suffer sunburns.