Grade 8 Geography: Climate and Weather Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the factors influencing climate, South Africa's physical landscape, elements of weather, and global climate regions based on geography lecture notes.

Latitude

The distance from the equator measured in degrees, where $0^{\circ}$ is the equator and $90^{\circ}$ is the North or South Pole.

Altitude

The height of a place above sea level ($0\,\text{m}$); as altitude increases, air temperature generally decreases.

Temperature Range

The difference between the highest and lowest temperatures recorded in a particular area.

Ocean Currents

Streams of water moving through the ocean that can be warm or cold, influencing the temperature and rainfall of nearby land.

Relief

The physical features of a landscape, such as mountains, which can affect temperature and rainfall patterns.

Plateau

An area of high, relatively flat land; the majority of South Africa is situated on a plateau above $1000\,\text{m}$.

Highveld

The highest part of the South African plateau.

Lowveld

The area in South Africa situated between $500\,\text{m}$ and $1000\,\text{m}$ above sea level.

Coastal Plain

The low-lying area around the coast, situated below $500\,\text{m}$ in South Africa.

Benguela Current

The cold ocean current situated along the west coast of South Africa.

Agulhas Current

The warm ocean current, also known as the Mozambique current, situated along the east coast of South Africa.

Windward Side

The side of a mountain range that faces the ocean and moist winds, receiving high amounts of rainfall.

Leeward Side

The side of a mountain range where air descends and warms, often creating a rain shadow desert.

Weather

The day-to-day changes of atmospheric conditions in an area, including temperature, rainfall, and wind.

Climate

The collection of average atmospheric conditions, such as mean temperature and annual rainfall, over a long period in a particular area.

Humidity

A measure of how much water vapour (gas) is present in the air.

Precipitation

Any form of water that falls from the atmosphere to the earth's surface, including rain, snow, and hail.

Anemometer

An instrument used to measure wind speed in kilometres per hour ($\text{km/h}$).

Rain Gauge

An instrument used to measure the amount of precipitation in millimetres ($\text{mm}$).

Equatorial Climate

A climate that is very hot and wet with rain all year and no distinct seasons, such as in Singapore.

Mediterranean Climate

A climate characterized by hot, dry summers and warm, wet winters, such as in Stellenbosch, South Africa or Seville, Spain.

Tundra Climate

A climate with cool summers and very cold winters where the land remains frozen and most precipitation falls as snow.

Continental Climate

A climate with warm summers, cold winters, a large temperature range, and consistent rainfall throughout the year.

Alpine Climate

A climate affected by high altitude, characterized by low temperatures and very high rain or snow.