Geography Paper 1: Climate, Weather, and Geomorphology Review

A set of flashcards covering climate, weather phenomena like berg winds and tropical cyclones, geomorphology including drainage patterns and fluvial landforms, and essential mapwork skills based on the Geography Paper 1 lecture notes.

What is the general direction of movement for a cold front in South Africa, and what is the reason for this?

The general direction is west to east because they are driven by westerly winds.

What is the general direction of movement for a tropical cyclone, and why?

The general direction is east to west because they are driven by easterly winds.

How is an inversion defined in the context of South African weather?

An inversion is a layer of air in the atmosphere in which temperature increases with height, preventing air below it from rising.

Why is the inversion lower than the escarpment in winter?

It is lower due to the strong sinking air of the Kalahari high.

What happens to the Kalahari high in summer?

It is replaced by a Heat Low because the land is warm, causing the inversion to rise higher than the escarpment.

Define the isobar pattern known as 'Ridging'.

Ridging is the outward extension or bulging of isobars away from the high-pressure centre.

What specific temperature and time frame are associated with the berg wind example in the notes?

A temperature of $44^{\circ}C$ occurring between $10:00 - 14:00$.

What are the three pressure cells necessary for the development of berg winds?

The South Atlantic High, the Kalahari High, and a Coastal Low.

Define a moisture front.

A contact zone between two air masses with different moisture content.

Where do line thunderstorms typically occur in relation to a moisture front?

They happen in a line on the eastern side of the moisture front where the warm, moist air is forced to rise.

How is a 'Saddle' defined in isobar patterns?

A saddle is an area of constant pressure between 2 high pressures or 2 low pressures.

What is the difference between Katabatic and Anabatic winds?

Katabatic winds are downslope winds that form at night, while Anabatic winds are upslope winds that form during the day.

Define the term 'Drainage Density'.

The relationship between the length of streams in a drainage basin and the size of the drainage basin.

Which drainage pattern is described as looking like the branches of a tree with tributaries joining at acute angles?

Dendritic pattern.

What are the underlying structures that lead to a Trellis drainage pattern?

Gently sloping alternating layers of hard and soft rock.

Define an 'Oxbow lake'.

A U-shaped feature formed when a meander is cut off from the river.

What is a 'Braided stream'?

A river that splits into smaller streams.

In the context of stream piracy, what is a 'misfit stream'?

A stream that is too small for the valley it occupies, occurring after its headwaters have been captured by another river.

What formula should be used for Vertical Exaggeration in mapwork calculations, and how should the final answer be indicated?

The formula is $\frac{\text{Vertical Scale}}{\text{Horizontal Scale}}$ and the final answer must indicate 'Times (X)', such as $20\text{ times}$.

What specific grid reference is provided as an example for map skills?

$33^{\circ} 22' 18'' S, 18^{\circ} 34' 42'' E$.