Studied by 10 peoplewind can be defined as
large scale movements of air caused by differences in air pressure
warm air rises, creating a
low pressure belt
cool air sinks, creating a
high pressure belt
weather at a low pressure belt
rainy and cloudy
weather at a high pressure belt
cloudless skies/ no rainfall
trade winds are
surface winds blowing towards the equator
westerlies are
surface winds blowing towards the poles
at 60°N/S
a polar and ferrel cell meet, forming a belt of high low pressure
at 30°N/S
a hadley and ferrel cell meet, forming a belt of high pressure
at the equator
two hadley cells meet, forming a belt of low pressure
in temperate climate zones
warm summers and cool winters
in polar climate zones
very cold temperatures and receive the least amount of sunlight
in tropical climate zones
hot and humid all the time
in arid climate zones
little precipitation and hot temperatures
temperatures in high pressure areas are high because
there are few clouds so little to block the Sun's energy
the albedo effect
is the ability of a surface to reflect away solar radiation
polar ice
has a high albedo
oceans and rainforests
have a low albedo
ocean currents
move heat around the world, North Atlantic Drift
as altitude increases
air pressure decreases, so temperature decreases
the Lut desert in Iran is the hottest place because
it is covered in dark lava, with a low albedo
Antarctica is the coldest place because
98% is covered in polar ice, and it is on the North pole
katabatic winds
winds that move down a slope
jet streams
bands of high-speed winds about 10 kilometers above Earth's surface, with little to slow them down
convectional rainfall
the ground surface is heated by the sun so the air above is warmed up and rises to condense and form clouds
convectional rainfall is common at
the Equator, where temperatures are high
frontal rainfall
the mass of warm air meets the colder air and rises over it (since cold air is heavier), forming steady rain
frontal rainfall is common in
the UK, where warm air from the Tropics meets cold air from the north Pole
orographic rainfall
rainfall produced when a moving moist air mass encounters a mountain range, rises, cools, and releases condensed moisture that falls as rain
examples of places that recieve orographic rainfall
the Khasi Hills
tropical storms
a storm with winds of at least 39 miles per hour
tropical storms form between
5° N/S and 30°N/S, where the ocean is warm
the conditions for a tropical storm
sea temp above 26, depth of 60m, and several grouped thunderstorms
the coriolis effect
is the effect of the Earth's rotation which causes moving air and water to turn left in the southern hemisphere and turn right in the northern hemisphere
formation of a tropical storm
ocean water evaporates and the air rises
low pressure created, which sucks in air from trade winds
humid air from ocean moisture forms storm clouds, releasing energy
in the centre, cool air sinks creating an area of calm clear conditions, known as the eye
wind speed is measured with
anemometer
tropical storms are categorised with
the Saffir-Simpson scale
normally above the pacific ocean
trade winds move from east (South America) to west (Australia)
during La Niña
the trade winds are stronger, causing droughts in South America due to cool seawater, and flooding in Australia due to warm seawater
during El Niño
trade winds weaken or reverse, causing flooding in South America, and droughts in Australia
the crust is
earth's outermost layer, that is 10-70 km thick. divided into tectonic plates
oceanic crust (vs continential)
is thinner and denser than continential crust
the mantle
semi molten rock between the crust and core
convection currents are
circular currents in the mantle caused by the magma being heated by the core of the Earth
formation of convection currents
the lower part of the mantle is hotter than the upper parts
the hot magma becomes less dense and rises
the rising magma cools and becomes denser
the magma sinks, and the process is repeated
the core
the central part of the earth below the mantle, divided into the solid inner core and liquid outer core
destructive plate boundaries
plates are moving towards each other, and the denser oceanic crust is subducted beneath the continental crust
processes at destructive boundaries
the mantle melts the plate and mixes with seawater
the mantle becomes less dense and rises through the plate, forming volcanoes
the oceanic plate forms an ocean trench
example of destructive boundary
Andes fold mountains
Nazca plate is subducted under South American plate
collision plate boundaries
two plates made of the same crust are moving towards each other. both plates are pushed upwards creating fold mountains.
example of collision boundary
Himalays mountain range
Eurasian plate collides with Indian plate
constructive plate boundaries
plates move away from each other, and magma rises to fill the gap
the magma cools to form new ocean floor
example of constructive boundary
Mid-Atlantic Ridge, e.g. Iceland
Eurasian plate moves away from North American plate
conservative plate boundaries
plates move past each other, either in opposite directions or in the same direction at different speeds
no crust is destroyed/created
example of conservative boundary
San Andreas Fault
Pacific plate moves alongside North American plate
an earthquake
a sudden violent movement of the Earth's surface, often causing a lot of damage
formation of earthquake
tension builds up as plates get stuck
they eventually jerk past each other
seismic waves are sent out
the focus is
the point in the Earth where the earthquake starts
the epicentre is
the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus
the mercalli scale
rates earthquakes according to their intensity and how much damage they cause at a particular place, from I to XII
a seismometer
measures horizontal or vertical motion during an earthquake
shallow focus earthquakes
have less than 70 km in depth and are formed on tectonic plates moving on/near the surface
average magnitude is 1-5
damage from shallow focus earthquakes
is widespread, as the seismic waves radiate horizontally
deep focus earthquakes
have more than 70km in depth and are caused by crust that has been subducted before
average magnitude is 6-8
damage from deep focus earthquakes
is localised, as the seismic waves radiate vertically
there is a larger distance for the waves to travel
a volcano is
a vent or fissure in the Earth's surface through which magma and gases are expelled
a hotspot is
a weak spot in the middle of a tectonic plate where a plume of magma surfaces, forming a volcano (ex: Hawaii & Yellowstone)
ash from volcanos
cover land and block the Sun
a pyroclastic flow is
a dense, destructive mass of very hot ash, lava fragments, and gases ejected explosively from a volcano and typically flowing downslope at great speed
composite volcanos
are formed at destructive boundaries
the lava is viscous and cools quickly
the shape is a steep sided cone
eruptions are very explosive as magma sometimes blocks vents
shield volcanoes
are formed at hotspots and constructive boundaries
the lava is runny and flows quickly
the shape is gently sloped
eruptions aren't very explosive
technological developments in LIDCs
lightweight thatch roofs
cross braced wood or bamboo frames
concrete ring to tie walls to foundations
technological developments in ACs
damper in roof reduces sway
cross bracing stops floors collapsing
shock absorbers and strong steel frame
gas pipes can flex and immediately switch off
very deep foundations
predicting earthquakes
is hard to do, however a seismic gap can be used to identify areas that haven't experienced earthquakes in a while
warning systems
smart phone warning systems
earthquake drills to educate people
having go-bags that contain survival equipment
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Flashcard (53)