Latitude - factors affecting temperature
Latitude refers to the location of a place in relation to the equator (0°), the closer a place is, the warmer and wetter it is.
Places nearer the north/south pole (90°N/S) are colder and drier.
Relief (altitude) - factors affecting temperature
Relief refers to the height of the land.
Places situated on flat, low land are warmer as temperatures decreases on average by 1°C for every 100m in height.
As warm air rises it cools, condenses and forms clouds. These clouds then release precipitation.
Aspect - factors affecting temperature
Aspect refers to the direction that a place is facing in relation to the sun.
Places that are south facing are usually warmer and sunnier because they facing the equator.
Distance from sea - factors affecting temperature
Places closer to the sea experience mild and wet weather conditions because clouds lose their moisture as they are blown across land.
Places further from the sea are drier and warmer in summer because the sun heats up the land quicker than the ocean.
However, in winter, oceans retain heat better than land and sometimes coastal areas can be slightly warmer.
Prevailing winds - factors affecting temperature
Prevailing winds can influence temperatures, depending on the origin of the wind.
How are air masses formed
Formed when this air remains over an area for several days and assumes the climate properties of that area.
Land (continental) = dry
Water (maritime) = wet
Tropics = warm
Polar = cold
5 air masses which affect the UK
- artic maritime
- polar maritime
- polar continental
- tropical maritime
- tropical continental
Polar maritime - characteristics
- air comes from north-west from the Atlantic ocean
- affects UK all year round
- cool conditions
- brings rain
- brings strong winds usually westerly/ North westerly
Tropical maritime - characteristics
- Air comes from the SW from the Atlantic ocean
- affects the UK all year round
- very mild, wet and windy in winter
- warm in summer, but not hot and some rain
- strong SW winds
Tropical continental - characteristics
- air comes from the south from North Africa
- only occurs in summer
- heatwave conditions or droughts
- little or no rain
- dry and hot
- light breeze
Polar continental - characteristics
- air comes from the east from Central Europe and Asia
- very cold, freezing g temperatures in winter
- warm conditions in summer
- very little winds
Artic maritime - characteristics
- air comes from the North from the Atlantic Ocean
- very cold conditions
- mostly affects the UK in winter
- brings snow to North Scotland
- often lasts several days
- brings cold relatively strong winds
- rainy in summer
Impacts of a prolonged spell of a tropical continental air mass - advantages
- brings lovely weather and so tourism increases, especially in coastal areas.
- there will be a rise in ice cream, sun cream sales etc, due to the good weather.
Impacts of a prolonged spell of a tropical continental air mass - disadvantages
- can cause a huge traffic increase as people travel to the seaside
- can cause an increase in litter pollution in local areas.
- increase in the number of people suffering from sun stroke, which will put pressure on the NHS
- people being exposed to UV light can lead to skin cancer.
Impacts of a prolonged spell of an artic maritime air mass - advantages
- increase in the sales of gloves and hats as temperatures drop.
- increase in tourism in areas that can be used for snow sports.
Impacts of a prolonged spell of an artic maritime air mass - disadvantages
- the snow it brings can cause traffic chaos leafing to an increase in accidents
- increase in snow can lead to avalanches in mountainous areas.
- cold weather means frost and ice makes the ground slippery and dangerous. This increases accidents and puts pressure on the NHS
Temperature - reasons for weather conditions
Places nearer to the equator (south of UK) are warmer. Places further away (North of UK) are colder.
Wind speed - reasons for weather conditions
The closer together isobars are, the windier it is. The further apart isobars are, the calmer it is.
Precipitation - reasons for weather conditions
Places get types of precipitation because of weather fronts.
There are cold fronts and warm fronts.
If a place is closer to a front, it will receive precipitation. If a place is far away from a front it will receive no precipitation.
Cloud cover - reasons for weather conditions
There will be a higher cloud coverage if a place is on or near a front.
There will be lower cloud coverage if a place is far away from a front.
Air pressure - reasons for weather conditions
Any location that lies below 1000mb is in a low pressure system. Any location that lies above 1000mb is in a high pressure system.
Low pressure systems are called depressions and high pressure systems are called anticyclones.
Wind direction - reasons for weather conditions
In a depression, winds blow in an anticlockwise direction. In an anticyclone, winds blow in a clockwise direction.
Characteristics of weather associated with depressions
Depressions are low pressure weather systems which usually move from West to East across the UK. They bring wet (cumulonimbus clouds), windy and unsettled weather at all times of the year due to their origin in the Atlantic ocean.
Characteristics of weather associated with anticyclones
Anticyclones are areas if high pressure (>1000mb). Wind blows clockwise in high air pressure systems.
Winter weather:
- freezing nights
- clear skies
- dry
- little or no cloud (nimbostratus clouds)
- cold
- fog that may last all day
- early morning frost
Summer weather:
- clear skies
- dry
- hot
- cool nights
- little clouds (nimbostratus clouds)
- early morning dew and mist
