Download Weather and Climate of the British Isles – the Essentials!

Weather and Climate of the British Isles – the Essentials!
The maps below show variations (differences) in Rainfall, Relief and Temperature for Great Britain.
The main points you have to remember for your Common Entrance Examination are:
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There is more rainfall in the west and north of the country, where there is higher land. Much
of this rainfall is RELIEF RAINFALL.
The temperature is higher in the south of the country because this area is closer to the
EQUATOR. This is the effect of LATITUDE.
There is more rainfall in the west compared to the east because of the influence of the
ATLANTIC OCEAN. A warm ocean current called the NORTH ATLANTIC DRIFT leads to more
moisture in the air coming from the west. Much of this rainfall is FRONTAL RAINFALL.
The east of the country has less rainfall due to being in the RAINSHADOW of the hills to the
west.
The temperature in the west of the country is higher in winter due to the warming effect of
the NORTH ATLANTIC DRIFT.
The temperature falls as you go higher up. Therefore, it tends to be colder in the hills of the
west and north. This is the effect of ALTITUDE on temperature.
Temperatures increase further inland during summer but are warmer on the coast during
winter. This is due to the ocean taking longer to heat up and lose heat compared to the land.
Polar Maritime air masses
bring wet and cool
conditions to the north
west of the country
Arctic Maritime air
masses bring rain and
snow in winter
Polar Continental air masses
bring cold weather in winter and
warm weather in summer
North Atlantic Drift is a warm
current which begins in the Gulf
of Mexico – warms the west of
the country in particular
Prevailing (usual) winds from the South West bring
warmth and moisture (rain) to the west of the
country. Tropical Maritime air masses bring warm,
moist air to the west too.
Places
inland are
warmer in
summer and
colder in
winter
The east of the country is in a
Rainshadow – most of the
rain from the east has fallen
over the hills to the west
The south is generally warmer than the
north due to Latitude – the south is closer
to the Equator and the dry Tropical
Continental air mass