Download GeographyWeatheryear8knowledgeorganiser

Year 8
Weather
Climate
Atmosphere
How do we
measure the
weather?
Weather
is the conditions in the atmosphere on a particular place at a certain time.
= is the average weather conditions of a certain place over a long period of time.
= is the layer of gas around the earth, we call the lower part of it air.
Beaufort scale = measuring the strength of the wind - an Anemometer measures the
speed of the wing
Thermometer – measures the temperature
Rain gauge – measures rainfall in millimetres
Cloud cover – measured in oktas or eighths
What affects Latitude - distance north or south of the equator measured in degrees up to 90 degrees
the
Altitude - the height of something (such as an airplane) above the level of the sea – the
temperature? higher the altitude the colder the temperature
The Gulf Steam – a plume of warm water which travels across the North Atlantic and
bathes the United Kingdom in warm moist air
Solar radiation – energy from the sun in the form of heat and light – the nearer the
equator the greater the intensity
Curve of the earth – the earth is curved with the equator being at the widest part
Air pressure – the higher the altitude, the lower the air pressure and the lower the
temperature
=
Biomes of the A biome is a community of plants and animals living in a particular climate.
world
Biomes
Polar – Antarctica, The Arctic
Deserts – hot and cold
Mountain
Tropical rainforest – found on or near the equator
How do
Cold climates – thick fur, small ears(to avoid losing heat), layers of blubber(fat) to keep
animals
warm, colour(camouflage), short legs and round bodies
adapt?
Hot climates – thin fur, large ears(help regulate temperature), long limbs to spread body
heat, often nocturnal as it is cooler
Alaska
Most northerly of the United States of America – polar climate
Blizzards - a severe snowstorm that goes on for a long time with high winds. Blows snow
into drifts/piles
Dubai
In the Middle East – hot desert, very little precipitation
Coping with
How to prepare for a blizzard - a severe snowstorm that goes on for a long time with
blizzards
high winds. Blows snow into drifts/piles
Stock up on food
Candles for light
Warm clothes
Sleeping bags and blankets
Fresh water
Gas camping stove
Board games and playing cards, books etc. to keep you occupied
Effects of
blizzards
Rainfall
Social – people – family, friends, colleagues
Economic – money, jobs, trade
Environmental – nature and your surroundings
Short term – days or weeks
Long term – months or years
A form of precipitation (water falling from the sky) along with – snow, sleet, hait and
fog
Air masses
Polar maritime – cold moist air
Tropical maritime – warm moist air
Tropical continental – warm dry air
Polar continental – cold dry air
Arctic maritime – cold moist air from the North
Convectional
rainfall
Frontal
rainfall
A depression
Synoptic
charts
Convectional rainfall. When the land warms up, it heats the air above it. This causes the
air to expand and rise. As the air rises it cools and condenses. If this process continues
then rain will fall.
Frontal rainfall is a type of condensation that occurs when a cold front meets a warm
front. Warm air is less dense than cold air. When the two air masses meet, warm air is
forced over the cold air, because it is less dense
Depressions are areas of low atmospheric pressure which produce cloudy, rainy and
windy weather. These low-pressure systems often begin in the Atlantic, moving
eastwards towards the UK. They are responsible for the UK's changeable weather
A synoptic chart is the scientific term for a weather map. Synoptic charts provide
information on the distribution, movement and patterns of air pressure, rainfall, wind
and temperature.