Air humidity and precipitation
Hot/cold air absorbs more water vapour than hot/cold air.
Hot air absorbs more water vapour than cold air.
Which sentence is true?
a. Coastal areas have milder temperatures than inland areas.
b. Inland areas have milder temperatures than coastal areas.
a. Coastal areas have milder temperatures than inland areas.
Which sentence is true?
a. In the tropical zone, precipitation is abundant.
b. In the tropical zone, precipitation is very low.
a. In the tropical zone, precipitation is abundant.
How are the Earth's climates classified depending on precipitation and temperatures?
extreme and temperate
The climate in the Canary Islands is...
a. Oceanic
b. Atlantic
c. Subtropical
c. Subtropical
What instrument is used to measure the level of humidity?
A hygrometer
Give the names of the two tropics.
Tropic of Cancer
Tropic of Capricorn
Give the names of two seasons in the tropics.
wet and dry
Which two seasons of temperate zones are more extreme?
Winter and summer
How do the sea and the relief affect the Iberian Peninsula?
The sea creates a mild climate, but the mountains prevent it from influencing inland areas.
What is humidity and where does it come from?
Humidity is the amount of water vapour in the air.
This vapour comes from oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, plants and living things.
Name 3 main climate zones.
A tropical zone, temperate zones and polar zones.
Imaginary lines that are used to show rainfall on a map are called...
isohyets
Can you identify three types of climate in the temperate zones?
oceanic, Mediterranean and continental
This climate is characteristic of the interior of the Peninsula. Its high altitude and distance from the sea means that winters are cold.
The continental Mediterranean climate
Give at least 5 different types of precipitation.
Rain, drizzle, fog, snow, blizzard, dew, frost, hail
How would you define LATITUDE?
Latitude is the horizontal position of a location on Earth from the Equator.
Why is precipitation very low in polar zones?
As there is little sunlight, water freezes and does not evaporate.
Where is the desert climate located?
near the tropics in both hemispheres
How would you characterize the Mediterranean climate?
The Mediterranean climate is found on the coastal strip extending east and south of the Peninsula, the Balearic Islands and Extremadura, which is influenced by the Mediterranean Sea. Temperatures are mild in winter and hot in summer. Rainfall is low, falling in spring and autumn.
Describe the precipitation process
Water vapour cools at high altitudes and it condenses into droplets that accumulate and form clouds.
These droplets remain suspended in the air because they are extremely small and light. If they cool down a lot, they change into ice crystals.
If the air continues to rise, or the temperature cools, new droplets join those already in the clouds. These new droplets are bigger and heavier so they fall as rain.
Why does temperature drop the higher we go?
Temperature drops the higher we go because the air is less dense and does not retain heat.
How would you define areas of low pressures (LP)?
They are called depressions and storms. Warm air weighs less than cold air and rises. When the warm air rises, it carries water vapour with it, which cools, condenses and forms clouds. This is why there is usually precipitation during a storm.
What can you say about a high mountain climate (heigh, temperature, rainfall)?
A high mountain climate is found in areas above 2500 metres. Temperatures are low all year. Rainfall decreases with height, and on mountaintops, it falls in the form of snow.
How would you characterize the oceanic (or Atlantic) climate?
The oceanic or Atlantic climate occupies a narrow strip in the north of the Peninsula. It is characterised by high humidity and mild temperatures throughout the year.