Geography+A2+keywords+-+Weather+and+Climate+-+Oxford+textbook.txt

• author "me"
• tags "Bramble1997"
• description ""
• fileName "Geography A2 keywords - Weather and Climate - Oxford textbook"
• freezingBlueDBID -1.0
• Air masses
• Large bodies of air with distinct characteristics of temperature and humidity. They develop over stable areas where they adopt the characteristics of the ground surface, such as cold and dry (Arctic) or warm and wet (Tropics)

Term used to describe the reflectivity of a surface, whereby white surfaces such as ice and the tops of couds are highly reflective (high albedo) and darker surfaces such as forests and roads are less reflective (low albedo)

The air around us, the atmosphere is a layer comprising gases (e.g. nitrogen and oxygen), liquids, (e.g. water) and soils (e.g. volcanic dust)

A model that describes the overall balance between incoming and outgoing heat (radiation) from the Earth atmosphere system

The long term average weather, usually calculated over a period of 30 years

On a synoptic weather chart, a line drawn to mark the forward edge of colder air approaching and undercutting warmer air

Microscopic particles such as dust and volcanic ash that form the nucleus of raindrops and are essential for the process of condensation

The effect of the Earths rotation on, for example, the movement of air (wind) or the direction of "spin" and tracks of tropical cyclones (hurricanes)

Areas of low atmospheric pressure usually associated with cloudy and wet conditions resulting from the rising of air

The increase in the natural greenhouse effect resulting from the emission of additional greenhouse gases from human activities

The term used to describe the recent rise in global average temperatures attributed largely to human activites, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation

The absorption by gases and liquids of long-wave (terrestrial) radiation emitted from the Earth forming a "blanket" of warmth in the lower atmosphere

Intense tropical storms (tropical cyclones) formed over warm oceanic areas in the summer

Term used to describe the amount of short wave radiation (from the sun) that reaches the ground surface having passed through the atmosphere

The zone of convergence and subsequent rising air at the surface boundary of the two Hadley Cells in equatorial regions. This zone is associated with the formation of tropical cyclones (hurricanes)

On a synoptic weather map, lines joining points of equal pressure

In the atmosphere, heat released or absorbed when a change of state place in water. Latent heat is released when water condenses and is absorbed when evaporation occurs

On a synoptic chart, a type of front (boundary between air masses) formed when a cold front catches up and merges with a warm front

Solid particles held in the atmosphere, often emitted from factories, power stations and vehicle exhausts, often considered to be a form of pollution

A type of air pollution involving the formation of harmful chemicl substances in the air by the effects of sunlight. For example, nitrous oxides from vehicle exhausts can react with sunlight to form low level ozone

The boundary between the Polar Cell and the Ferrel Cell at approximatly 60 degrees N/S associated with uplift and instability (cloud and rain)

On a synoptic weather map, the difference in pressure between two points indicated by the closeness of the isobars. A steep pressure gradient (isobars close together) will result in strong winds, and a gentle pressure gradient (isobars far apart) low wind speeds

A type of air pollution associated with calm conditions in winter involving a mix of particulates (e.g. soot) and fog

Incoming short wave energgy from the sun

A rise in the level of the sea and subsequent inundation oflow lying coastal land caused by the passage of an area of intense low pressure, such as hurricanes

A broad zone of high pressure resulting from sinking air at the boundary between the Hadley Cell and Ferrel Cell, found at about 30 degrees N/S

A map or chart that makes use of standard symbols to show features of the weather

A reversal in the normal trend for temperature to decrease with increasing altitude. Temperature inversions commonly occur during clear, calm nights when dense cold air sinks beneath warmer less dense air in valley bottoms, often forming frost and fog

Heat emitted from the Earths surface in the form of long wave radiation

Intense localised storms associated with rapidly rising air currents and violent thunderstorms

The warmer conditions experienced by a city compared with the neighbouring countryside

On a synoptic weather map, a line drawn to mark the forward edge of warmer air approaching and over-riding colder (denser) air

The day to day state of the atmosphere, such as temperature, precipitation etc

Absorb more carbon than they release

Release more carbon than they absorb