Year 10 - Geography
Global atmospheric circulation model, pressure belts and surface winds
Climate change and weather hazards
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit teaches pupils about climate change (causes, impacts and responses) together with extreme weather events, specifically tropical cyclones.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain that the atmosphere operates as a global system, determining pressure, winds and rainfall patterns.
Key Notes
- The atmosphere operates as a global system.
- The atmospheric circulation and ocean currents transfer heat around the Earth.
- The atmospheric circulation determines the location of global pressure belts.
- Global pressure belts affect surface winds and patterns of rainfall.
Vocabulary To Learn
- latitude: this describes how far north or south of the Equator a place is
- atmospheric pressure: the pressure of a column of air at a point on the Earth'ssurface, creating relatively high or low pressure
- surface winds: the movement of air from place to place, generally from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
- Coriolis effect: deflection of winds and ocean currents caused by Earth's rotation
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- The global atmospheric circulation systems controls the temperature of different climate zones.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this geography topic using two clear key points.
The atmosphere operates as a global system. The atmospheric circulation and ocean currents transfer heat around the Earth.
2. Define this geography term and use it in an example. 'latitude'
this describes how far north or south of the Equator a place is.
3. Correct this common geography misunderstanding.
Mistake: The global atmospheric circulation systems controls the temperature of different climate zones. Correction: Global circulation system redistributes heat received at the Equator, but latitude controls temperature of each climate zone. The amount of solar radiation received at each latitude is due to the curvature of the Earth.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Effects of climate change on people and the environment Study Guide
- Evidence for climate change in the Quaternary period Study Guide
- Examples of preparation and responses to tropical cyclones Study Guide
- Natural and human causes of climate change Study Guide
- Reducing risks from effects of tropical storms Study Guide
- Tropical storms – distribution, formation and development Study Guide
- Tropical storms – hazards and effects Study Guide
- Tropical storms – responses Study Guide
- Using GIS to map the track of a tropical storm Study Guide
- Using GIS to visualise climate change impacts Study Guide
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