Year 7 - Geography
World climate zones
Weather and climate: how do they vary?
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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 the physical processes that help explain our weather and climate. Pupils will use fieldwork to investigate weather in their local area. Pupils will also learn about how and why our climate is changing.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe the pattern of climate zones and know some of the factors that affect climate, such as latitude.
Key Notes
- Climate zones are areas with a similar climate.
- Factors such as alititude, latitude and distance from the sea affect the weather and climate of a location.
- The height above sea level affects the temperature.The higher above sea level, the cooler the temperature.
- Coastal areas tend to have warmer winters than inland areas as water takes longer to warm up.
Vocabulary To Learn
- climate zones: areas that have similar weather conditions and climate, e.g. the tropics
- temperature: the degree of hotness or coldness of a place
- latitude: lines of latitude are imaginary lines on Earth showing position north or south of the Equator, measured in degrees
- altitude: height above sea level or ground level
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- It is always colder at the coast because it is near water.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this geography topic using two clear key points.
Climate zones are areas with a similar climate. Factors such as alititude, latitude and distance from the sea affect the weather and climate of a location.
2. Define this geography term and use it in an example. 'climate zones'
areas that have similar weather conditions and climate, e.g. the tropics.
3. Correct this common geography misunderstanding.
Mistake: It is always colder at the coast because it is near water. Correction: Students will understand that, in winter, coastal areas tend to be warmer because water takes longer to heat up.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Actions to tackle climate change Study Guide
- Anticyclones Study Guide
- Causes of climate change Study Guide
- Depressions Study Guide
- Fieldwork: Analysing, concluding and evaluating microclimate data Study Guide
- Fieldwork: Planning and collecting microclimate data Study Guide
- Fieldwork: Presenting microclimate data Study Guide
- Impacts of climate change on the UK Study Guide
- Past climate change Study Guide
- The UK's climate Study Guide
- Types of rainfall Study Guide
- Weather and climate Study Guide
- Weather and climate forecasting Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 7 Geography guide library.