Cambridge Geography AS Ultra Revision Test 2, with questions and answers for chapter 2 Atmosphere and Weather. This is a test with 30 questions, 2 minutes each.

1. CAMBRIDGE GEOGRAPHY AS
ULTRA REVISION
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
REVISION TEST 2
ATMOSPHERE AND WEATHER

2. This presentation contains 30 questions. Each slide contains a question,
doable in 2 minutes. After that students will check the answers on the
next slide. All the questions and answers are covering the Cambridge
curricula for 2015. This is an exceptional revision for the month before
the exams. Good luck!

3. Q1. What is meant by the term albedo?

4. A1. What is meant by the term albedo?
The albedo is the proportion of energy that is reflected back to the
atmosphere.

5. Q2. Why is albedo important?

6. A2. Why is albedo important?
Albedo varies with colour - light materials are more reflective than dark
materials, and this can affect how much heat something takes in.

7. Q3. Define mist and fog.

8. A3. Define mist and fog.
Mist is cloud at ground level and occurs when visibility is between
1000m and 5000m whereas fog is cloud at ground level and occurs
when visibility is below 1000m.

9. Q4. What is the difference between radiation fog and advection fog?

10. A4. What is the difference between radiation fog and advection fog?
Radiation fog occurs when the ground loses heat at night by long-wave
radiation and chills the air to its dew point. Advection fog is formed
when warm air flows over a cold surface and its temperature is chilled
to dew point.

11. Q5. Define the term “temperature inversion”.

12. A5. Define the term “temperature inversion”.
A temperature inversion occurs when there is an increase in
temperature with height, rather than a decrease.

13. Q6. Explain why temperature inversions occur.

14. A6. Explain why temperature inversions occur.
Temperature inversions occur when there are relatively calm (high
pressure) conditions and little wind causing the air to mix. As the cold
air at the surface is dense, it will tend to stay at surface. During the
longer nights of winter there is even more time for the air near the
surface to cool.

15. Q7. Describe the problems associated with temperature inversions.

16. A7. Describe the problems associated with temperature inversions.
Temperature inversions are important as they influence air quality
(pollution). Under high-pressure conditions and limited air movement,
a temperature inversion will act like a lid on pollutants, causing them to
remain in the lower atmosphere next to the Earth’s surface.

17. Q8. What does insolation stand for?

18. A8. What does insolation stand for?
Incoming solar radiation.

19. Q9. When does the South Pole receive most insolation?

20. A9. When does the South Pole receive most insolation?
December-January (summer solstice).

21. Q10. How much insolation does 80˚ N receive in December and
January?

22. A10. How much insolation does 80˚ N receive in December and
January?
None.

23. Q11. What does STHP stand for?

24. A11. What does STHP stand for?
Sub Tropical High Pressure.

25. Q12. Which has the greater seasonal contrast in pressure - land or sea?

26. A12. Which has the greater seasonal contrast in pressure - land or sea?
Land.

27. Q13. How does a cold land mass influence pressure?

28. A13. How does a cold land mass influence pressure?
It causes high pressure.

29. Q14. What does the word “monsoon” mean?

30. A14. What does the word “monsoon” mean?
Wind reversal.

31. Q15. In what direction does the monsoon blow in July and January?

32. A15. In what direction does the monsoon blow in July and January?
In July - Northwards into India (the southeast monsoon) and in January
- southwards towards Australia (the northeast monsoon).

33. Q16. What is meant by the term “specific heat capacity”?

34. A16. What is meant by the term “specific heat capacity”?
Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat needed to raise the
temperature of a body by 1˚ C.

35. Q17. State two reasons why the poles receive less insolation than the
tropics.

36. A17. State two reasons why the poles receive less insolation than the
tropics.
Insolation has more atmosphere to pass through at the poles, and it is
also less concentrated at the poles.

37. Q18. What happens during evaporation?

38. A18. What happens during evaporation?
In evaporation, water changes from a liquid to a gas, and heat is
absorbed.

39. Q19. What happens during condensation?

40. A19. What happens during condensation?
When condensation occurs latent heat locked in the water vapour is
released, causing a rise in temperature.

41. Q20. What happens during the process of sublimation?

42. A20. What happens during the process of sublimation?
Sublimation occurs when ice (solid) changes to water vapour (gas)
without any melting (water).

43. Q21. What is the significance of the “condensation level”?

44. A21. What is the significance of the “condensation level”?
Condensation level is the altitude at which relative humidity reaches
100% and therefore condensation occurs, forming the base of clouds.

45. Q22. Suggest three different causes of the initial uplift of the parcel of
air.

46. A22. Suggest three different causes of the initial uplift of the parcel of
air.
Uplift can be caused by convectional heating, frontal activity or relief
(orographic uplift).

47. Q23. Define the terms instability and stability.

48. A23. Define the terms instability and stability.
Instability refers to rising air (low pressure) whereas stability refers to
descending air (high pressure).

49. Q24. Under which atmospheric conditions (stability or instability) do
mist and fog form?

50. A24. Under which atmospheric conditions (stability or instability) do
mist and fog form?
Mist and fog forms during stable air conditions.

51. Q25. In terms of global warming, explain why there is an increased risk
of hazards in coastal cities.

52. A25. In terms of global warming, explain why there is an increased risk
of hazards in coastal cities.
As a result of increased temperatures, some glaciers and ice caps will
have begun to melt, raising sea level. In addition, increased
atmospheric energy will mean that there is increased storm frequency
and storm intensity, also adding to the risk of coastal flooding.

53. Q26. Outline the ways in which it is possible to manage the impacts of
global warming.

54. A26. Outline the ways in which it is possible to manage the impacts of
global warming.
International agreements, such as the Kyoto Protocol, give countries
legally binding targets for cuts in emission. Essentially, we need to
release less greenhouse gas (burn less fossil fuel), develop alternative
sources of energy, reduce deforestation, and increase energy
conservation.

55. Q27. Describe the main differences between the climates of urban
areas and those of their surrounding rural areas.

56. A27. Describe the main differences between the climates of urban
areas and those of their surrounding rural areas.
Urban climates are typically warmer, less windy, have more cloud cover
and more rain.

57. Q28. What is meant by the urban heat island?

58. A28. What is meant by the urban heat island?
The urban heat island is a pattern of temperature in large urban areas
in which the maximum is found near the city centre, there is a plateau
across the suburbs and a temperature cliff between the suburban and
rural areas where temperatures are lower than the urban area.

59. Q29. Describe one effect that atmospheric pollution may have on
urban climates.

60. A29. Describe one effect that atmospheric pollution may have on urban
climates.
Higher levels of air pollution make fog and smog more common in
urban areas.

61. Q30. Why are microclimates, such as urban heat islands, best observed
during high-pressure (anticyclonic) weather conditions?

62. A30. Why are microclimates, such as urban heat islands, best observed
during high-pressure (anticyclonic) weather conditions?
Urban microclimates are best observed during calm, high-pressure
conditions because there is less mixing of air with neighbouring rural
areas. During low-pressure conditions, winds mix the rural and urban
air to give a more uniform composition.