made by ruhul amin

1. What do you mean by ‘weather’ and ‘climate’? Distinguish between weather and climate.

Weather refers to the daily changes in the atmosphere, like temperature, wind, humidity, and rain, that we experience at a particular place and time. It can change frequently, sometimes even every hour. Climate, on the other hand, is the average weather of a place over a long period of time, usually 30 years or more. While weather can change from day to day, climate shows a long-term pattern or trend of conditions, like whether a place is usually hot or cold, dry or wet.

2. Mention the elements of weather and climate.

The main elements of both weather and climate are temperature (how hot or cold it is), humidity (how much moisture is in the air), precipitation (any form of water falling from the sky like rain, snow, or hail), wind speed and direction (how fast and in what direction the wind is blowing), atmospheric pressure (the weight of the air pressing down on us), and cloud cover (the amount of cloud in the sky).

3. State the elements of weather and climate.

The elements of weather and climate include temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, atmospheric pressure, and cloud cover.

4. Explain the relationships among temperature, pressure, and humidity.

Temperature, pressure, and humidity are closely connected. When the temperature goes up, the air can hold more moisture, increasing the humidity. If the air is very humid, it means there’s a lot of water vapor in the air. Atmospheric pressure is lower in areas where the air is warm and humid because warm air rises, leaving lower pressure at the ground. On the other hand, cooler air tends to sink, creating high pressure.

5. How are the variations in atmospheric pressure caused?

Changes in atmospheric pressure happen because of differences in temperature. When the air is heated, it becomes lighter and rises, which creates low pressure. When the air is cooler, it becomes heavier and sinks, creating high pressure. The Earth's rotation, the way land and water are spread out, and other factors like mountains also affect pressure patterns and cause variations.

6. Why does wind blow?

Wind is caused by differences in air pressure. Air moves from places of high pressure to places of low pressure to balance things out. The shape of the land and the Earth’s rotation can also change the speed and direction of the wind.

7. What is precipitation? Name the different types of precipitation.

Precipitation is any form of water that falls from the sky, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. The main types of precipitation include rain (water droplets), snow (frozen water), hail (ice chunks), sleet (small ice pellets), and drizzle (light rain).

8. Mention the factors affecting weather and climate.

The main factors that affect weather and climate are latitude (how far you are from the equator), altitude (how high the place is above sea level), distance from the sea (land heats and cools faster than water), wind patterns, ocean currents, and the presence of mountains or other land features.

9. Explain with examples the factors of weather and climate.

Latitude affects the climate because regions near the equator (low latitudes) are hotter, while those near the poles (high latitudes) are colder. Altitude also matters: places at higher altitudes are usually cooler. Areas near the sea, like coastal cities, have milder temperatures, while inland cities can be much hotter or colder. For example, Mumbai, close to the sea, has a more stable temperature compared to Delhi, which is farther from the sea.

10. What are the types of climate?

The main types of climate include tropical (hot and rainy), temperate (mild with distinct seasons), polar (cold with ice and snow), arid (dry and desert-like), Mediterranean (hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters), and mountain (varied climate depending on altitude).

12. Write short notes on the following:

• (a) Relative humidity: This is the amount of water vapor in the air compared to how much the air can hold at a specific temperature. It is shown as a percentage.
• (b) Atmospheric pressure: This is the weight of the air above us pressing down on the Earth. It is highest at sea level and gets lighter as you go higher up.
• (c) Pressure belts: These are areas where the air pressure is either high or low in a circular pattern around the Earth, like the equatorial low-pressure belt and the subtropical high-pressure belt.
• (d) Types of rainfall: There are three main types of rainfall: convectional rainfall (caused by heating the Earth’s surface), orographic rainfall (caused when air rises over mountains), and frontal rainfall (caused when two different air masses meet).
• (e) Effect of latitudes on climate: Latitudes determine how much sunlight a region gets. Areas near the equator are warmer, and areas near the poles are cooler because the sun’s rays hit them at different angles.
• (f) Effect of vegetation on climate: Plants release or absorb moisture into the air. Forests tend to make the air more humid and regulate the temperature, while deserts, with little vegetation, have very hot days and cold nights.
• (g) Monsoon climate: This climate is found in places like South Asia, where there are distinct wet and dry seasons. During the wet season, strong winds bring moisture from the sea, causing heavy rainfall.
• (h) Taiga type of climate: This climate is found in cold regions like parts of Russia and Canada, with very cold winters and short, cool summers.
• (i) Mediterranean climate: This climate has hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, and is found in places like Southern California, parts of Australia, and the Mediterranean region.
• (j) Savanna climate: Found in tropical regions, the savanna climate has distinct wet and dry seasons, with grasslands and scattered trees, such as in parts of Africa and South America.
• (k) Tundra climate: The tundra is extremely cold with little precipitation. It has very short growing seasons and no trees, found in the polar regions.
• (l) Mountain climate: This climate depends on how high the area is. Higher up, it is cooler, and there may be snow-capped peaks, with alpine plants and animals.

13. Answer briefly:

• (a) How far does the atmosphere extend above the Earth’s surface? The atmosphere extends up to about 10,000 kilometers above the Earth.
• (b) What is lapse rate? The lapse rate is how much the temperature drops as you go higher up in the atmosphere.
• (c) What is the average atmospheric pressure at sea level? The average atmospheric pressure at sea level is about 1013 millibars or 1 atmosphere.
• (d) What is the humidity of air? Humidity is how much water vapor is in the air.
• (e) What do you mean by the term ‘saturated air’? Saturated air means the air has as much water vapor as it can hold at a particular temperature.
• (f) What is the latitudinal extension of the equatorial climate? The equatorial climate extends from 5° north to 5° south of the equator.
• (g) In which climate is the Campos grassland found? The Campos grassland is found in the savanna climate, especially in Brazil.
• (h) Mention the latitudinal extension of the Temperate Desert climatic region. The temperate desert climate is found between 30° and 50° latitude, both north and south of the equator.
• (i) What is the other name of the Chinese climate? The Chinese climate is also known as the East Asian Monsoon climate.
• (j) Give an example of irregular wind. An example of irregular wind is the Foehn wind, which is warm and dry, often seen in the Alps.
• (k) Why does a warm airmass have the capacity to hold more water vapor? Warm air molecules have more energy, so they can hold more water vapor before it condenses.
• (l) Why is there more atmospheric pressure at the lower level of the atmosphere? Atmospheric pressure is higher at lower levels because the weight of the air above is greater, pressing down more on the surface.