CLIMATOLOGY LAST PUSH

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FOR THE LOVE OF GEO
1. Mid-latitude cyclone General characteristics
1.1 When do mid-latitude cyclone occur/Season? Winter  1
1.2 Where do they occur? between 40 ̊ and 60 ̊ latitude in both hemispheres 
1.3 What is their travelling direction? west to east 2
1.4 Why are they taking that particular direction? Westerlies trade winds  2
1.5 What is the change in wind direction called? Backing  2
1.6 What is their rotation? In the southern hemisphere Clockwise in the northern hemisphere Anti-clockwise 2
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1.2 .Drawings with details

1.2.1 Plan view 1.2.2 Plan view 1.2.3 Cross section 1.2.3 Cold front in
mature stage occlusion stage of a matured relation to SA

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1. 3.Explanations

1.3.1 Explain how occlusion comes about?

An occlusion occurs when a cold front catches up with a warm front at the
center of the mid-latitude cyclone
This is due to the cold front moving faster than the warm front as it is cold and dense air
This forces all warm sector air off the surface
This results in cool and cold air masses behind the cold front and in front of the warm front
The coldest of these air masses forces the cool air to rise resulting in light showers

1.3.2 Explain why cold fronts are associated with heavy rain

Cold air undercuts the warm air 

Warm air is forced to rise very high 
Large scale condensation takes place 
Steep gradient causes rapid/strong upliftment of air resulting in the
formation of cumulonimbus clouds which result in heavy rain 

1.4 Discussions [4]

1.4.1 Discuss the change in weather pattern in an area as mid-latitude cyclone passes

Heavy rainfall/Thunderstorms/Hail 

Extremely/Very low temperatures 

Possible snowfalls 

Gale force/Strong winds 

Cumulonimbus clouds/Thick clouds

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1.4.2 Discuss the impacts of mid-latitude cyclone on the following:

Economy Physical/Environmental (NB)!!!! Human/ society/social

Agricultural lands are flooded and Flooding and heavy winds will destroy People will experience cold and
economy decreases. natural vegetation uncomfortable weather
conditions
Communication infrastructure such as Biodiversity will be lost due to Flooding will result in Loss of human
telephone lines, roads and bridges is flooding and cold conditions lives and livestock
destroyed and economy drops
People cannot go to work because of The soil will be eroded by floods Coastal buildings and houses are
cold conditions and flooding  leading to ecosystems being destroyed by storm surge
disturbed
Water supply infrastructure such Natural Habitants are destroyed People loos there houses and
pipelines is destroyed by floods. belongings due to flooding
Airports cannot operate and tourism Rivers and dams are heavily silted as Water supply infrastructure such
industry is also disturbed a result of topsoil erosion. pipelines is destroyed.
Harbours and ports stop their Outbreak of many water borne
operations and shipping of diseases such as; cholera, bilharzias,
manufactured goods comes to a malaria fever, and typhoid.
standstill, and the economy
declines.
More money is spent on repairing Coastal areas submerge and drawn
broken infrastructure. under water.
8 8 8

1.5 Precautionary measures

1.5.1 How can people better prepare for the passing of mid latitude cyclone/cold front?
Have accurate early warning systems/Issue early warnings through newspapers, radio, and television.
We need clear evacuation plans 
Prepare food parcels, tents, blankets, and temporal places of safety for all affected victims.
Government must keep stock piles of medicine, food, shelter and water.
Educate people on signs of mid-latitude cyclones and encourage them to use indigenous knowledge
systems.
People must avoid staying along the coasts. 
Build strong and extensive retaining walls along the ocean.
Build houses with strong materials.
2 Tropical cyclone General characteristics
2.1.1 When do they occur/ season? Late summer / early autumn 1

2.1.2 Where do they occur/ Place of origin? Tropical Easterly wind belt/in the warm tropical ocean/ between 5°
and 30° north and south of the equator 1

2.1.3 What is their travelling direction? East to west 1

2.1.4 Why are they travelling in that particular direction? Because they are driven by the tropical easterlies 2

2.1.5 What is their rotation? In the southern hemisphere Clockwise in the northern hemisphere Anti-clockwise 2

2.1.6 Why do they not occur at the equator? There is no Coriolis force in the equator hence they start from 5 N/S
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2.2 Drawings with details

2.2.1 Matured synoptic representation of tropical cyclone 2.2.2 cross section of the matured

2.2.3 What is the eye? The eye is the centre of the tropical cyclone  1

2.2.4 Conditions in the eye are calm. Explain the statement.

Eye has no wind (calm)
Eye has great subsidence of air.
Eye has no clouds (clear)
Eye has no rainfall (dry)
Therefore, Eye is a zone calm clear, dry weather. 6
2.2.5 Give conditions that favours (conditions necessary for the formation) the development of Tropical cyclones.

The warm sea surface temperature of above 27ºC

Condensation to release latent heat

Coriolis force hence they start from 5 N/S

Surface convergence.

Upper divergence.

2.2.6 Tropical cyclones start deteriorating/ loosing strength as soon as they make land fall. Explain the
statement
The cyclone fades or dies because:
Dry air enters the system. 
Moisture supply is cut off. 
Friction with the land results in energy being used up. 

2.2.7 Areas along the coasts will be worst hit by tropical cyclones than areas away from the cast. Discuss the
statement.
Tropical cyclones develops in the oceans and therefore it will affect coastal areas more
Low-lying areas most prone to flooding which puts peoples’ lives at risk 
Storm surges cause coastal flooding 
Heavy down pours of rain will result in flooding on the coasts 
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2.2.8 How can people best prepare (Precautionary measures) against tropical cyclones?

Have accurate early warning systems/Issue early warnings through newspapers, radio, and television.
We need clear evacuation plans 
Prepare food parcels, tents, blankets, and temporal places of safety for all affected victims.
Government must keep stock piles of medicine, food, shelter and water.
Educate people on signs of tropical cyclones and encourage them to use indigenous knowledge
systems.
People must avoid staying along the coasts. 

Tell the communities to vacate places prone to flooding.

Build strong and extensive retaining walls along the ocean.

Build houses with strong materials. 8

2.2.10 if a tropical cyclone of the same strength is to hit both developing and developed countries developing
countries will suffer the most. Discuss the statement.

Poor Developing countries have poor communication links

They do not have early warning systems.
They have poor weather forecasts 
They have Poor infrastructure/ people build with mud 
They have No reserves of food, shelter and medicine.
Dependency on primary economic activities.
People generally very poor.  8
2.2.15 Discuss the impacts of Tropical cyclone on the following

Economy Physical/Environmental (NB)!!!! Human/ society/social

Agricultural lands are flooded and Flooding and heavy winds will Flooding will result in Loss of human
economy decreases. destroy natural vegetation lives and livestock
Communication infrastructure such Biodiversity will be lost due to Coastal buildings and houses are
as telephone lines, roads and bridges flooding destroyed by storm surge
is destroyed and economy drops
People cannot go to work because of The soil will be eroded leading to People loos there houses and
flooding  ecosystems being disturbed belongings due to flooding
Water supply infrastructure such Natural Habitants are destroyed Water supply infrastructure such
pipelines is destroyed. pipelines is destroyed.
Airports cannot operate and tourism Rivers and dams are heavily silted as Outbreak of many water borne
industry and flying of finished goods a result of topsoil erosion. diseases such as; cholera, bilharzias,
is affected malaria fever, and typhoid.
Harbours and ports stop their Coastal areas submerge and drawn
operations and shipping of under water.
manufactured goods comes to a
standstill, and the economy
declines.
More money is spent on repairing
broken infrastructure.
8 8 8
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3 Anticyclones (high pressure cells)

3.1 Identify the high pressure cells marked A,B and C

A South Atlantic High pressure cell 1

B Kalahari High pressure cell  1

C South Indian High pressure cell 1

3.1.2 Draw a detailed diagrams that show the effects of pressure cell B on the climate of South Africa both in
summer and winter.

Summer Winter

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4 Berg wind condition

4.1 Explain berg wind

Berg winds are Hot, dry winds that blow from the interior of South Africa down to coastal areas. 

4.2 Why is the wind hot and dry?

Berg winds are hot and dry because the air has heated by 1°C/100m as its descent down the mountain–
according to the dry adiabatic lapse rate – and increased the air temperature 

Any moisture is evaporated as the air heats up through descent lowering the humidity

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4.3 Draw a simple diagram that shows the formation of berg wind. Also show the temperature change. 6

PLAN VIEW OF FORMATION OF BERG WINDS CROSS SECTION OF BERG WINDS/ temperature change.

4.4 Explain adiabatic heating- the rate at which are dries and heat as it descends down the mountain

4.5 What is the environmental hazard associated with berg wind? Veld fires

5 Moisture front

5.1 What is moisture front? -a moisture front is a zone in the interior of South Africa where two different air
masses meet and result in line thunderstorms/A zone between two air masses with different moisture
content

5.2 What is line thunder storm? - Line thunderstorms are thunderstorms that are arranged in a line from the NW
to the SE over the interior of the country during summer 

5.3 Differentiate between TWO air masses responsible for the formation of moisture front.

South Westerly- which is cold and dry

North Easterlies- which is warm and moist
5.3 Draw a simple diagram that shows the formation of moisture front. Label the winds

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6 Valley climate
6.1 Define valley climate: Valley Climate is a microclimate occurring in a valley

6.2 Define valley inversion layer: Is an increase in temperature with height / altitude

6.3 Drawings

6.3.1 Draw a simple diagram that reflects valley climate at night and during the day. Show the winds.

Day Night

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6.3.2 1 Draw a simple diagram that reflects the effects of valley inversion in winter.

6.4 Discuss the formation of radiation fog in a valley.

Radiation fog forms at night under clear, calm conditions.

The ground is cooled due to terrestrial radiation and the moist air above it also cools
Cold air sinks to the bottom of the valley on winter night
The dew point temperature is above freezing point
The water vapour in his layer condenses to form water droplets
These droplets of water are in suspended air in the air to form Radiation fog
6.5 Discuss the effects of pollution that is trapped in the valley on the following

People Property/Houses Farming

 Poor Visibility  People settle in the  The valley floor freezes at
 Increased traffic thermal belt above the night due to frost pockets
congestion  frost pocket as it is therefore crops like
 Increased motor vehicle warmer at night tomatoes and fruits should
accidents  Land values are higher on not be planted at the
 Respiratory problems such the warmer middle slopes valley floors.
as asthma./ Health which lie within the  On the colder valley floor
Problems thermal belt. frost resistant crops are
cultivated. 
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6.6 How can you best advise farmers at the bottom of the valley?

I will advise the farmer to only plant Frost resistant crops on valley floor
Frost sensitive plants are planted in the thermal belt
He must build his farm house in the thermal belt because it is warmer there

7 Urban heat island

7.1 What is urban heat island? - Urban heat island refers to a situation whereby there are high temperatures
over urban areas compared to the surrounding rural areas.

7.2 Which term is used to describe the side view of the city? Urban profile 

7.4 Explain the difference in pollution concentration (pollution dome) between night and day.

During the day

During the day the dome is high up above city due to warm air rising. 
The inversion layer is lifted above the earth’s surface, there for less concentration of heat
Convection/rising air disperses pollution to upper levels of the atmosphere
The inversion layer is not close to surface to trap pollution
During the night
During the night cold air descends pressing the pollution dome downward/lower.
The inversion layer is closer to the earth’s surface.
Higher concentration of pollution is trapped close to the earth's surface during the night 
Pollution trapped close to the ground mixes with fog/ground based cloud 
Pollutants are more concentrated and closer to the ground due to cooler temperatures and subsiding air.
7.5 Discuss causes of heat in the city

Artificial (human-made) surfaces: Surfaces like tar absorb more heat

Building material: the city is made up of artificial materials that absorb heat faster

Pollution: More factories and cars release more pollution, which traps the heat.

Heat from traffic: there are more vehicles in the city especially during peak hours, generating more heat in the
city.

Heat from buildings: buildings in the city are either cooled or warmed by air conditioners, which produce
heat.
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7.6 Discuss the effects of high temperatures on city dwellers.

Respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis are common because people are exposed to increased levels
of pollution.
Increased human discomfort, especially in summer.
Fatigue due to extreme hot conditions.
High demand for air conditioning
Reduced visibility (due to smog), may lead to an increase in the occurrence of accidents.
Flights may be delayed or transferred to other airports due to poor visibility

7.7 If you are appointed a city manager which measures can you put in place to curb/ reduce high
temperatures?

I would encourage the greening of the city /planting trees, preserving parks, roof top gardens etc.

Use of reflective paint which reflect heat away from buildings, keeping the city cooler. 

Increased public awareness/education 

Improved public transport/ Park-and-ride facilities/ Promote use of bicycles in city centre

Regulate industrial activity at night to reduce the concentration of emissions within the CDB

Bylaws/restrictions to carbon emissions by various pollution producing industries in the city

Chimney stacks tall enough to release smoke above inversion layer

Increase the number of water features 

7.8 Compare between urban and rural in terms of the following. Cancel the incorrect option.

Urban Rural Reason

1 Rainfall High/low High/low More clouds resulting in more rainfall
2 Wind speed High/low High/low In urban areas tall buildings obstruct air flow. Therefore
slowing the air down
3 cloud coverage High/low High/low More pollution creates more condensation nuclei in urban
areas.
4 temperatures High/low High/low High temperature in urban areas due to artificial
surfaces