Insolation, Atmospheric Pressure, Winds & Humidity: 20 flashcards
All 20 flashcards from this kit, free and with no sign-up.
1. What is insolation?
Show the answer
Incoming solar radiation — the energy Earth receives from the Sun.
2. Why is insolation strongest at the equator?
Show the answer
Sunlight strikes almost vertically, concentrating energy into a small area and passing through less atmosphere.
3. Why do the poles receive weaker insolation?
Show the answer
Slanting rays spread the same energy over a larger area and travel through more atmosphere, so more is absorbed or reflected.
4. What causes Earth's seasons?
Show the answer
The 23.5° tilt of Earth's axis, which changes the Sun's angle at each latitude as Earth orbits.
5. Define atmospheric pressure.
Show the answer
The force exerted by the weight of air molecules pressing down on a surface.
6. What is standard sea-level pressure?
Show the answer
About 1013 millibars (101.3 kPa).
7. How does pressure change with altitude?
Show the answer
Pressure decreases with altitude because there is less air above you.
8. Why does warm air create low pressure?
Show the answer
Warm air expands, becomes less dense, and rises, reducing the pressure at the surface.
9. What direction does wind blow?
Show the answer
From regions of high pressure to regions of low pressure, along the pressure gradient.
10. What is the Coriolis effect?
Show the answer
The deflection of moving air — to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere — caused by Earth's rotation.
11. Where do trade winds blow and in which direction are they deflected?
Show the answer
From the subtropical highs toward the equatorial low; northeast trades in the NH and southeast trades in the SH.
12. Where do the westerlies blow?
Show the answer
From the subtropical highs toward the subpolar lows, curving from the southwest in the NH and northwest in the SH.
13. What are the doldrums and horse latitudes?
Show the answer
The doldrums are the calm equatorial low; the horse latitudes are the calm subtropical highs.
14. Define absolute humidity.
Show the answer
The actual mass of water vapour per unit volume of air.
15. Define relative humidity.
Show the answer
The actual vapour content compared to the maximum the air could hold at that temperature, expressed as a percentage.
16. How does temperature affect the air's capacity to hold vapour?
Show the answer
Warm air can hold more water vapour than cold air.
17. What is the dew point?
Show the answer
The temperature at which air becomes saturated and condensation begins.
18. Does high humidity always mean rainfall?
Show the answer
No — rain needs the air to rise and cool so that condensation occurs.
19. What drives the Indian monsoon?
Show the answer
Summer insolation heats the land, creating low pressure that draws in moist ocean air, which then produces heavy rain.
20. What is orographic rainfall?
Show the answer
Rainfall that occurs when moist winds are forced to rise over mountains, leaving a dry rain shadow on the leeward side.
Your notes can be a kit like these
Every kit here was made from real study material. Point Veda at a chapter, a PDF, a photo or a link and get notes, flashcards, practice MCQs, games and a scored test — free, in 42 languages.
- Chapter notes
- Flashcards
- Practice MCQs
- Scored tests
- Exam prep
Get Veda free See what students get
Free to start · No ads · Works in 42 languages