Cambridge International As-Level Geography - Atmosphere And Weather Questions And Answers 100% Verified A+ Guaranteed

Climate change {Ans: Changes in climate that can occur naturally or as a result of human activity. Natural variations can be caused by fluctuations in the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth; for example, sunspot activity, variations in the Earth's orbit around the Sun, volcanic eruptions and the effects of El Niño. Human influences on the climate range from localised effects such as cloud seeding to produce rain, to the destruction of the rainforests and the enhanced greenhouse effect (global warming).}Orographic (relief) rainfall {Ans: Rainfall that occurs when an airstream is forced to rise over a mountain range. As the air rises, it becomes cooled. The amount of moisture that air can hold decreases with decreasing temperature. So the water vapour in the rising airstream condenses, and rain falls on the windward side of the mountain. The air descending on the leeward side contains less moisture, resulting in a rainshadow where there is little or no rain.}Continentality {Ans: A climate characteristic of a continental area (i.e. a long way from the sea), having very hot summers, very cold winters and low rainfall.}Radiation fog {Ans: Fog that forms on clear, calm nights when the land surface