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Social Science
SSLC 2025-26 SURE A PLUS
WEATHER AND CLIMATE
[Link]-Atmospheric conditions such as temperature, pressure, wind, humidity and
precipitation experienced for a shorter period of time in a region are termed as
[Link], pressure, wind, humidity and precipitation called elements of
weather.
[Link] average weather condition experienced for a longer period over a larger area is
termed as the [Link] climate of a place is determined by considering the weather
conditions of about 35 to 40 years
[Link]-The amount of sun's rays reaching the earth's surface as short waves.
[Link] of heat transfer in the atmosphere-
Conduction : Heat is transferred to the lower part of the atmosphere which is directly
in contact with the surface of the earth.
Convection: As the heated air expands and rises up, heat is transferred to higher
reaches of the atmosphere.
Advection: Heat is transferred horizontally through wind.
Radiation: Emission of energy in the form of long waves after the earth's surface gets
heated up.
[Link] radiation-The re-radiation of energy in the form of long waves from the
earth's surface.
[Link] Budget of the Earth-Almost entire energy reaching the earth as insolation is
radiated back. Thus the surface temperature of the earth remains balanced.
[Link] range of temperature-Is the difference between the maximum temperature
and the minimum temperature of a day. Diurnal Range = Maximum temperature -
Minimum temperature
[Link] mean [Link] average temperature of a day is called as Daily mean
temperature.
Daily mean temperature = Maximum temperature + Minimum temperature
2
[Link]-The imaginary lines drawn connecting the places having equal
temperature are called Isotherms.
[Link] influencing the distribution of temperature
Latitude-Very high temperature is experienced along the equatorial regions where the
incidence of sun's rays is almost [Link] the temperature gradually decreases
towards both the [Link] zones between 0 0 & 23 1/2 0 North and South, Temperate
zone between 23 1/20 & 66 1/2 0 North and South ,Frigid zone between 66 1/2 0 & 90 0
North and South are formed basis of availability of Temperature.
Altitude- Atmospheric temperature decreases with increase in altitude. Atmospheric
temperature decreases at the rate of 6.4o C per kilometre of altitude. The phenomenon
is termed as Normal Lapse Rate.
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Differential Heating of Land and Sea-Land gets heated and cooled quickly. Thus the
land areas experience higher summer temperature and lower winter temperature.
Distance from the Sea-The winds blowing from land to sea and vice versa help to
moderate the temperature along coastal areas.
Ocean Currents-The temperature along the coastal regions is raised or lowered by the
warm currents and cold currents respectively as they pass by. North Atlantic Current
& Labrador cold current saves from severe cold from Western European countries
and Canada respectively.
Topography (Relief) -Depending on the topography, the availability of sunlight differs
from one place to [Link] to this difference, the mountain slopes facing the sun
experience higher tem perature and opposite slopes experience lower temperature.
[Link] Pressure-The weight exerted by the atmospheric air over the earth's
surface.
Barometer is the instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure.
[Link] affecting atmospheric pressure-
Temperature-Atmospheric air expands on getting heated and rises up due to less
[Link] low pressure regions are formed. Altitude-Atmospheric pressure
decreases with altitude at the rate of 1 millibar per an altitude of 10 mtr Humidity -
Quantity of water presents in the atmosphere is called [Link], Altitude,
Humidity and atmospheric pressure are inversely proportional.
[Link]- Isobars are the imaginary lines connecting places having the equal
atmospheric
pressure.
[Link] pressure Belt-The atmospheric pressure is uniform between certain latitude.
Based on that, the earth's surface is divided in two different pressure belts. these are
known Global
pressure [Link] to the apparent movement of the sun ,Global pressure belts may
shift to about 5o to 10o northwards during summer season and shift southward during
winter season.
Equatorial Low Pressure Belt- The expansion and rising up of air due to high
temperature in the equatorial region is the cause for the formation of Equatorial Low
Pressure [Link] the windless zone, This pressure belt is also known as Doldrum.
Sub Tropical High Pressure Belts-ituated to the 30o North and South [Link]
rising warm air along the equatorial region moves as upper air winds which gradually
cool and subside at the Sub Tropical zone.
Sub Polar Low Pressure Belts- Situated to the 60o North South latitudes. The colder air
is throwing up along these regions due to the rotation of the earth.
Polar High Pressure Belts- Polar High Pressure Belts are formed as a result of the
contraction and subsidence of cold air along the poles.
[Link]- Winds are the horizontal movements of air from high pressure areas to low
pressure areas. Anemometer is the instrument used to measure the speed of [Link]
Vane is the instrument which indicates the direction of wind.
[Link] Force-One of the major factors influencing the direction of winds is the
Coriolis [Link] to the Coriolis effect, the winds will deflect towards the right
direction in the
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Northern Hemisphere and towards the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
[Link] influencing the speed of wind-
Pressure gradient Force is the change in pressure over a horizontal [Link] there is
considerable change in pressure between nearby places, it indicates high pressure
[Link] there is no considerable difference of pressure, pressure gradient is said to
be [Link] places where pressure gradient is high, the speed of wind will be higher.
Frictional Force- The friction caused by hills, mountains, forests and man-made
structures will obstruct the free flow of [Link] are comparatively stronger over
oceans surfaces than over continents as the friction is less in the oceans surfaces
[Link] types of winds- . Permanent Winds . Variable Winds . Periodic Winds .
Local Winds
[Link] Winds-The winds blowing constantly over a particular direction
throughout the [Link] winds are also known as prevailing winds and planetary
winds. These winds blow between global pressure [Link] permanent winds are,
Trade winds-From the Sub tropical high pressure belts to the equatorial low pressure
[Link] to coriolis force, Trade winds blow North East direction in the Northern
Hemisphere and are South East direction in the Southern Hemisphere.
Westerlies-From the Sub tropical high pressure belts to the Sub polar low pressure
[Link] are comparatively stronger in the Southern Hemisphere than in the
Northern
Hemisphere due to the expansion of oceans.
Polar winds-Polar high pressure belt to the Sub polar low pressure belt.
[Link] Winds-Winds subjected to the periodic reversal of their direction. Two
types of Periodic Winds;Diurnal Periodic winds and Seasonal periodic winds.
Diurnal Periodic winds:Land & sea breezes, mountain & valley breezes.
Sea breeze-During the day time the land gets heated quickly. This leads to the
formation of low pressure over the land and high pressure over the sea. As a result
cooler air from the sea blow to the land.
Land breeze-As the land cools faster than the sea during the night. It would be high
pressure over the land and low pressure over the sea. This results in the movement of
air from the land to sea.
Mountain Breezes- During night, air along the mountain slopes cools, contracts and
moves down slope. Valley breezes-During the day time, the air above the mountain
slopes gets heated and rises up by sunlight. As a result, the wind blows up slope from
the valley
Monsoon Winds-Monsoon is the seasonal reversal of wind system.
Southwest monsoon-During summer the South Asian land masses, especially the
Indian Sub Continent, gets heated up intensely and severe low pressure develops.
Wind blows towards the land mass from the Indian Ocean where comparatively high
pressure prevails. These winds blowing as South West winds due to Coriolis effect
causes widespread rainfall on entering the land.
Northeast monsoon-During winter, as the northern land masses get severely cooled,
high pressure develops over North India. This causes the winds to blow continuously
from the land towards the Indian Ocean as north east winds. These winds which are
generally dry in nature
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[Link] Winds-Local winds are winds formed as a result of local differences in
temperature and pressure.
Loo - North Indian plains - Hot wind
Chinook - Slopes of Rocky mountain in North America - Dry Hot wind
Foehn - Slopes of Alps Moutain in Europe -Dry Hot wind
Harmattan - Sahara Desert in Africa - Relief to Intense heat
[Link] Winds-Winds of short duration, of which the intensity or direction cannot
be predicted are called variable winds. Eg: Cyclones and Anticyclones.
Cyclones are low pressure systems towards which winds whirl from the
surroundings. Cyclones are anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise
in the Southern [Link] are two types
a)Tropical cyclones-Tropical cyclones originate over tropical oceans. Tropical cyclones
are comparatively lesser in [Link] tropical cyclones moving in north-west
direction over the oceans, get dissipated on hitting the lands. Different temperature
conditions prevailing on land and also the friction causes the dissipation of cyclones on
entering [Link] tropical cyclones cause intense rainfall and strong whirlwinds along
the [Link] are known by different names in different parts of the world such as
Hurricanes, Typhoons, Willy Willies, Tornadoes etc
b)Temperate cyclones-Temperate cyclones are formed in temperate regions where
warm and cold air masses [Link] cyclones are larger in [Link] are
less [Link] the tropical cyclones, Temperate cyclones can move over land
also
Anticyclones-Anticyclones are high pressure system from which winds whirl outwards.
These are not [Link] is clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and
anticlockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
[Link]-Due to evaporation Water vapour remains invisible in the atmosphere.
The invisible water content in the atmosphere is called Humidity. Hygrometer is the
instrument used to measure atmospheric humidity.
[Link] humidity-Actual amount of water vapour present per unit volume of
atmosphere is called Absolute humidity.
[Link] Humidity-The ratio between the actual amount of water present in the
atmosphere and the total water- holding capacity of atmosphere at that particular
temperature is referred to as Relative [Link] is expressed in [Link]
humidity can be estimated using wet & dry bulb thermometers.
[Link] level- The state at which the atmosphere is fully saturated with moistur/
water vapour is known as saturation [Link] the saturation level, the relative humidity
in 100%.When the atmosphere is fully saturated with water vapour, condensation
begins.
[Link] point-The temperature at which atmosphere is fully saturated.
[Link] process by which water vapour in the air is changed into liquid
water. The atmospheric moisture is visible only when the water vapour condenses to
form tiny droplets of water.
[Link] of Condensation:-Dew,Frost, Mist and Fog , Cloud
Dew-During the night, as the earth's surface cools down, the atmosphere close to the
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earth's surface also cools. The water vapour condenses to form tiny droplets of water
which may cling on to the grass tips, leaf blades as well as other cold surfaces. These
are called Dew.
Frost-Whenever the atmospheric temperature falls below 0o Celsius, especially during
nights, tiny crystals of ice are formed instead of dew.
Mist and Fog-Fog or mist is formed as a result of condensation of water vapour around
tiny dust particles in the lower atmosphere. Fog and mist can be distinguished based
on the range of visibility through them.
Clouds- Clouds are formed as a result of condensation around the tiny dust particles in
the atmosphere. The water droplets thus formed are less than 0.001 cm in diameter.
This is why, they remain suspended in the atmosphere
[Link] types of clouds-Cirrus . Stratus . Cumulus . Nimbus
Cirrus clouds-Thin, delicate, feather-like very high altitudes clouds .
Stratus clouds- Thick-layered clouds formed in the lower atmosphere.
Cumulus Cloud- Cotton wool-like clouds formed as a result of intense convection
currents. These clouds have great vertical development.
Nimbus clouds-Dark rain-bearing clouds, lower part of the atmosphere. The thick
concentration of water droplets which does not allow light to penetrate through them.
[Link]-As a result of continuous condensation in clouds, the size of water
droplets [Link] the size of water droplets grows beyond the limit of resistance
against gravity, water droplets will be released from the clouds and may fall on earth
in various forms.
Forms of precipitation:- Rainfall. Snow fall. Hailstones .Snow fall
Snowfall- Temperature falls below 0o Celsius in cold climatic regions as well as in
temperate
regions during winter. Precipitation occurs in the form of tiny crystals of ice.
Hailstones-The water droplets released from the clouds are subjected to repeated
condensation at different levels of atmosphere. It reaches the earth in the form layered
ice pellets.
[Link] of Rainfall-(a)Orographic rainfall or Relief rainfall -Moisture-laden winds
from the sea, enter the land and will be raised along the mountain [Link] leads to
condensation and formation of rain clouds along the windward slopes of mountains.
While the windward slopes of mountains get more rainfall, the descending dry air
makes the leeward side rainless. Such regions are called Rain Shadow Regions.
(b)Convectional Rainfall-Rainfall occurring in afternoon during summer season
through Convection [Link] the convectional rainfall commonly occurs during
afternoons, it is also called 4 O'Clock rains.
(c)Cyclonic Rainfall- In cyclonic systems where warm and cold air meet, the warm air
will be raised up to cause condensation and rainfall. This type of rainfall is called
Cyclonic Rainfall. As the boundary lines between warm and cold air meet are known
as "fronts". This type of rainfall are also called "Frontal Rainfall".
Prepared by
Vimal Vincent V
HST Social Science
GVHSS Kaitharam
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