Geography Note Sheet for HKDSE 9 Weather and Climate

9.1

CLIMATE SYSTEM

THE SYSTEM Input: solar radiation Component: hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere Output: reflected solar radiation, radiation from the earth INSOLATION
Energy from the sun

Reaches earth surface Reflection (9) Absorption stored as heat temporarily (49)

Conduction & convection (7) Heat transferred from hotter object to cooler object Transfer only small amount of heat

a air is poor conductor More effective near earth surface a air denser Convection transfer energy by upward motion of air Sensible heat transfer

Energy lost by reflection, scattering & absorption

Factors affecting insolation received: Atmosphere

Angle of the sun latitude, time of day, season Duration of daylight

& heat up atmosphere Evaporation (23) Surface water absorb energy and change to vapour state Energy stored as latent heat Latent heat transfer & add moisture to air Radiation: energy release long wave radiation Outgoing long wave radiation: (12) radiation escape to space directly Counter-radiation: (7) radiation blocked by water vapour, CO2 and other greenhouse gases & re-radiated back

Variation with season: Earth rotation Axis of earth inclined at 23 During summer solstices (21/22 June): N. Hemisphere tilted towards the sun Overhead sun at 23 N (Cancer) Places in N. Hemi experiences larger angle of the sun + larger duration of sunshine

& Larger insolation amount During winter solstices (21/22 December): pattern reversed At spring (21/22 March) / autumnal (22/23 November) equinox: both Hemi. received equal amount of insolation

Global heat transfer Variation in insolation received among different places + steady outgoing long wave radiation & Energy surplus / deficit & Heat transfer to places with deficit Poleward movement, by Ocean current (20) Advection / atmosphere (80)

RADIATION BUDGET Prime factor determining weather & climate Reaches atmosphere Reflection, scattering, absorption (22+20) Penetration (58)

Geography Note Sheet for HKDSE 9 Weather and Climate

9.2 CLIMATIC ELEMENTS AIR PRESSURE & WIND Factors affecting air pressure Altitude

- altitude & . pressure Air temperature - T & . pressure (air expand & rise & density . ) Air movement air converge & rise & density . & low pressure

Seasonal variation (north-south shifting): belt shift according to location of the sun e.g. In July, Overhead sun moves to around 23 N Hottest belt of earth shifts northward

& pressure / wind belt shift SE trade winds from S. Hemi shift northward and cross the equator to N. Hemi

Major pressure belt Equatorial low (0)

& deflect to the right into SW wind Land-sea distribution Summer: land heats up more rapidly than sea

air T - & air heats up, expand, rise Polar highs (90 N/S) small angle of the sun & air T . & air sinks & contracts Subtropical highs (30 N/S) Air at equator move towards poles Air T . with increasing latitude & air cools and sinks Subpolar lows (60 N/S) Cold air from polar regions meet warm air from subtropical high

& T - and pressure . over land Winter: reverse Individual high / low pressure-cell develop over land

Opposite direction & converge & forced to rise

Planetary wind system Major wind belts: polar easterlies, westerlies, trade winds Zones of light wind: Doldrums: little pressure difference Horse latitudes (~30 N/S):

CONDENSATION & PRECIPITATION Saturation: the state of air when the amount of water vapour in the air is at its maximum The air T: dew point Condensation: the process when excess vapour gathers on tiny particles in the air and form droplets In the form of clouds, fog, dew, frost, etc. Condensation nuclei speeds up cond. e.g. heavy rain after volcanic eruption Condensation level Precipitation: falling of water from cloud

Condensation & cloud thicker, droplets grow bigger & too heavy for uprising air current to hold & ppt.

slow sinking air & calm wind Major boundaries where wind converge: ITCZ (Intertropical convergence zone): trade winds converge and rise (~0) Polar fronts (60 N/S): cold air and warm air meet

Types of rains Relief rain: air rise along windward slope & adiabatic cooling Rain shadow on leeward slope

Geography Note Sheet for HKDSE 9 Weather and Climate

Frontal rain: (around 60 N/S) warm air and cool air meet & warm air forced to rise along front (a cold air is denser and heavier) Air rise rapidly: accompanied with thunderstorms Air rise slowly: light & steady rain Convection rain: Ground intensely heated & air contact with ground, expand, rise & strong vertical air current & cooler air sink to replace rising air Strong convection current helps water droplet to develop think clouds Common in tropical regions & ITCZ a heated land; shifting of sun location & diff. in T of air mass (trade wind) & pressure gradient diff. & air rise

9.3 CLIMATIC ZONES KOPPEN SYSTEM Based on climatic needs of certain types of vegetation Types defined according to fixed values of average T & R Different types of climate A Climate (Tropical) Located within the tropics (25 N~S) T high & constant throughout the year Avg. T of coldest month >18C No severe winter Large annual R, exceeds annual evapo. e.g. Af: Tropical rainforest climate Within ITCZ Surface convergence & strong convection & dense cloud cover & torrential shower & high rainfall (no dry season), TRF B Climate (Dry) Potential evapotranspiration > ppt. Scanty and unreliable rainfall BW: arid / desert climate BS: semi-arid / steppe climate C Climate (Temperate) Found over mid-latitude areas Mild winters Avg. T of coldest month between 0~18C e.g. Csa: Mediterranean climate Located on western side of continent between 30~40 Dry summer, wet winter In summer: subtropical high shift northward & air descend & stable weather, rare rainfall In winter: frontal rain from the north Annual ppt.: 400-800 mm

Formation of rain Air rise

Air cools & relative humidity Water saturated & condense into clouds Rain falls

Factors affecting rainfall distribution Air pressure air tends to rise in low pressure area

& more rain Wind Wet onshore wind brings moisture e.g. west coast of Europe / N. America Monsoon Distance from the sea (- & - rainfall) a lose moisture through precipitation Ocean current wind above warm current bring rainfall a contain more moisture Relief (relief rain) high mountains force wind to rise up

Geography Note Sheet for HKDSE 9 Weather and Climate

D Climate (Cold) More severe winter Avg. T of coldest month below 0C; warmest month >10C Controlled by polar front and winds from North Pole E Climate (Polar) Avg. T of warmest month <10C No true summer e.g. ET: Tundra climate Treeless, only support grasses, mosses, lichens Permafrost in winter 9.4 CLIMATE IN HONG KONG

Spring In continental interior:

air T -, air pressure . Cold air from interior warmed by warm ocean (Taiwan Haixia) & bring moisture Warm air mass from Pacific Ocean & humid & mild climate Fog formed (cool coastal water cools warm air

& condensation & fog) Summer Continental interior heats up & low-pressure cell & SE monsoon & Hot, wet climate Convection rain, shower, thunderstorm Typhoon Autumn Overhead sun shifts southward

Four distinct seasons Spring: warm, humid Summer: hot, humid Autumn: warm, dry Winter: cool and dry EAST ASIAN MONSOON Regional wind system Monsoon: winds that blow in opposite direction at diff. seasons e.g. In July: Summer in N. Hemi & intense low-pressure cell develop over hot Asian land mass

Insolation received . & T . Summer monsoon weaken; cold, dry air mass develop in interior Pressure - & fine, warm, dry climate

Winter in S. Hemi & low T & high-pressure cell over North Australia Diff. in pressure & wind movement

COLD SURGES Brought about by anticyclone Anticyclone: high-pressure system developed over continental interior Wind blow out from centre to surrounding low-pressure areas Clockwise direction in N. Hemi.

a Coriolis force Anticyclone strengthen & strong, cold dry air mass move southward

Climate of HK related to monsoon Winter High air pressure in continental interior Air mass developed is severely cold & dry NW / NE monsoon Air mass pass Qin Ling & Nan Ling

& cold surge & air T, dry, sunny Accompanied by cold front Advancement of cold front & warm air uplifted along front & air rise & air T- & frontal rain

& less severe Bring frontal rain

Geography Note Sheet for HKDSE 9 Weather and Climate

Cold air continue to move southward & pressure -, air T ., wind direction change

TROPICAL CYCLONE Typhoon: intense low-pressure system Structure: Eye: below 950 hPa; air descending, no cloud, calm Eye wall: fastest wind speed Vortex: place where air rise rapidly; air from neighbouring area is drawn; towering cloud form Lower the pressure, stronger the cyclone a steep pressure gradient (= rate of change of air pressure with respect to distance) Condition for typhoon to grow Presence of tropical ocean (>26C) to provide energy & moisture Latent heat from ocean surface: water vapour evaporate and condense Sensible heat from warm water Places in tropical regions (10~20 N/S) Coriolis force is strong enough

& anticyclone movement Warm water & provide energy & moisture for upward movement of air

Positive feedback favour growth of typhoon

Dissipate of typhoon Typhoon lose energy when: Travels over colder water

& lost heat source (latent heat) Reaches continent & lost continuous supply of wet air; friction on land & . strength of wind