© Boardworks Ltd 2005 1 of 30 © Boardworks Ltd 2005 Weather in the UK Aim – To learn about the UK’s climate & how it might change in the future By the.

© Boardworks Ltd 20051 of 301 of 30 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Weather in the UK

Aim – To learn about the UK’s climate & how it might change in the future

By the end of this lesson you should all know the main features of the UK climate including temperature, rainfall and seasonalityYou should also understand why it might change in the future

© Boardworks Ltd 20052 of 30

The British Climate

The British Isles has a temperate climate. This means that it is not too hot, not too cold, not too dry and not too wet!


July temperatures

Isotherms are lines joining areas of equal temperature.

‘Iso’ means ‘the same’.


Words for sheet

• Cool 610 smaller 14• Mild 1100 smaller 16• Cool 699 large 16• Cold low large 4• Warm heavy 15 5• Mild low 6 7• Warm heavy 9 9• Cold 1999 11


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Why is the South of Britain warmer than the North?



Therefore, the sun’s rays are more concentrated in the South rather than the North of Britain.


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Why are temperatures in January warmer on the West coast?

Why is there more rainfall in the West?

What is high and low pressure?

Why is the weather in the UK so changeable?


between 4ºC and 5ºC

Match the letter with the correct temperature.

January temperatures

A

B

C

4ºC

between 5ºC and 6ºC

Why is B colder than C, even though B is further south?


Describe the pattern of rainfall in the UK.Why is there more rainfall in the West of the British Isles?

Rainfall in the British Isles


Why is it warmer in the West in January?

The North Atlantic Drift is a warm ocean current that brings higher temperatures to the west of the UK. The North Atlantic Drift starts its journey in the Gulf of Mexico.


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Many of the mountain ranges in the British Isles occur in the West.

The West is therefore more likely to experience relief rainfall.



The prevailing wind comes from the SW. This wind blows over the Atlantic, bringing moisture-laden air.

The prevailing wind is the most common direction of wind.


Choose the three correct statements and write them in your book:

• In summer the south is warmer than the north

• In summer the north is warmer than the south

• In summer the east is warmest

• In winter temperatures are the same all over the country

• In winter the south is colder than the north

• In winter the west is warmer than the east

• The south is always wetter than the north

• Rainfall is the same all over Britain

• The east is wetter than the south

• Most rainfall is in the west


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• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WplvSvvGXRA&feature=related

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1aFoJSBJF4


Why does the British Isles have unpredictable weather?

In the British Isles it can be sunny one minute and raining the next!

Why is this?


Why does the British Isles have unpredictable weather?

The answer has a lot to do with air masses…

Air masses are huge blocks of air. They can be damp or dry, warm or cold, depending on where they came from and over what type of surface they have travelled.

For example, an air mass that has travelled over the sea will increase its moisture content and be more likely to produce rainy weather.


Air masses affecting the British Isles

Many air masses cross the British Isles, which explains our changeable weather!

© Boardworks Ltd 2005 1 of 30 © Boardworks Ltd 2005 Weather in the UK Aim – To learn about the UK’s climate & how it might change in the future By the.

Documents

north rainfall

south of britain warmer

north of britain

future slide

west coast

relief rainfall

pattern of rainfall

north atlantic drift