Today we will be able to: Identify the rainy and dry regions of the

British Isles The warm and cool regions of the British

Isles in

(a) summer, (b) in winter

 

Outcomes

1. Why western Britain is wetter than the east2. Why the west is warmest in winter3. Why the south is warmest in summer4. Effects of the angle of the Sun’s rays on temperature5. How height affects temperature

We shall explain...

Sun lower in skySame amount of energy but has to heat larger surfaceSo it feels cooler

Sun high in skyenergy heats concentrated on smaller surfaceSo it feels warmer

Why are places further south warmer than places north?

This is explained by latitude and the curve of the EarthLatitude measures the angle of a place from the equatorThe smaller the angle, the closer to the equatorThis means that the sun is at a higher angle in the skyIts rays are more concentratedThe land heats up more

In places further north, the sun is at a lower angle in the skythe rays are more spread out.The land is cooler

ExamplesLondon 51 NGlasgow 56 N (rounded up)Shetland Isles 60 N

Why is the west warmer than the east in winter?

1. Influence of water• The west is near the Atlantic Ocean• This cools down more slowly than

land during the winter, so…• It is warmer than the land2. Warm ocean current• A warm current called the North

Atlantic Drift washes along the west coast

• Westerly winds blow over the warm ocean

• Bringing milder weather to the west

2 reasons….

Why is the west cooler than the east in summer?

Influence of water

• In summer the Atlantic Ocean heats up more slowly than land

• The west coast is near the Atlantic and so…

• It feels cooler.

Why is western Britain wetter than the east?

Prevailing wind- direction the wind most commonly comes from (In British Isles-W or SW)

Condensation –water vapour in air turns to water droplets, that form clouds

Wetter in the (a)west and northBecause:1. Rain comes from moist westerly

winds2. West gets full force of these winds3. They drop their rain here4. Upland areas get “Relief Rain”

drier in the south and east becauseMost rain has already fallen, and air is much “drier”

Why is it colder in hilly areas?

Snow line

Temperatures fall by 1 C every 100m

Atmosphere is thinner in mountains, so less air to heat up, so it is colder