Differences In Weather Across The UK

Temperatures in the summer are lower in the northeast (place B) than in the southeast (place D) because of the latitude. Place B is in Scotland and therefore has a high latitude; this results in low temperature; in contrast to Place D which has low latitude this results in higher temperatures in the summer.

Latitude also explains why place C has higher temperatures than place E at January time. The sun has more land to heat up in Scotland (place E) than in Wales (place C)

Prevailing Winds

Prevailing winds effect the temperature in the UK, an example of that is the difference in temperature in places E and C.

Place E is going to be a lot cooler because it is on the receiving end of arctic winds which are extremely cold unlike place C which receives tropical winds which are warmer.

Winds will bring warm temperatures if they have passed over warm surfaces and vice versa this is why place E is cooler, the winds coming to it are from the arctic which is extremely cold compared to the tropics.

How prevailing winds effect the UK

Types Of Rainfall

There are three types of rainfall that occur in the UK. They are:

> Convectional rainfall

> Relief rainfall

> Frontal rainfall

Relief rainfall is common in the west of Britain; and that is the reason why the west (place C) receives more rainfall than the east (place D). Another reason is that the east is in the rain shadow area therefore rainfall level is less in that region.

The explanation of why relief rainfall occurs in the west is because prevailing winds blow moist air from the Atlantic Ocean to the west of Britain onshore. As the air hits higher land, such as the hills and mountains in Wales and the north-west of England, the air is forced to rise. When air rises, it can no longer hold all its water, so it starts to condense and form clouds. On the other side of the country (east) it doesn't rain (because of the rain shadow).

. Moist air rises over high ground.

2. Clouds form as vapour condenses.

3. Rainfall occurs.

4. Clouds disappear and rain stops, this side of the relief feature is known as a RAINSHADOW (the east).

The east may experience heavy thunderstorms after a hot period because its part of the convectional rainfall cycle which occurs in the east (place D). They occur in the summer or after a hot period because it takes time for the seas and rivers to heat up and then water evaporates.

- The sun provides the heat source, heating up the ground quickly.

2 - The ground then heats up the air through convection and the air rises very quickly, carrying any evaporated water with it.

3 - As the air rises it cools very rapidly.

4 - Large clouds develop directly above the rising air as the air cannot hold as much water.

5 - Torrential rain and thunderstorms are caused when the air is cooled to such as degree that water droplets collide with each other in the clouds very quickly. Eventually, the individual droplets become so heavy, the air cannot hold them and they fall as rain.

Abdul Aly (AGY) YR10