A very large body of air whose temperature and humidity are fairly uniform, taking its character from the surface it formed over.

What is the North Atlantic Drift?

A warm ocean current that carries surface water from the Gulf of Mexico north-eastwards across the Atlantic towards north-west Europe.

Why is Britain milder in winter than most places at the same latitude?

Because warm water carried north by the North Atlantic Drift heats the prevailing westerly winds before they reach land.

What does continentality mean, and why does eastern Britain have a greater annual temperature range than the west?

Continentality is the effect of distance from the sea; the east is further from the moderating Atlantic, so it has colder winters and hotter summers.

OCR GCSE Geography A J383

Ecosystems of the Planet

Topic overview Abiotic and biotic components, and how ecosystems interact The world’s biomes: where they are and what they are like Where the tropical rainforests are, and what they are like Where the coral reefs are, and what they are like Rainforest processes and nutrient cycling Two threatened ecosystems: a rainforest and a coral reef

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Topic overview Climate change through the Quaternary, and since 1000AD The evidence for climate change Natural causes of climate change, and the enhanced greenhouse effect The consequences of climate change The world’s climatic regions and global atmospheric circulation How global circulation produces extreme weather Tropical storms: causes, distribution and frequency A drought caused by El Niño or La Niña

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UK Environmental Challenges

Topic overview Air masses, the North Atlantic Drift and the UK’s extreme weather A UK flood event: causes, effects and responses How people use, modify and change UK ecosystems The UK’s renewable and non-renewable energy sources Changing UK energy supply and demand, and sustainable use Renewables in the UK, and the future of fossil fuels What shapes the UK’s energy choices

UK Environmental Challenges

Air masses, the North Atlantic Drift and the UK’s extreme weather

3 things to know
Component 01

Overview

Air masses, the tropical maritime, polar maritime, polar continental and tropical continental air that reach Britain, the North Atlantic Drift and Britain's mild winters, continentality, and how depressions, Arctic air and the jet stream bring damaging winds, heavy snow and prolonged rain.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

What is an air mass?

Key term

Which air mass brings warm, moist and often cloudy conditions to Britain from the south-west?

Key term

How do polar maritime and polar continental air differ in the weather they bring to Britain?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What is an air mass?
Model answer
A very large body of air whose temperature and humidity are fairly uniform, taking its character from the surface it formed over.
2
Which air mass brings warm, moist and often cloudy conditions to Britain from the south-west?
Model answer
Tropical maritime air, which has crossed the warm Atlantic Ocean and picked up moisture on the way.
3
How do polar maritime and polar continental air differ in the weather they bring to Britain?
Model answer
Polar maritime air crosses the cold northern Atlantic and arrives from the north-west cool, bright and showery; polar continental air crosses frozen Eurasia and arrives from the east bitterly cold and dry.
4
What is the North Atlantic Drift?
Model answer
A warm ocean current that carries surface water from the Gulf of Mexico north-eastwards across the Atlantic towards north-west Europe.
5
Why is Britain milder in winter than most places at the same latitude?
Model answer
Because warm water carried north by the North Atlantic Drift heats the prevailing westerly winds before they reach land.
6
What does continentality mean, and why does eastern Britain have a greater annual temperature range than the west?
Model answer
Continentality is the effect of distance from the sea; the east is further from the moderating Atlantic, so it has colder winters and hotter summers.

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Ecosystems of the Planet

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