Weather (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Geography)

Students in Northern Ireland were studying the topic of weather and how to measure and collect weather data. The students noticed that the weather was forecast to change over the next three days, so they decided to take some measurements to investigate these changes.

One pair of students decided to test the following hypotheses:

Hypothesis 1: As atmospheric pressure changes rainfall amounts will vary.

Hypothesis 2: Atmospheric pressure affects the direction from which the wind blows.

The two students measured atmospheric pressure, rainfall and which direction the wind was blowing from. They took measurements every three hours using a combination of traditional and digital instruments.

(i)

Which one of the following instruments is used to measure atmospheric pressure? Tick (✓) your answer in the box below.

[1]

(ii)

A rain gauge is shown in Fig. 1.1. Explain how it is used to measure rainfall.

 [4]

(iii)

Explain how a wind vane, which is also shown in Fig. 1.1, is used to show the direction from which the wind is blowing.

 [2]

The students’ results are shown in Table 1.1. Use information from the table to complete the following tasks in Fig. 1.2 below.

Table 1.1

(i)

Complete the atmospheric pressure line graph at 16:00, 19:00 and 22:00 hours on Day 3.

[1]

(ii)

Draw the rainfall bar at 16:00 hours on Day 2.

[1]

(iii)

On which day and at what time was the following set of results recorded?

Day ...................................... Time ......................................

[1]

Using their results, the students made conclusions about their two hypotheses.

(i)

What is your conclusion to Hypothesis 1: As atmospheric pressure changes rainfall amounts will vary? Support your conclusion with data from Fig. 1.2 and Table 1.1.

 [4]

(ii)

The students decided that Hypothesis 2: Atmospheric pressure affects the direction from which the wind blows, was partly true. Support their conclusion with evidence from Fig. 1.2 and Table 1.1.

[3]

Geography students from Bantry in south west Ireland did a weather investigation. They wanted to see if there was a link between atmospheric pressure and rainfall, and a link between wind direction and temperature.

The students agreed to investigate the following hypotheses:

Hypothesis 1: Rainfall increases when atmospheric pressure rises.

Hypothesis 2: Temperature is affected by the direction from which the wind is blowing.

(i)

The students used a computerised weather station to obtain data every three hours over a period of three days. Give two advantages of using electronic recording instruments.

[2]

(ii)

Their teacher instructed the students to make some measurements using traditional instruments so they would understand how to use them.

Use arrows to match the weather feature with the correct measuring instrument in the table below. One has been completed for you.

[2]

(iii)

Draw and label a traditional rain gauge.

[3]

(iv)

Describe and explain a good position to put a rain gauge to make sure that the data collected will be accurate.

[4]

(v)

Fig. 2.1 shows a weather instrument. How does this instrument measure wind direction?

Fig 2.1

[2]

The students’ measurements of atmospheric pressure and rainfall are shown in Table 2.1 (Insert).

Table 2.1
Atmospheric pressure and rainfall data

(i)

Use data from Table 2.1 to draw on Fig. 2.2 below the rainfall bar for 07.00 on day 2 (measurement number 8).

[1]

(ii)

Complete the table below to show the highest and lowest atmospheric pressure measurements recorded by the students.

[1]

(iii)

Do the measurements shown in Fig. 2.2 and Table 2.1 support Hypothesis 1: Rainfall increases when atmospheric pressure rises?

Support your decision with data.

[4]

The students’ measurements of wind direction and temperature are shown in Table 2.2 (Insert).

Table 2.2 
Wind direction and temperature data

(i)

Use data from Table 2.2 to plot on Fig. 2.3 below the temperatures when the wind came from the east south east (ESE) direction.

[2]

(ii)

From which direction did the wind blow most frequently?

 [1]

(iii)

The students made the conclusion that Hypothesis 2: Temperature is affected by the direction from which the wind is blowing is true. Support this conclusion with data from Fig. 2.3 and Table 2.2.

[3]

Give one other weather element which the students could have measured to extend their fieldwork. (Do not write about temperature, rainfall, atmospheric pressure or wind direction.)

(i)

Weather element

[1]

(ii)

Describe how the students could collect data about the weather element named in (i) above.

[4]

Students investigated differences in weather in a city centre square. Fig. 1.1 shows the square which is pedestrianised. They identified five sites in the square where they could measure temperature, wind direction and wind speed at midday (12:00 hours) and in the early evening on eight consecutive days.

Fig. 1.1

The students investigated the following hypotheses:

Hypothesis 1: Midday temperatures are higher at sites A, B and C than at sites D and E.

Hypothesis 2: Wind direction and wind speed vary more at site C than at site E.

To measure the temperature the students considered using a traditional maximum-minimum thermometer at each site.

(i)

Suggest why their teacher thought that it was not a good idea to use a maximum-minimum thermometer in the city centre square when they wanted to make their measurements.

[2]

(ii)

As an alternative method the students decided to use a digital thermometer to measure temperature at each site around midday (12:00 hours) and in the early evening. Give three advantages of using a digital thermometer.

[3]

The results of the students’ midday temperature measurements are shown in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1

(i)

Use the results in Table 1.1 to complete Fig. 1.2 on the page opposite by plotting the midday temperatures of days 6, 7 and 8 at site A.

[2]

(ii)

What is your conclusion to Hypothesis 1: Midday temperatures are higher at sites A, B and C than at sites D and E? Support your decision with evidence from Fig. 1.2 and Table 1.1.

[4]

Early evening temperatures in the square also varied. These temperatures are shown in Fig. 1.3. Use Fig. 1.3 to:

(i)

Describe one difference in early evening temperatures between the sites. Do not use statistics in your answer.

[1]

(ii)

Describe one difference in early evening temperatures during the eight days. Do not use statistics in your answer.

[1]

To investigate Hypothesis 2: Wind direction and wind speed vary more at site C than at site E, the students took measurements at midday on each day.

(i)

What is the instrument called which is used to measure wind direction? Tick () your choice below.

[1]

(ii)

The students’ results of measuring wind direction are shown in Table 1.2. Use these results to complete the wind directions at site B in Fig. 1.4 below.

Table 1.2

[2]

(iii)

Explain how an anemometer, like that shown in Fig. 1.5, measures wind speed.

Fig 1.5

[2]

(iv)

The students’ results of measuring wind speed are shown in Table 1.3. In Fig. 1.6 below, plot the wind speed measurements at site B on days 1 and 7.

Table 1.3

[2]

(v)

The students decided that Hypothesis 2: Wind direction and wind speed vary more at site C than at site E, was partly true. Which part of the hypothesis is true? Tick your decision below and support your decision with data from Figs. 1.4 and 1.6 and Tables 1.2 and 1.3.

[3]

A student who was studying weather did fieldwork to measure and record rainfall at her school. To extend her fieldwork she decided to compare her results with data from a weather station at the local university about 50km away from the school.

The student decided to investigate the following hypotheses:

Hypothesis 1: At the school rainfall is higher on days when the wind is blowing from the west

Hypothesis 2: Rainfall is higher at the school than at the university.

To investigate the hypotheses the student used a rain gauge.

(i)

Which two of the following locations should be chosen when deciding where to put a rain gauge? Tick (✓) your choices below.

[2]

(ii)

In the space below, draw a labelled diagram of a rain gauge.

[4]

(iii)

The student used a wind vane to record the wind direction. This was fixed to the roof of the school. Fig. 1.1 (below) is a diagram of a wind vane.

Fig. 1.1 

Complete the sentences below to explain how a wind vane is used.

The letters (N, E, S, W) show ..............................................
The pointer (arrow) shows ...................................................
The wind vane is located on the roof so that ........................

[3]

The student’s measurements for each day are shown in Table 1.1 (below).

Table 1.1
Student’s fieldwork measurements 

(i)

Use the data from Table 1.1 to plot the rainfall measurements for days 3 and 16 on Fig. 1.2 below. 

[2]

Daily rainfall measurements when wind is coming from different directions

Fig. 1.2

(ii)

Do the fieldwork results support Hypothesis 1: At the school rainfall is higher on days when the wind is blowing from the west? Support your conclusion with data from Fig. 1.2 and Table 1.1.

[3]

To investigate Hypothesis 2: Rainfall is higher at the school than at the university, the student used secondary data from an automated weather recording station at the university. 

(i)

How is primary data different from secondary data?

[2]

(ii)

Give two advantages of using electronic recording instruments at an automated weather recording station.

1 .....................................................................................
2 .....................................................................................

[2]

(iii)

To compare the rainfall amounts at the school and the university, the student plotted both sets of rainfall data onto the graph, shown in Fig. 1.3, below.

Complete Fig. 1.3 by plotting the following information.

[2]

Fig. 1.3

(iv)

What conclusion would the student make about Hypothesis 2: Rainfall is higher at the school than at the university? Support your answer with evidence from Fig. 1.3.

[3]

Whilst doing her fieldwork the student realised that there was more cloud cover on days when it rained more.

(i)

Which one of the following units of measurement is used to show cloud cover?
Tick (✓) your choice below.

[1]

(ii)

The student observed three different types of cloud. Use arrows to match the types of cloud with the correct description in the table below.

[2]

To extend her fieldwork the student used a sunshine recorder to measure the amount of sunlight on each day. Fig. 1.4 (below) shows a sunshine recorder. Describe how a sunshine recorder is used

Fig.1.4

Students at a school in Seattle, USA, measured atmospheric pressure, temperature and rainfall during 15 days in November. 

The students measured the maximum and minimum temperature for each day using a thermometer like the one shown in Fig. 1.1. Explain how the students would use the thermometer to measure temperature.   

Fig 1.1

[4]

The results of the students’ measurements of atmospheric pressure are also shown in Table 1.1 and in Fig.1.2.

(i)

Which one of the following instruments would the students use to measure atmospheric pressure? Circle your answer.                             

                                                 [1]

(ii)

To measure atmospheric pressure the students took readings at midday (12:00 hours) each day. Why was it important to take readings at the same time of day?

 [1]

(iii)

What conclusion did the students make about Hypothesis 1: Temperatures increase as atmospheric pressure rises and decrease as atmospheric pressure falls?

Refer to both maximum and minimum temperatures and support your answer with evidence from Table 1.1 and Fig. 1.2.

[4]

(i)

The students used the instrument shown in Fig. 1.3 (below) to measure daily rainfall. Describe how the instrument is used to measure rainfall.

Fig 1.3

[3]

(ii)

Suggest two factors which the students should consider when choosing a site for the instrument shown in Fig. 1.3 (above). Explain why each factor is important in choosing the site.

Factor 1
Explanation

Factor 2
Explanation

[4]

(iii)

The results of the rainfall measurements are shown in Table 1.2 (below). Plot the rainfall for 13 November on Fig.1.4, below.

Table 1.2

[1]

(iv)

The students decided that Hypothesis 2: There is a relationship between atmospheric pressure and daily rainfall totals was true.

Describe the relationship between atmospheric pressure and daily rainfall totals. Use evidence from Fig. 1.4 and Tables 1.1 and 1.2 to support the relationship.

[3]

Table 1.1

(i)

To extend their fieldwork the students measured the wind speed and wind direction at midday (12:00 hours). Describe how they would make these measurements.

Wind speed

Wind direction

[4]

(ii)

The results of their measurements of wind speed and wind direction are shown in Table 1.3 (below).

Complete the wind rose diagram, Fig. 1.5 below, by adding the number of days that the wind direction was from the south.

[1]

(iii)

What evidence from Table 1.3 supports the statement that there is a relationship between wind speed and wind direction (the direction from which the wind is blowing)?

[2]