CSS Geography Climatology Syllabus

Climatology syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Climatology in CSS Geography, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Atmosphere and Insolation

   4 topics

   • Structure and composition of atmosphere
   • Insolation and heat budget of the earth
   • Temperature distribution
   • Elements and factors of climate
2. 2

   Pressure and Atmospheric Circulation

   5 topics

   • Pressure belts of the world
   • Planetary winds
   • Monsoon winds
   • Local winds
   • Air masses and fronts
3. 3

   Moisture and Precipitation

   4 topics

   • Hydrological cycle
   • Types of condensation
   • Types of precipitation
   • Factors of global distribution of precipitation
4. 4

   Weather Systems and Climate Classification

   4 topics

   • Temperate and tropical cyclones
   • Jet streams
   • Koppen's classification of climate
   • Thornthwaite's and Trewartha's classifications

Climatology flashcards for CSS Geography

21 of 53 cards from the Climatology deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What are the four main gaseous components of dry air by volume, with approximate percentages?

   Nitrogen (~78%), Oxygen (~21%), Argon (~0.93%), and Carbon dioxide (~0.03-0.04%).

2. Name the five vertical layers of the atmosphere from the surface upward.

   Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere (Ionosphere), and Exosphere.

3. In which atmospheric layer do nearly all weather phenomena occur, and what is its average thickness?

   The troposphere; it averages about 13 km thick (about 8 km at the poles and 16-18 km at the equator).

4. What is the normal/environmental lapse rate of temperature in the troposphere?

   Temperature falls about 6.5°C per 1000 m (6.4°C/km) of altitude gain.

5. In which atmospheric layer is the ozone layer located, and why is it important?

   The stratosphere (roughly 15-35 km); ozone absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation, protecting life on Earth.

6. Why does temperature increase with height in the stratosphere?

   Because ozone in the stratosphere absorbs ultraviolet solar radiation, warming the upper portion of the layer.

7. Which atmospheric layer records the lowest temperatures, and what causes meteors to burn there?

   The mesosphere, where temperatures fall to about -90°C; friction with its gases burns up incoming meteors.

8. What is the ionosphere noted for, and which layer contains it?

   It contains ionized particles that reflect radio waves back to Earth (enabling long-distance radio communication); it lies in the thermosphere.

9. Define insolation.

   Insolation (incoming solar radiation) is the amount of solar energy received by a unit area of the Earth's surface, usually measured per unit time.

10. What is the solar constant?

    The average amount of solar energy received at the top of the atmosphere on a surface perpendicular to the Sun's rays, about 1.94 cal/cm²/min (≈1361-1367 W/m²).

11. List the four main factors that control the amount of insolation received at a place.

    The angle of the Sun's rays (latitude), duration of daylight, transparency of the atmosphere, and the solar constant/distance from the Sun.

12. Why do tropical latitudes receive more insolation than polar latitudes?

    The Sun's rays strike the tropics more vertically (high angle), concentrating energy over a smaller area and passing through less atmosphere, whereas polar rays are slanted and spread over a larger area.

13. In Earth's heat budget, what percentage of incoming solar radiation is reflected back to space (planetary albedo)?

    About 35% (roughly 27% by clouds, 2% by ice/snow, and 6% by atmospheric scattering).

14. What is meant by the term 'heat budget' (heat balance) of the Earth?

    The balance between incoming solar (shortwave) radiation absorbed by the Earth-atmosphere system and outgoing terrestrial (longwave) radiation, which keeps the planet's average temperature stable.

15. Of the 100 units of incoming insolation, roughly how much is absorbed by the Earth's surface and how much by the atmosphere?

    About 51% is absorbed by the Earth's surface and about 14% is absorbed by the atmosphere; the remaining ~35% is reflected back to space.

16. Explain the greenhouse effect in relation to the heat budget.

    Atmospheric gases (CO2, water vapour, methane) absorb outgoing longwave terrestrial radiation and re-radiate it back, trapping heat and keeping Earth's surface warmer than it would otherwise be.

17. What is the difference between insolation and terrestrial radiation in terms of wavelength?

    Insolation is shortwave radiation (the hot Sun emits mostly short waves), while terrestrial radiation is longwave radiation (the cooler Earth emits mostly long waves).

18. Define isotherm.

    An isotherm is a line on a map joining places that have the same temperature (usually reduced to sea level).

19. State the main factors that control the horizontal distribution of temperature on Earth.

    Latitude (angle of insolation), altitude, distance from the sea (continentality), ocean currents, prevailing winds, cloud cover, and the nature of the surface.

20. What is the annual range of temperature, and where is it greatest?

    It is the difference between the mean temperature of the warmest and coldest months; it is greatest in continental interiors of high latitudes (e.g., Siberia) and smallest over oceans and the equator.

21. Why do oceans have a smaller temperature range than landmasses?

    Water heats and cools more slowly than land (higher specific heat, transparency, mixing, and evaporation), so maritime climates are moderate while continental climates are extreme.

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