What geographical concept is represented here?

What are pressure

systems?
Learning Objectives
You must be able to explain the idea of
atmospheric pressure GRADE C/D
You should be able to explain and compare the
different types of atmospheric pressure systems
GRADE B/C
You could suggest how atmospheric pressure
changes with latitude and altitude
GRADE A/B

What is a pressure system?

Wjec text book P88

Atmospheric pressure is the pressure at any point in the

Earths atmosphere. Atmospheric pressure is caused by the
weight of air above a point.
There are two types of pressure systems
High Pressure
Low Pressure

TASK:
Copy this definition
into your book.

http://
www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/zv46n3
9

 Air pressure is measured in ________________ and can vary with altitude. A

millibar
(mb) is _________________ and on average the air pressure at ____________ is
1,013.2mb. We should note however that this can vary approximately 80mb
either
side of this value. Therefore we say that 970-990mb is _____________ and
1,0201,040 is _____________.
Differences in air pressure are caused by _________ and __________.

TASK:
In warm air the __________ are further apart than in _________. Warm air rises,
Use pages 88-89
the
of the textbook
to complete
molecules get further apart and so there is _________ pressing
down.this
This
paragraph.
causes low
air pressure.
In cold air the molecules are ________ than in warm air. Cold air _______, the

 Differences in air pressure are caused by _________ and __________.

In warm air the __________ are further apart than in _________. Warm
air rises, the
molecules get further apart and so there is _________ pressing down.
This causes low
air pressure.
In cold air the molecules are ________ than in warm air. Cold air
_______, the
molecules get ___________ together and so there is _________ mass
pressing down.
This causes ________ air pressure.
TASK:
Use pages 88-89 to
complete this paragraph.

1.

Explain why polar regions generally have high pressure (Pg88, Fig
1)
Polar regions have high pressure because

2. Explain why equatorial regions generally have low pressure (Pg88,

Fig 1)
Equatorial regions have high pressure because
3. Explain why the UK has changeable weather (Pg88, Fig 2)
The has changeable weather because
4. Explain how air pressure changes with altitude (Pg89, Fig 4)
As altitude (height) increases air pressure
TASK:
Complete these questions
in your book in full
sentences!

EXTENSION TASK
Complete Activities 1 & 3 on
page 89 in full sentences
with as much detail as
possible.

Weather in a High pressure system

Summer
-Hot days,
blues skies,
few clouds.
- Light winds
Morning mist
due to cooling
of the ground
at night.
-Warm, moist
air rising may
lead to
thunderstorms

Winter
-Clear skies, cold
because sun is
low in sky and
there is no cloud
cover
- Light winds
Fog and frost
forming at night.
Sometimes the fog
remains all day.
- Very cold nights
due to no cloud
cover

Weather in a Low pressure system

Low Pressure Systems

Low pressure systems are also called
depressions just like the name
suggests they result in gloomy
weather such as
Rain
Cloud
Increased wind speeds