GEOGRAPHY

GRADE 11

MODULE 1
THE ATMOSPHERE

NAME : ________________________________
GRADE _______

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 UNIT 1
The Earth’s Energy Balance
1. Lines that join places of equal temperature : isotherms
2. Isotherms joining places that have the highest temperature at a particular place .

THE UNEQUAL HEATING OF THE ATMOSPHERE

1. The sun is the most important influence on our weather and climate.
2. Energy from the sun is called insolation, incoming solar radiation.
3. Earths heated surface then gives off heat energy. This is called terrestrial radiation.
4. The amount of insolation that reaches the earth’s surface varies according to the
latitude and seasons.
5. The atmosphere is heated more at the equator than the poles.

THE EFFECT ON ENERGY OF THE EARTH’S ROTATION AROUND ITS AXIS AND
REVOLUTION AROUND THE SUN
THE SEASONS AND THE DIFFERENT LENGTH OF DAY AND NIGHT ARE DUE TO:

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THE TILT OF THE EARTH’S AXIS
The tilt of the earth’s axis the revolution of the earth around the sun.

THE TILT OF THE EARTH’S AXIS

1. The earth’s axis is an imaginary line extending between the north pole and the
south pole.
2. Earth takes 24 hours to rotate once about its own axis.
3. Rotation of the earth on its axis results in day and night. During one rotation,
places that face the sun experience day and places that face away from the sun
experience night.
4. The circle of illumination divides the earth into the parts that are experiencing
daylight and the parts that are experiencing night.
5. Places receive insolation only during the day. 5. the earth’s axis is tilted at a
constant
6. angle of 23 ½ degrees to the vertical.
7. therefore different parts of the earth are tilted towards the sun at different times of
the year.
8. Parts of the earth that are tilted towards the sun experience longer days and
shorter nights.
9. Because days are longer there is a longer time for insolation to heat Earth’s
surface and so these parts are hotter than the parts that are tilted away from the
sun.

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EFFECT OF REVOLUTION :
CHANGE IN THE LENGTH OF DAY AND NIGHT

SUMMER
1. Long days
2. Short nights
3. Summer solstice
Longest day and shortest night
21 December
WINTER
1. Long nights
2. Short days
3. Winter solstice
Shortest day and longest night
21 June

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THE TRANSFER OF ENERGY BY OCEAN CURRENTS AND WINDS

1. Warm ocean currents carry heat from the equator to the poles.
2. Cold ocean currents carry cold water from the poles to the equator,
where it is heated again.
3. This mixing, keeps the temperature of the water moderate.

1. OCEAN CURRENTS

2. THE ROLE OF WINDS

1. Wind is moving of air from HP to LP.
2. This results from the uneven heating of the earth.
3. Winds that originate from the poles are cold.
4. Winds that originate from the equator are warm.
5. Winds result in heat being distributed between the equator and the poles thus
bringing about a temperature and pressure balance

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ACTIVITY
DEFINE :
1. Isotherms
2. Heat equator
3. Revolution
4. Rotation
5. Solar radiation
6. Terrestrial radiation
7. Equinox
8. Solstice
9. Provide the dates for summer solstice and wintter solstice.
10. Define energy balance.
11. How does wind assist with the earth’s energy balance.

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 UNIT 2
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AIR TEMPERATURE, AIR PRESSURE AND WIND
LOW PRESSURE
1. Hot air expands and rises.
2. This leads to low pressure on the earth’s surface.

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HIGH PRESSURE
1. Cold air is heavy and sinks to the earth’s surface.
2. This results in a high pressure

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RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AIR PRESSURE AND WIND
1. Air moves towards areas of low pressure, this is called convergence.
2. Air that converges on the earths surface rises, this results in a low pressure cell.
3. Air that moves away from areas of high pressure is called divergence.
4. Air that diverges creates a high pressure.
5. Air moves from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure, this is called
wind.
PRESSURE GRADIENT FORCE, CORIOLOS FORCE AND GEOSTROPHIC AIR
FLOW

PRESSURE GRADIENT FORCE

1. Pressure gradient force is when air moves across the isobars from high pressure
to low pressure.
2. When isobars are close together the pressure gradient force is steep and this
results in strong winds.
3. When isobars are far apart the presure gradient force is weak and this results in
light winds.
4. Pressure gradient force influences the speed of wind.

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CORIOLIS FORCE

1. Coriolis force is the force that causes the deflection of the wind.
2. Coriolis froce is caused by the deflection of the wind.
3. Coriolos force influences the direction of wind.
4. Winds are deflected to the left in the Southern Hemisphere and to the right in the
Northern Hemisphere.
5. There is no coriolis force between 5˚ N and 5˚ S of the equator.

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 Geostrophic flow

1. Geostrophic wind is when the wind blows parallel to the isobars.

2. Geostrophic wind is when pressure gradient force is in equilibrium with coriolos
force.
3. This wind only occurs on the upper atmosphere and over the ocean where there
is no friction.
4. Friction slows down the air movement.

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GLOBAL AIR CIRCULATION
UNIT 3
Global air circulation of the atmosphere is the vertical and horizontal movement of air on
a large scale.
WORLD PRESSURE BELTS, THE TRI-CELLULAR CIRCULATION AND
PLANETARY WINDS
THE TRI-CELLULARE CIRCULATION

TRI CELLUALR AIR MOVEMENT

1. Hadley HP/ Tropical cell  High temperatures at the equator

Occurs between 0˚ and 30˚ N/S
2. Ferrel LP/ Mid latitude cell
Occurs between 30˚N/S and
60˚N/S
3. Polar HP
Occurs between 60˚N/S and 90˚N/S
causes the air to heat and rise.
 As the air rises, it cools and sinks
back to the surface.
 This results in a high pressure.
 The rising air at the equator causes
thunderstorms.
 Frontal rains occur.
 At 60˚ the warm air meets with the
cold air to form the polar front.
 The surface air is cold and sinks

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A cross section of the Tri-cellular model

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LEARNER TASK:

1. Do the descriptions below describe a high or a low pressure cell? Simply write down

the words high pressure or low pressure in each case.

1.1 warm, light air

1.2 lifting air

1.3 sinking air

1.4 diverging air at the earth’s surface

1.5 dense air

1.6 clockwise circulation in the southern hemisphere

1.7 anticlockwise circulation in the southern hemisphere

1.8 diverging air in the upper atmosphere

1.9 air cools and condenses

1.10 clear, sunny weather

2. The diagram below illustrates global air circulation. Answer the following questions by

providing the correct term/concept for the descriptive phrase

2.1 The area at A where maximum heating occurs.

2.2 The type of air pressure (high pressure or low pressure) that will be associated with descending air at
B.

2.3 The pressure belt that can be found on the surface at B.

2.4 A weather system that forms at C, where the westerly winds and polar easterlies meet.

2.5 The type of air movement that usually occurs in the upper atmosphere at A.

2.6 The name of the cell at E.

2.7 Name the cell at D.

2.8 Explain in detail the formation of cell E.

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 UNIT 4
PLANETARY WINDS
These are winds that result from global air circulation.

Winds that
result from
Global Air
Circulation

1. TRO
PIC
AL

EASTERLIES
o The north easterlies and south easterlies (trade winds) diverge from the
subtropical high pressure belt towards the equatorial belt.
o Convergence takes place at this pressure belt to form the ITCZ which is
associated with heavy rainfall.

2. TROPICAL WESTERLIES
o The south westerlies and north westerlies diverge from the subtropical
high pressure belt and blow towards the sub-tropical low pressure zone.
3. POLAR EASTERLIES
o The polar easterlies blow towards the mid-latitudes.
o Polar areas experience heavy rainfall.

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World pressure belts

Polar high

Equatorial low pressure

Polar high

1. The equatorial low pressure belt

o This zone lies between 5˚N and 5˚S of the equator.
o It forms due to intense heating.
o Associated with warm moist air.
o Winds converge resulting in thunderstorms.
2. Subtropical high pressure belt
o Occurs between 30˚N/S to 40˚N/S.
o Air is pushed downwards.
o Air heats by compression as it is pushed downwards.
o Associated with hot dry air.
o The subsiding air results in clear, stable weather with no rain.
3. Sub-polar low pressure
o Located at 60˚N and S
o Tropical westerlies meet polar easterlies to form the polar front.
o Air is cool and wet.
o Convergence occurs resulting in unstable air.
4. Polar high pressure
o Located at 90˚N and S.
o Air is cold dry and dense
o Limited precipitation
o The surface air sinks and diverges at the poles.

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MONSOONS
 Monsoons are seasonal reversal of winds caused by the change in wind direction
which is a result of the change in temperature.
 The major monsoon winds occur in the Southeast Asia.

1. In summer the land heats up faster than the sea, creating a low pressure over
the land.
2. The sea is cooler therefore has a high pressure.
3. Air moves from high pressure to low pressure.
4. Therefore it moves from sea to land.
5. The air is moist therefore causes rain over the land.
6. This extremely high summer rainfall causes flooding.
7. The summer rainfall plays and important role in crop cultivation on the Indian
sub-continent.
8. These monsoon winds are known as the southwesterly monsoon winds.

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 1. The land cools faster than the sea, this results in a high pressure over the
land.
2. The sea is warmer, this results in a low pressure over the land.
3. The air moves from land to sea.
4. This is a dry wind as it carries no moisture.
5. These monsoon winds are also known as northeasterly winds.

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 FOHN WINDS

Windward slope leeward slope

1. Fohn winds are hot, dry winds that descend the leeward slopes of a mountain.
2. These winds blow down the northern slopes of the Alps.
3. A fohn wind starts when moist air from the ocean rises up the windward slope is
a mountain.
4. The air reaches condensation level and latent heat is released.
5. When the air descends the leeward side of the mountain, it warms as it becomes
compressed.
6. The air ends up hotter than it was before it rose up the mountain.
7. This is due to the latent heat that was added to the air when condensation took
place on the windward side.
8. The fohn wind is a hot dry wind that descends the mountain.

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 UNIT 5
The World’s Oceans – What are ocean currents?

An ocean current is the horizontal movement of water on a large scale in

the oceans. It is a steady flow of ocean water in a constant direction

How do ocean currents influence climate?

• The air above the warm ocean current is warmed by the water.
• The air above the cold ocean current is cooled by the water.
• Warmer air can hold more water vapour than cooler air.
• Ocean currents have a great influence on climate because of their effect on
temperature and
humidity.

How do the ocean currents influence the rainfall in South Africa?

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• Cold air over cold currents from the poles is carried towards adjacent land
areas where temperatures are lowered.
• With warm ocean currents from the equator come warmer air masses, which increase
the temperature of adjacent land areas.
• In South Africa, the cold Benguela Current along the west coast gives Port Nolloth
(29°14'S) a mean annual temperature of 14,2°C.
• The cool air along the west coast does not hold much humidity.
• The rainfall along the west coast is thus low.
• Desert conditions characterise the west coast because of the cold current.
• Durban, also on the coast and at nearly the same latitude (29°32'S), has a mean
annual temperature of 18,6°C.
• This is because of the Warm Agulhas (Mozambique) current on the east coast.
• The warmer air can hold much more humidity.
• The rainfall along the east coast is thus high.

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DROUGHTS AND DESEETIFICATION
UNIT 6
A drought is a prolonged period of no rain.
Desertification refers to the creation of dry soil conditions as a result of poor farming.
The World’s dry areas
The world’s dryland ecosystems are characterised by a lack of water. Drylands are
classified into four subtypes based on decreasing levels of dryness. These are
hyperarid, arid, semiarid and dry sub-humid.
Areas at risk
Drought and desertification are two challenges for populations in these dryland areas.
Degraded land due to desertification increases the effects of drought. This reduces the
chances of people and the environment coping with difficult periods.
As land dries up, it becomes unsuitable for farming. This increases poverty, food
insecurity, water scarcity and creates environmental refugees.
What are the causes of droughts?
 excessive build up of heat on the Earth’s surface
 meteorological changes, like a reduction in the amount of water vapour available
 reduced cloud cover leading to great evaporation rates
 oceanic and atmospheric weather cycles such as the El Niño. The resultant
effects of drought are increased by human activities such as deforestation,
overgrazing and poor cropping methods.
What are the effects of droughts?
Short term
The short-term effects are stock losses, failed harvests, falling production and food
shortages causing higher food prices.
Bushfires increase during dry times.
Tourism is affected. Wells dry up.
Hydro-electric plants may stop operating.
Water restrictions are imposed and there are increased health risks.
Long term
In the long term, ecosystems are thrown out of balance.
There is a decrease in the effectiveness of water sources as irrigation dams silt up and
more water evaporates.

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DESERTIFICATION
There is an expansion for the Earth’s drylands.
This is called desertification and involves turning formerly productive land into desert.
Desertification occurs mainly in semi-arid lands which border the world’s major deserts.
What is desertification?
Desertification is defined as a process of land degradation in mainly arid, semi-arid and
sub-humid dry areas. Land degradation involves soil erosion, water scarcity, reduced
agricultural productivity, loss of vegetation and biodiversity, drought and poverty.

CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF DESEERTIFICATION

Causes of desertification
The causes of desertification are complex and a combination of social, political,
economic, and natural factors. There are direct and indirect factors.
Direct factors
• Climate related processes, like global climate change, cause changing temperature
and
rainfall patterns.
• More people means more food and resources, so farming is done on unsuitable land.
• Poor agricultural practices such as overgrazing
• Deforestation
• Soil erosion Indirect factors
• Lack of knowledge encourages people to degrade the land.
• Policies leading to unsustainable use of resources encourage degradation.

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CONSEQUENSES OF DESERTIFICATION At local and national level
Agricultural yields are reduced and become unpredictable.
•Food security in affected areas is threatened.
•Survival strategies of people result in increased over-use of natural resources.
•People start to migrate, which causes suffering and death.
•The economies of the affected countries are weakened.
Desertification also brings certain positive changes:
 Women who manage land in the absence of men who are seeking work
elsewhere, now demand greater access to land.
 Governments became more aware of their role in legislating for improved
practices. At the global level Carbon stored in the vegetation in the drylands
declines when vegetation disappears. The destruction of carbon-rich soils
releases carbon and consequently boosts the greenhouse effect.
 Biodiversity is reduced when the habitats of animals, plants, and micro-
organisms disappears. Desertification directly reduces the world's fresh water
reserves.
 Desertification leads to an exploitation of underground reserves, and eventually
their depletion.
MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR DESERTIFICATION STRATEGIES
Effective prevention of desertification requires management and policy approaches that
promote sustainable resource use.
Prevention is better than rehabilitation, which is difficult and costly. The main
weaknesses in management processes are:
 lack of awareness and access to information
 shortage of funds and support
 lack of integration and coordination of efforts
 lack of capacity in government agencies.

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LEARNER ACTIVITY: DROUGHTS AND DESERTIFICATION
1. Describe the following concepts
1.1 Drought
1.2 Desertification
1.3 Arid
1.4 Semi-arid
2. Name the causes of droughts.
3. Distinguish between short term and long-term effects of droughts.
4. Which factors are direct causes of desertification?
5. Which factors are indirect factors of desertification?
6. Write short notes on the effects of desertification on local/national level.
7. Which positive changes results from desertification?
8. Name TWO effects of desertification at global level.
9. Write a paragraph of EIGHT LINES AND DISCUSS the management strategies for
desertification.

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 UNIT 7
SYNOPTIC MAP
A Synoptic map is a summary of weather conditions for a specific time and place.

HOW DO I INTREPRET A SYNOPTIC CHART?

1. The date informs you of the season.
Summer ______________________________________
Winter _______________________________________
2. Lines that join places of equal pressure are called _________________.
3. If the lines are close together, then the pressure gradient force is
_________________ and the winds are ______________________.
4. If the lines are far apart, then the pressure gradient force is _______________
and the winds are light.

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 SYMBOLS ON A SYNOPTIC MAP

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A SUMMER SYNOPTIC MAP

1. The date – February in the southern hemisphere is summer.

2. Low pressure cell over the land - heat low
3. South Atlantic High and South Indian high lie further south of the land.
4. The mid latitude cyclone lies further south of the map.

5. Presence of a tropical cyclone – it has a name and an eye

6. Overcast conditions.
7. High temperature over the land.

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WINTER MAP

1. The date – August is winter in the Southern hemisphere.

2. A high pressure over the land – Kalahari high
3. South Atlantic high, South Indian high, MLC are close to the land.
4. Low temperature over the land.

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