Valley climates

GRADE 12
Micro-climate
Slope aspect is the direction to which slope
faces

Southern Hemisphere- North facing slope

Northern Hemisphere- South facing slope
North facing slope and South facing slope
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 Anabatic and katabatic winds

The slopes cool due to

terrestrial radiation.
The slopes warm The air above the slopes
due to insolation. becomes cold and dense
The air above the and sinks down the
slopes warms, valley slopes.
becomes lighter and
rises up the slopes of Associated
the valley. with cold conditions and
frost, fog creates
poor visibility.
 Thermal belt/ Inversions
• It is a layer of warm air trapped between two layers of cold
air
Especially a cold and calm winter’s night.
• Crops which need warm, frost-free conditions will be planted
in the
thermal belt, for example sugar cane
 Frost pockets
Dew point temperature is below freezing point
Damages vegetation and crops
 Could plant frost resistant crops.
FROST POCKET
 Radiation fog
 In the morning the sun heat the surface
 When this air is below due point temperature
 The warm air rises and evaporates. (Fog lifts)
 Effects visibility
Radiation fog
Thank you
Homework
Choose the correct answer from the options given

1.1 Katabatic winds occur during the (day/night).

1.2 Anabatic winds occur during the (day/night).
1.3 Katabatic winds are (upslope/down slope) winds
1.4 (Katabatic/ anabatic) winds cause temperature inversion.
1.5 (Katabatic/ anabatic) are also known as valley winds