Atmosphere: Can-Do checklist 

Physical Environments By the end of this topic you should be able to: 

• explain, with the aid of an annotated diagram, why Tropical latitudes receive more of the sun’s energy than Polar regions

• explain why there is a net gain of solar energy in the Tropical latitudes and a net loss towards the Poles

• describe the role of atmospheric circulation in the redistribution of energy over the globe

 • describe and explain the earth’s energy exchanges shown on a diagram

• describe the factors which affect the amount of sunlight reflected from the earth’s surface

• describe and account for the pattern of atmospheric circulation and global winds

• describe and account for the pattern of ocean currents shown on a world map

• describe the variations in global temperatures for the last 100 years (shown e.g. on a graph), and suggest both physical and human reasons for these variations

• describe and explain the origin, nature and weather characteristics of Temperate Maritime (mT) and Tropical Continental (cT) air masses which affect West Africa

• with reference to the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone and the movement of air masses, describe and account for the variations in West African rainfall distribution.