1.1 Refer to FIGURE 1.1 showing a synoptic weather map of southern Africa - NSC Geography - Question 1 - 2017 - Paper 1

The season represented by this synoptic weather map is summer.

Area A on the synoptic weather map is a ridge.

The weather system associated with the area at A creates unstable weather conditions.

The wind at weather station B is a NNE wind.

The speed of weather station B is 20 knots.

The air pressure at the centre of the South Atlantic anticyclone is higher than 1032 hPa.

The appropriate term is Warm Front.

Front A is a Cold Front and Front B is a Warm Front.

This mid-latitude cyclone is in the mature/warm sector stage.

The diagram depicts the warm sector on the south side, indicating the cyclone is in the Northern Hemisphere.

Front B is associated with a greater rainfall extent due to cumulonimbus cloud formations that cause heavy rainfall.

The likely weather conditions associated with the cloud type at front A include light rain and gradual temperature decrease.

In the occlusion stage, temperatures will drop significantly and air pressure will decrease, leading to unstable weather conditions.

An urban heat island describes the phenomenon where urban areas are warmer than surrounding rural areas.

1. Tall buildings trap heat, causing heat retention.
2. Activities in the city, such as traffic, generate additional heat.

Increased temperatures can lead to health issues, such as heat exhaustion, and increased energy costs for cooling.

To control temperatures in urban areas, city planners can create more green spaces, which help absorb heat. Using reflective materials for buildings can mitigate heat absorption. Increasing vegetation through planting trees along streets provides shade and cools the surrounding areas. Promoting public transportation can also reduce traffic heat generation. Furthermore, establishing policies for energy-efficient buildings will reduce the heat produced through air conditioning.

The river type in the photograph is periodic.

The photograph shows varying water levels consistent with a river that experiences dry and rainy seasons.

The water table is the upper layer of the underground water surface in which the soil or rocks are permanently saturated with water.

In the dry season, the water table is lower compared to the rainy season when it rises due to increased precipitation.

Precipitation influences river flow by increasing water volume, hence enhancing the carrying capacity. A steeper gradient leads to faster flow, increasing erosion and the transport of sediments. Conversely, when the gradient is gentle, the river slows, allowing sediments to deposit. Consequently, periods of heavy rain can lead to greater sediment being transported and deposited during lower flow periods.

River flow A is Turbulent, and River flow B is Laminar.

You would find river flow B in the middle/lower course of the river.

River flow A is turbulent because it involves obstacles that create eddies and chaos in the water flow.

Flow B is associated with more erosion because the laminar flow tends to transport larger particles, leading to greater abrasion on the riverbed.

River flow A appears clearer due to lower sediment load, while river flow B has a darker colour from suspended sediments.