Directorate: Curriculum FET

SUBJECT and GRADE GEOGRAPHY – GRADE 12

TERM 1 Week 1 lesson 1
TOPIC MID-LATITUDE CYCLONES
AIMS OF LESSON To strengthen your knowledge, understanding and interpretation of mid-latitude cyclones and its
impact on Western Cape.
RESOURCES Paper based resources Digital resources
• Lesson on page 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kP-abSp-Q0&t=95s
• Learner task on page 3-7
• Textbook: Mid-latitude https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_UBlkUKTMQ&t=87s
cyclones
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuzhMfYqldU&t=42s

INTRODUCTION You should know from previous grades/current grade/previous lessons

• Grade 10: Frontal rainfall
• Grade 11 Global air circulation - Westerlies.
CONCEPTS AND SKILLS You must know: You must be able to:
• General characteristics of mid-latitude cyclones. • apply knowledge and
• Areas where mid-latitude cyclones are found concepts on various
• Conditions needed for their formation geographic sources.
• Stages of development and related weather conditions • read and interpret graphs,
• Weather patterns associated with cold, warm and diagram synoptic weather
occluded fronts maps and satellite images.
• Impact of mid-latitude cyclones • answer data response questions.
• Reading and interpreting satellite images and synoptic • write a paragraph.
weather maps
ACTIVITIES/ASSESSMENT • Activity to the lesson is on page 3
• Additional activities in your textbook
CONSOLIDATION You must study these topics by asking key Geographic questions such as: What and where is it?
What does it look like? How does it differ? Why does it differ? How the impact can be managed
VALUES Awareness of our rainfall; sustainable use of water; and flooding..

1
 MID-LATITUDE CYCLONES
What does it look like? Where are mid-latitude cyclones found? What are cold and warm fronts?

WARM FRONT
Air behind front
warm. Warm air
moves over the
cooler air.

Moves from west to east

What weather changes occur when a What are the impacts?

cold front moves over an area? Positive Negative COLD FRONT
• Drop in Temperature • Brings rain fills dams • Snow damages Air behind
• Increases yield crops front cold.
• Wind changes from NW to SW
• Water table rises • Flooding Ridges
• Increase in air pressure • Snow tourist • Stock losses underneath
• Increase in cloud cover attraction • Costly repairs the warm air
• Sustains natural • Erosion and lifts it.
• Rainfall occurs
vegetation and • Cold conditions -
Must also know reasons for weather changes
animals vegetation
How does a mid-latitude cyclone develop?
damage (Development stages)

2
 LEARNER TASK

1 Add the following labels to the diagram of the mid-latitude cyclone.

• Isobars of 1 008 and 1004 hPa

• Low pressure (L)
• Warm front
• Cold front
• Colour warm sector red
• Colour cold sector blue
• Clockwise circulation
(with arrows)

2 The questions are based on the diagram below

2.1 Identify the type of front on the diagram (1x1) (1)

2.2 Draw a cross-section along the line A-B on the diagram. (4x1) (4)
2.3 Why is it a bad idea to visit one of the beaches at Cape Town? (2x2) (4)
2.4 Explain the changing weather conditions as the cold front passes over
Cape Town. (3x2) (6)
2.5 Write a paragraph of approximately EIGHT lines to describe the
human and environmental impacts of the mid latitude cyclone on
agricultural activities. (4x2) (8)
[This paragraph-type question is unpacked on the following page]
UNPACKING OF PARAGRAPH-TYPE QUESTION 2.5

ANSWER

Impact on Human activities

Positive: - Provides rain for agriculture
- Increases yield and income
- Snow can be a tourist attraction
Negative: - Cold conditions and flooding can cause loss of life
- Stock losses and damage to crops
- Costly repairs and aid projects

Impact on the environment

Positive: - Rain sustains natural vegetation and animals
Negative: - Flooding causes erosion and loss of topsoil
- Eroded material slit up rivers and dams
- Cold conditions can lead to vegetation damage (4x2) (8)

Remember the
following when you
attempt a paragraph-type
question in Geography
3 The questions are based on the synoptic weather map

3.1 Give THREE reasons why the synoptic weather map represents winter. (3x2) (6)
3.2 Name the weather system moving across Southern Africa. (1x1) (1)
3.3 In which direction does this weather system move? (1x1) (1)
3.4 Why does this weather system move in the direction mentioned in 3.3? (2x1) (2)
3.5 Why can the front moving across the country be regarded as a cold front? (2x2) (4)
3.6 Describe the weather at the ship northwest of Cape Town. (5x1) (5)
(Hint: Refer to temperature, dew point temperature, wind direction,
wind speed and cloud cover)

QR CODES
Scan the QR codes below to link you with the digital resources mentioned on page 1.

Characteristics of Warm and Cold fronts Development of

mid-latitude cyclone mid-latitude cyclone
APPLICATION ON TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS AND ORTOPHOTO MAPS

You must be able to apply your knowledge of the mid-latitude cyclone on op topographic and
orthophoto maps.

Answer the following two questions. In both cases hints are given to you in order to get to the answer.

1 Which of the residential areas, West End,Tuinsig oor Vleiview will receive more air pollution from the
industrial area:

(a) Before a cold front moves over Caledon?

(b) After a cold front moves over Caledon?

Give a reason for your answer in (a) and (b)

HINT: Consider the wind direction before and after a cold front moves over an area.
2 Which of the runways , A or B at Port Elizabeth airport will be used:

(a) To take off BEFORE a cold front moves over the airport?
(b) To land AFTER a cold front moved over the airport?

Give a reason for your answer in (a) and (b)

HINT: Planes take off and land AGAINST the wind.