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London
The capital city of England and the United Kingdom lies on the River Thames, which winds through the city. Its many bridges are a famous sight. The oldest is London Bridge, originally made of wood but rebuilt in stone in 1217. The most distinctive is Tower Bridge, which was designated to blend in with the nearby Tower of London.
11. Climate and Weather
Weather
The popular view of the British weather is that it rains all the time. This is not true and Britain gets no more rain in an average year than several other European countries. In some summers the country goes for weeks with nothing more than a shower. Perhaps the main characteristic of Britain's weather is that it is hard to predict. This is probably why people regularly listen to weather forecasts on radio and television. However, the weathermen (= people who present the forecasts) are sometimes wrong. Many people remember especially their failure to predict the Great Storm of 1987 which caused a lot of damage.
The British are not used to extremes. In summer the temperature rarely goes higher than 30C (86 F). Heatwaves are greeted with newspaper headlines such as 'Phew! What a scorcher!' In winter the south and west are fairly mild. The east and north get much colder, with hard frosts and snow. A cold snap (= period of very cold weather) or heavy falls of snow can bring transport to a halt.
Samuel Johnson observed that 'when two Englishmen meet their first talk is of the weather', and this is still true. The weather is a safe, polite and impersonal topic of conversation. Most British people would agree that bright sunny weather, not too hot and with enough rain to water their gardens, is good. Bad weather usually means dull days with a lot of cloud and rain or, in winter, fog or snow. The British tend to expect the worst as far as the weather is concerned and it is part of national folklore that summer bank holidays will be wet. It may be pouring with rain, teeming down, bucketing, or even just drizzling or spitting, but it will be wet.
The US is large enough to have several different climates, and so the weather varies between regions. In winter the temperature in New York state is often 8 C (17 F), or lower; in the summer in Arizona it is often above 40 C (104 F). Arizona gets less than an inch (2.5 centimetres) of rain most months; the state of Washington, DC can get 6 inches (15 centimetres). The Northeast and Midwest have cold winters with a lot of snow, and summers that are very hot and humid. The South has hot, humid summers but moderate winters. The Southwest, including Arizona and New Mexico, is dry and warm in the winter and very hot in the summer. Some parts of the US suffer tornadoes (= strong circular winds) and hurricanes.
In autumn people put storm doors and windows on their houses, an extra layer of glass to keep out the cold wind. Cities in the snow belt have several snow days each winter, days when people do not go to school or work. But then snow ploughs clear the roads and life goes on, even when the weather is bad.
In the US it is considered boring to talk about the weather, but some phrases are often heard. In the summer people ask, 'Is it hot enough for you?' or say that the street is 'hot enough to fry an egg'. When it rains they say 'Nice day if you're a duck', or that they do not mind the rain because 'the farmers need it'.
Many people in Britain and the US, as elsewhere, are worried about global warming due to emissions from vehicles and factories of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) and any climatic changes this may cause. There are also fears that global warming is affecting El Nino, a weather pattern associated with a warm Pacific Ocean current, resulting in more frequent storms and floods in California and Central and South America, and droughts (= long periods of dry weather) in other parts of the world.
Climate and Weather
Weather is not the same as climate. The weather at a place is the state of the atmosphere there at a given time or over a short period. The weather of the British Isles is notoriously variable. The climate of a place or region, on the other hand, represents the average weather conditions through the year.
The position of the British Isles within latitudes 50 to 61 N is basics factor in determining the main characteristics of the climate. The climate of any place results from the interaction of a number of determining factors, of which the most important are latitude, distance from the sea, relief and the direction of the prevailing winds.
Britain has a generally mild and temperate climate, which is dominated by marine influences and is rainy and equable. Britain's climate is much milder than that in any other country in the same latitudes. This is due partly to the presence of the North Atlantic Drift and partly to the fact that north-west Europe lies in a predominantly westerly wind-belt. Britain's climate is generally one of mild winters and cool summers, with rain throughout the year, although there are considerable regional changes.
The sea greatly modifies the climate of the British Isles, for their relatively small area and the indented nature of the coastline allow maritime influences to penetrate well inland. In summer the land tends to be warmer than the sea, and in winter the con- verse is true.
The prevailing winds in the British Isles are westerlies. They are extremely moist as a result of their long passage over the warm waiters of the North Atlantic.
Relief is the most important factor controlling the distribution of temperature and precipitation within Britain. The actual temperatures experienced in the hilly and mountainous parts are considerably lower than those in the lowlands. Average annual rainfall in Britain is about 1,100 mm. The mountainous areas of the west and north have far more rainfall than the lowlands of the south and east.
Rainfall is fairly well distributed throughout the year, but, on average, March to June are the driest, months and October to January the wettest.
Because of the North Atlantic Drift and the predominantly maritime air masses that effect the British Isles, the range in temperature throughout the year is never very great. July and August are the warmest months of the year on average and January and February the coldest. The mean summer temperatures throughout Britain increase from north to south. The distribution of sunshine shows a general decrease from south to north, a decrease from the coast inland. Generally the coasts are everywhere sunnier than neighbouring inland districts. Ireland is subject to frequent cloud and records little sunshine.
Spring is normally Britain's driest season, even though April is by tradition showery. Cold weather normally lasts no later than mid-April, and there are frequently some very warm days during the second half of the month. West-coast districts are popular for spring holidays because they are less vulnerable to rearguard actions from winter in the form of bursts of east or north wind. In parts of Cornwall and south Devon grass may grow throughout the year because of the absence of frost.
By late spring, daytime temperatures rise considerably, and the thermometer may even reach 21-24°C over a wide area. In May and June, maximum temperatures along the coasts normally exceed sea-surface temperatures by about 5-9° N. This difference, greater along the east coast, causes an alteration between off-shore and on-shore breezes - ideal for yachtsmen, and for holiday- mailers who enjoy bracing air.
June is the brightest month of the year for Britain in general, and the average daily sunshine ranges from eight hours in the extreme south to about five hours in the north of Scotland. Rainfall tends to increase during July and August, partly because Atlantic depression come nearer to our coasts during these months and partly also because air, as it becomes warmed, is capable of holding more moisture. When winds are ocean-borne and the weather is changeable, flat coastal areas have fewer showers than inland areas where there is high ground. But there may still be dry and sunny places inland, especially in the lee of high ground. East Wales and the Welsh Border country, for example, are comparatively dry on days of showery, south-westerly winds. In south-west England, when winds are northerly, visitors may find sunshine south of Dartmoor.
Late summer is often noted for very warm weather, and this may continue into September. One advantage of a late holiday is that sea temperatures remain high because of the summer heat that the ocean has stored. Eastern resorts are particularly good for a late holiday because winds are then generally from the south-west and have lost some of their moisture by the time they have crossed the country.
The autumn winds eventually move round to the west and north-west, and the weather becomes less settled. The air is exceptionally clear during the sunnier spells. The bracken flourishes, and early frost can enhance the beauty of the landscape.
North and north-west winds often bring heavy falls of snow to north Britain during late October or November. But these are usually short-lived, and when the winds subside and the sky clears, the beauty of the countryside is unparalleled. Mid-winter snows are heavier and more prolonged; but even the winter months have their compensations when, during spells of east wind, the air clears and conditions become ideal for long walks and winter sports.
Vocabulary
notoriously - общеизвестно
represent – означать, представлять собою
average - средний
latitude - широта
determine - определять
generally – широко, повсеместно
dominate – влиять, иметь преобладающее влияние
temperate - умеренный
marine - морской
drift - течение
predominant-westerly – преобладающий с запада (о ветре)
moisture – влажность, влага
modify - видоизменять
indented coast-line – изрезанная береговая линия
penetrate – проникать внутрь
consequently – следовательно, в результате
moderate - смягчать
showery - дождливый
frequently - часто
vulnerable - уязвимый
exceed - превышать
bracing - бодрящий
lee – подветренная сторона
particularly – особенно, в конечном счете
spell – промежуток времени, период
bracken – папоротник-орляк
flourish – пышно расти
enhance - увеличивать (опасность)
subside – стихать, успокаиваться (о ветре)
unparalleled – не имеющий себе равного, бесподобный
prolonged – длительный, затянувшийся
blizzard – буран, пурга
clouds drift (float, sail) across (over) the sky – облака плывут по
covered with clouds – покрытый тучами
gale – штормовой ветер
hail – сыпаться градом
haze – легкий туман
hoarfrost - иней
humidity - влажность
hurricane – ураган, шторм
icicles glitter in the sun – сосульки сверкают на солнце
icicles hang (from) – сосульки свисают (с)
lightning strikes – молния ударяет
flash of lightning – вспышка молнии
maritime - морской
mist rises – туман поднимается
splashes of mud – брызги грязи
muddy – грязный, слякотный
awakening (revival) of nature – пробуждение природы
precipitation – выпадение осадков, осадки
clouded (cloudy) sky – небо, покрытое облаками
leaden sky – свинцовое небо
sleet – дождь со снегом (мокрый снег)
snow - снег
snowdrift – снежный сугроб
snow turns to slush – снег превращается в слякоть
it snows heavily (hard) – идет сильный снег
snowfall - снегопад
snowflake – снежинка
snowballs – ‘снежки’
caught in a storm –застигнутый метелью
storm bursts out – внезапно начинается буря
storm is brewing – собирается буря (гроза)
frost – мороз
white ~ - иней, изморозь
black ~ - сильный сухой мороз (без снега)
sharp ~ - сильный мороз
ringing ~ - трескучий мороз
heat – жара
cool - прохладный
chilly – прохладный (о погоде)
Indian summer – бабье лето
thaw sets in – наступает оттепель
clap of thunder – удар грома
peal (roll) of thunder – раскат грома
thunder rumbles and crashes – гром грохочет
thunderstorm - гроза
approach of a thunderstorm – приближение грозы
wind - ветер
biting (keen, sharp) wind – резкий ветер
breath of wind – дуновение ветра
breeze – бриз, легкий ветерок
fair wind – попутный ветер
gust of wind – порыв ветра
wind drops (falls, abates) – ветер стихает
slight wind – легкий ветер
strong (violent) wind – сильный ветер
wind drives away the clouds – ветер разгоняет облака
wind howls – ветер воет
clear up - проясняться
climate -климат
continental (extreme) ~ – континентальный климат
insular ~ - островной климат
equatorial ~ - экваториальный климат
mediterranean ~ - средиземноморский климат
damp ~ – влажный климат
dry ~ – сухой климат
mild ~ – мягкий климат
moist ~ - влажный климат
beastly (bitterly) cold – ужасно холодно
dew - роса
dewy – покрытый росой
drizzle – мелкий дождь, изморось
rain - дождь
the rain has set in – пошел обложной дождь
it’s a pelting ~ - идет проливной дождь
it looks like ~ - похоже, что идет дождь
pouring ~ - проливной дождь
to be caught in the ~ - попасть под дождь
to keep out of the ~ - укрыться от дождя
it’s going to ~ - собирается дождь
It is raining cats and dogs – (идиом.) Дождь идет как из ведра
rainbow - радуга
rainfall (shower)- ливень
puddle – лужица (после дождя)
two (three, etc.) degrees above (below) zero – два (три и т. д.)
three degrees in the shade – три градуса в тени
it keeps fine – сохраняется (стоит) ясная погода
frost breaks – мороз прекращается
frost licks the river – мороз сковывает реку
heat grows (becomes, gets) oppressive (sultry) – жара становится
beastly (nasty, wretched) weather – отвратительная погода
dull weather – пасмурная погода
fair weather – ясная погода
zone –зона, пояс, район
the torrid ~ - тропический пояс (зона)
climate ~ - климатическая зона
Arctic ~ - полярная зона
frigid ~ - арктический пояс
temperate ~ - умеренный пояс
zone time – поясное время
Answer the questions