21-1 Flashcards
what is climate?
average weather conditions of an area over 30 years, including temperature, air pressure, precipitation, humidity, and sunshine. results from interactions between Earth’s spheres
what are the two main factors that affect climate?
temperature and precipitation
what are the factors that affect climate of a region?
latitude, elevation, topography, large bodies of water, circulation in the atmosphere, and vegetation
what is latitude and how is it a factor that affects climate?
the distance north or south of the equator. Solar energy varies by latitude, with higher latitudes receiving less due to the angle of sunlight.
what are the 3 temperature zones?
tropical zone, temperate zone, and polar zone
what is the tropical zone? where is it and how much sun does it get? does weather change?
23.5 degrees north to 23.5 degrees south latitude. receives most direct sun rays close to 90 degrees to the surface, sun shines directly overhead making it always hot
what is the temperate zone? where is it and how much sun does it get? does weather change?
between tropics and polar zones (23.5 degrees to 66.5 degrees). Sun’s radiation strikes Earth at smaller angle compared to near equator, making radiation spread out more evenly
weather changes with seasons - winters are cold and summers are hot, spring and fall have mild temperatures
what is the polar zone? where is it and how much sun does it get? does weather change?
from 66.5 degrees north and south to the poles
Solar energy hits at a low angle, energy distributed over larger area so colder, and some heat is lost when reflected by white polar ice so very cold
how does altitude affect climate?
the higher the elevation is, the colder the climate
how does topography (windward and leeward side) affect climate?
influences where precipitation falls. Windward side faces the wind, air rises and cools, reaches dew point, drops moisture as precipitation.
Leeward side (downward) where air descends, heats up, hold more water vapor, relative humidity drops, land drys out (“rain shadow”)
how do bodies of water affect climate?
water heats and cools slower than land, creating land and sea breezes. Coastal areas have less temperature change than inland areas at the same latitude. Warm ocean currents from the equator bring mild, humid air, while cold currents from polar regions cool nearby land.
how does circulation in the atmosphere affect climate?
global winds distribute heat and moisture around Earth. Winds move warm air towards poles and cool air toward equator which leads to cloud formation which drops precipitation.
how does vegetation affect climate?
how much of the sun’s energy is absorbed and released through plants, affects area’s temperature by moderating temperatures. More vegetation holds more moisture
what is transpiration? how does irrigation farming affect it?
Plants release water vapor into the air through tiny holes in their leaves, affecting humidity. Irrigation farming has increased humidity in dry western areas.
How do plants influence cloud formation and precipitation?
Plants release pollen, which acts as condensation nuclei for cloud formation. More pollen leads to more clouds and increased precipitation.
