4.7-4.9 Flashcards
Solar intensity (insolation, W/m²) depends on:
______: how ______ rays strike Earth’s surface.
The amount of ______ Sun’s rays pass through.
______ = higher ______ than ______ latitudes.
Angle
Direct
Atmosphere
Equator
Insolation
Higher
Solar Intensity & Season
______ of Earth around the Sun & ______ on its axis changes the ______ of Sun’s rays.
This causes varying ______, varying ______ of day, and ______.
______ of Earth’s axis stays ______ during orbit.
Orbit
Tilt
Angle
Insolation
Length
Seasons
Tilt
Fixed
June & December Solstices: ______ or ______ hemisphere is maximally tilted toward the Sun (______/______).
March & Sept. Equinox: ______ & ______ hemisphere equally facing the Sun.v
N (North)
S (South)
Summer
Winter
North
South
Tilt of Earth’s Axis causes Variation in:
______ of Insolation (which changes ______)
______ of day
______
Angle
Intensity
Length
Season
Albedo the proportion of light that is reflected by a surface
the proportion of light that is reflected by a surface
______:
Surfaces with higher ______ reflect more light, and absorb less (____).
Absorb less ______.
Albedo
Albedo
Ice
Snow
Heat
Surfaces with low ______ reflect less light, and absorb more (______).
Absorb more ______.
Albedo
Water
Heat
______ & Surface Temperature
Surface temperature is affected by ______.
When sunlight is absorbed by a surface, it gives off ______ (heat).
Areas with lower ______, absorb more sunlight (______).
Albedo
Albedo
Infrared radiation
Albedo
Heat
______ Heat Island: Urban areas are hotter than surrounding rural areas due to low ______ of ______.
______ regions are colder due to higher ______.
Urban
Albedo
Blacktop
Polar
Albedo
______ is largely determined by ______ (latitude → ______ of insolation & atmosphere).
Higher ______ receive less insolation: cooler, less precipitation (especially ______ degrees).
______ receives most intense insolation: higher ______, air rises, high precipitation.
Climate
Insolation
Angle
Latitudes
30
Equator
Temperature
______ also plays a role.
______: disrupt wind & produce ______ effect.
______: moderate temperature & add moisture to the ______.
Geography
Mountains
Rain shadow
Oceans
Air
Warm, moist air from ______ hits the “______” side of the mountain, rises, cools (condensing ______ vapor & causing ______) → lush, green vegetation.
Ocean
Windward
H2O
Rain
______:
Dry air descends down “______” side of mountain, warming as it sinks.
Leads to ______ (dry) ______ conditions.
Rain shadows
Leeward
Arid
Desert
______ Ocean Surface Currents
______: large ocean ______ patterns due to global wind.
(______ in N hemisphere, ______ in S hemisphere).
Global
Gyres
Circulation
Clockwise
Counterclockwise
______ → ______ trade winds between 0-30 degrees push ______ current ______ → ______.
______ between 30-60 degrees push mid-latitude currents ______ → ______.
E → W
Equator
East → West
Westerlies
West → East
______ Zones: areas of ocean where winds blow warm surface water away from a ______, drawing up colder, deeper water to replace it.
Brings ______ & ______ to surface → productive fishing.
Upwelling
Land mass
O2
Nutrients
______ Circulation
Connects all of the world’s oceans, mixing ______, ______, and ______ throughout.
Thermohaline
Salt
Nutrients
Temperature
Warm water from ______ of Mexico moves toward the ______ Pole.
Cools & evaporates as it moves toward the poles.
______ & colder water at poles is more ______, making it ______.
Gulf
North
Saltier
Dense
Sink
Spreads along ______.
Rises back up into shallow, warm ocean current at ______.
Ocean
Upwelling
______: pattern of shifting atmospheric pressure & ocean currents in the Pacific Ocean between ______ and ______/______.
Oscillates, or shifts regularly from ______ (warmer, rainier) to ______ (cooler, drier) conditions along the coast of ______.
ENSO
South America
Australia
Southeast Asia
El Niño
La Niña
South America
Effects of ______
Suppressed ______ & less productive fishing in ______.
Warmer winter in much of ______ America.
Increased ______ and flooding in ______ (West coast especially).
Drought in ______ Asia & ______.
Decreased ______ activity in the ______ Ocean.
Weakened ______ activity in ______ & Southeast Asia.
El Niño
Upwelling
South America
North
Precipitation
Americas
Southeast
Australia
Hurricane
Atlantic
Monsoon
India
______ Effects
Stronger ______ & better fisheries in ______ than normal.
Worse ______ activity in the US and ______ activity in the ______.
Cooler, drier weather in ______.
Rainier, warmer, increased ______ in ______ Asia.
La Niña
Upwelling
South America
Tornado
Hurricane
Atlantic
Americas
Monsoons
Southeast
