6.2 Natural Influences On Climate Flashcards
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather: the conditions in the atmosphere.
Created by interactions between hydrosphere (water), lithosphere (land) + atmosphere (gases)
Climate: the long term-averages of weather conditions.
Eg. Averages stats of 30 yrs of weather record + including extreme events = climate.
How does the earths surface effect world climate?
Characteristics of the Earth’s surface determine how much of the energy from the Sun is reflected back into space.
E.g Clouds + ice of Arctic & Antarctic reflect most energy from Sun.
Ice reflects more than forests = if earth just covered in forests -> more energy absorbed + would be warmer.
REFLECTION OF HEAT.
How do atmospheric gases (gases in the atmosphere) influence climate?
Energy from sun (short-wave radiation) absorbed by clouds + earth’s surface -> radiated back into space as long-wave radiation (heat).
Greenhouse gases absorb out going long radiation -> re emit heat in different directions (some going back to earth) = greenhouse effect
Greenhouse gases: gases that trap heat close to the Earth’s surface.
Greenhouse effect: the warming of Earth caused by greenhouse gases.
Greenhouses heat up because short wave radiation pass through the glass -> absorbed by air & soil
Long wave radiation re-radiated = can’t pass through the glass.
GREENHOUSE DIAGRAM: SEE FIGURE 6.2.3, SEE NOTES OR GOOGLE.
EFFECT OF GREENHOUSE ON ATMOSPHERE: 6.2.4, ^
Without atmosphere = days hotter + nights cooler
Without GH effect: Earths av temp = -18 instead of 15
-> effect weather conditions + plant growth & animal survival
TRAPPING/ABSORBING HEAT
Draw diagram of effect of greenhouse on atmosphere.
Figure 6.2.4
Draw greenhouse diagram.
Figure 6.2.3
How does the orientation of the Earth influence the worlds climate?
As Earth rotates, the atmosphere and the waters of the oceans are dragged around with it. This movement influences the circulation of the air and water on a global scale.
Major factor influencing circulation of water in the oceans = temperature
If earths tilt was different, the characteristics of the seasons would be different.
SEASONS
How do ocean currents influence climate?
Surface currents are moved by wind until they reach land, deep currents move really cold water along the bottom, together, they cycle in the water as thermohaline circulation which controls the heat of climates.
MOVING HEAT - GLOBAL CONVEYOR BELT.
What are the two factors that influence Australia’s climate?
- Southern Oscillation (which gives rise to El Niño and La Niña effects)
A sequence of changes to the to the atmosphere and ocean circulation across the Pacific Ocean and Indonesian Islands. - Indian Ocean Dipole
A variable and irregular cycle of warming cooling of waters in the equatorial area of the Indian Ocean
