APES Mod 9-11 Vocab

Question 1

Adiabatic Cooling

Answer 1

The cooling effect of reduced pressure on air as it rises higher in the atmosphere and expands

Question 2

Adiabatic Heating

Answer 2

The heating effect of increased pressure on air as it sinks toward the surface of Earth and decreases in volume

Question 3

Albedo

Answer 3

The percentage of incoming sunlight reflected from a surface

Question 4

Atmospheric Convection Current

Answer 4

Global patterns of air movement that are initiated by the unequal heating of Earth

Question 5

Climate

Answer 5

The average weather that occurs in a given region over a long period of time

Question 6

Coriolis Effect

Answer 6

The deflection of an object’s path due to the rotation of Earth

Question 7

Earth’s Tilt

Answer 7

Earth’s tilt on its axis relative to its orbital plane around the Sun

Question 8

ENSO

Answer 8

A reversal of wind and water currents in the South Pacific.

Question 9

Equinox

Answer 9

the Earth’s axis and its orbit line up so that both hemispheres get an equal amount of sunlight.

Question 10

Ferrell Cell

Answer 10

A convection current in the atmosphere that lies between Hadley cells and polar cells

Question 11

Gyre

Answer 11

A large-scale pattern of water circulation that moves clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

Question 12

Hadley Cell

Answer 12

A convection current in the atmosphere that cycles between the equator and 30° N and 30° S.

Question 13

ITCZ

Answer 13

The latitude that receives the most intense sunlight, which causes the ascending branches of the two Hadley cells to converge.

Question 14

Latent Heat of Release

Answer 14

The release of energy when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into liquid water.

Question 15

Polar Cell

Answer 15

A convection current in the atmosphere, formed by air that rises at 60° N and 60° S and sinks at the poles, 90° N and 90° S.

Question 16

Rain Shadow

Answer 16

A region with dry conditions found on the leeward side of a mountain range as a result of humid winds from the ocean causing precipitation on the windward side.

Question 17

Saturation Point

Answer 17

The maximum amount of water vapor in the air at a given temperature.

Question 18

Solstice

Question 19

Stratosphere

Answer 19

The layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere, extending roughly 16 to 50 km (10–31 miles) above the surface of Earth.

Question 20

Thermohaline Circulation

Answer 20

An oceanic circulation pattern that drives the mixing of surface water and deep water.

Question 21

Troposhere

Answer 21

A layer of the atmosphere closest to the surface of Earth, extending up to approximately 16 km (10 miles).

Question 22

Upwelling

Answer 22

The upward movement of ocean water toward the surface as a result of diverging currents.

Question 23

Weather

Answer 23

The short-term conditions of the atmosphere in a local area, which include temperature, humidity, clouds, precipitation, and wind speed.