Atmosphere Flashcards
Give 4 reasons for a surplus of energy at the equator and a deficit lf energy at the poles
Curvature of the earth
Albedo
Tilt lf the earth
Thickness of the atmosphere
Explain curvature of the earth
Both bands of insolation are the same width and therefore the same strength, yet the band which is near the north pole has a greater sirfact to heat unlike the band at the equator
Explain thickness of the atmosphere
The farher from the equator the greater the amount of atmosphere the radiation has to penetrate. Energy is lost through scattering, absorption and reflectiom
Explaim albedo
The poles have high albedo, due tothe ice caps being white this reflects light. Equatorial areas have low albedo because of the dark green colour and absorption through vegetation
Explain tilt of the earth
Im winter, the north pole is tilted away therefore the sun is concentrated at the tropic of capricorn in tge southern hemisphere. In March the sun is concentrated at the equator. In summer, the south pole is tilted away therefore the sun is concentrated at the tropic of cancer in the northern hemispher
Explain how atmospheric circulation and the associated winds distributes energy across the globe
The hadley cell is a thermall direct cell and a cell of low pressure. The warm air rises at the equator and travels in the upper atmosphere to around 30N, cools and sinks. The winds associated with the hadley cell are trade winds as this warm air from the equator is distributed to higher and cooler latitudes.
The polar cell is alsp a thermally direct cell and a cell of low pressure. Cold air sinking at the poles moves to 60N. The winds associated with this cell are the polar easterlies. Cold air from the poles is distributed to lower and warmer latitudes.
The cold air from the poles meets warmer air from the tropics, causing air to rise creating a ferrel cell which is a thermally indirect cell and a cell of hugh pressure.
Describe oceanic circulation for the pacific ocean
Oceans and the atmosphere move water from areas of surplus at the equator to areas of deficit at the poles. Ocean currents move in gyres.
Cold currents in the pacific such as the californian brings cold water to the west of USA. The kurlie current is also a cold current that bring cold water down past russia. Warm currents in the pacific such as the north pacific drif bring warm waters to parts of canada. The kuro siro current is also a warm current that brings warm water past indonesia towards japan.
Explain the characteristics of tropical maritime and tropical continental air mass
Tropical maritime originates in the atlamtuc ocean in the Gulf of Guinea. Its weather is hot, unstabe air with high humidity and high precipitation.
Tropical continental originates in the sahara desert. Its weather is very hot, stable air with low humidity and low precipitation.
Explain ITCZ
The thermal equator receives the most intense heat from the sun. In june each year the sun is overhead in the north. In december each year the sun is overhead in the south.
When the thermal equator is in the north it pulls with it a tropical maritime airmass which brings hot and wet weather to africa.
When the thermal equator is in the south it pulls with it a tropical continental airmass which brings hot and dry weather to africa.
In (months), agadez receives no rainfall. This is because in these months the thermal equator is in the south and africa is covered in a tropical continental air mass bringing hot and dry weather to africa.
In (months), Lagos receives peak rainfall of (mm). This is because in these months the thermal equator is in the north and africa is covered in a tropical maritime air mass bringing hot a wet weather to africa.
In (months), agadez receives a total rainfall of (mm). This is because agadez lies very far north meaning even if the thermal equator is in the north, it lies right on th ITCZ which can bring thunderstorms but not prolonged rainfall.
