Atmosphere Flashcards
What is insolation
Incoming solar radiation that heats the Earth’s atmosphere
What is terrestrial radiation
Heat given off by the heated surface of Earth
What are ocean currents
The continuous movement of seawater generated by a number of forces acting upon the water
Name two factors that determine the amount of insolation in a region
Seasonal temperature differences and latitudinal temperature differences
What are latitudinal temperature differences
The distance from the equator
What causes seasonal temperature differences
The Earth’s tilt
What is the coriolis force
The defection of the circulating air towards the right in the North and towards the left and the South due to the Earth’s rotation
Where are warm currents formed
The equator
Where are cold currents formed
The poles
How does the coriolis Force affect ocean currents
The winds pull water with them cars in currents
How do ocean currents affect global temperatures
Ocean currents send heat towards polar regions and cold air towards tropical regions
What is albedo
The amount of insolation reflected by the earth’s surface
How does the coriolis Force affect the direction of ocean currents
The coriolis force is ocean currents in the North towards the right and ocean currents in the south towards the left
In which direction do high-pressure cells rotate
Anti-clockwise
Does the air in high-pressure sells ascend or descend
Air in high-pressure cells descent
Which direction does air in low pressure cell rotate
Clockwise
Does the air in low pressure cells ascend or descend
The air in low pressure cells ascend
In which cells are clouds formed
Low pressure cells
List the 4 world pressure belts
Polar high pressure belt
Subpolar low pressure belt
Subtropical high-pressure belt
Intertropical convergence zone
What is the pressure gradient
The change in pressure from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure
How do isobars indicate high pressure gradient
Isobars are closer together steep
How do isobars indicate low pressure gradient
Isobar’s far apart
What is the relationship between a pressure gradient and wind speed
The stronger the pressure gradient the faster the wind
What is the geostrophic air flow
Theoretical wind resulting from balance between the coriolis force and the pressure gradient parallel to the isobars
