Ch1 - pp. 11-21 Flashcards
Weather
Involves the changes that take place in the earth’s lower atmosphere in a localized area for a short period of time.
Climate
Involves certain patterns of weather which occur over a long period of time in a particular region.
“Trade Winds”
Merchant sailors used these winds to travel from the east to America.
Prevailing Westerlies
Merchant sailors used these winds to return home.
Matthew Maury
Did much of the early work of charting the ocean current’s and physical geography.
Precipitation
The release of water from the atmosphere in the form of rain, snow, or ice
Frontal Precipitation
When two air masses of different temperatures meet, the warm air is forced upward over the colder air.
Or-graphic Precipitation
Winds blowing warm, moist air toward coastal mountains
Convectional Precipitation
When hot, humid air rises and cools, losing its ability to hold as much moisture.
Elevation
Height above sea level
Wladimir Koppen
A climatologist and meteorologist working for the German Naval Observatory in Hamburg.
Tropical
Experience high temperatures and heavy precipitation.
Dry
Occur in both lower and higher latitudes and can be classified as either desert or steppe
Mild
Do not generally have extremes in temperatures, but sometimes experience cold winters
Continental
Often experience seasonal extremes in temperature and climate
