Chapter 10 Flashcards
How does latitude affect temperature and precipitation?
Colder climates toward poles
–Sun strikes surface at an angle
–Less incoming solar radiation per unit area
How does elevation affect temperature?
Higher elevations have colder climates
Topography-how does temperature of windward city compare to a leeward city?
Windward side of mountains are wetter
Proximity to large bodies of water-how does the ocean modify climate?
Smaller annual temperature ranges (lower high temps and higher low temps)
–Less seasonal variation (climate is nearly the same year round)
Earth’s surface characteristics-how does albedo affect climate?
–Effects the total amount of solar radiation absorbed by a surface
- Low albedo = more absorption= increased temperature
- High albedo = more reflection= decreased temperature
Net incoming solar radiation-how does the amount of incoming solar radiation vary throughout the day, year, and with latitude? How would these variations affect climate?
The amount of incoming sunlight changes seasonally and with latitude
Atmospheric circulation-how do the wind belts affect temperature?
Wind blowing from ocean to land
–Less seasonal variation
–Less extremes
Wind blowing across land to ocean
–More seasonal variation
–More extremes
Describe the shifting of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
Most rain on Earth falls in the tropical rain belt known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), which on average lies 6° north of the equator. … So when the northern hemisphere warms, for example, because northern ice cover and with it the polar albedo are reduced, the ITCZ shifts northward
Describe the relationship between El Niño and the southern oscillation index?
Red, negative = El NiñoBlue, positive = La Niña
Where is the high pressure for El Nino
Opposite of normal:
30N: low
Equator: high
30S: low
Which direction does wind blow with El Nino
West but has weak trade winds
Describe the “normal” conditions in the Pacific Ocean (wind direction, relative current strength, and current direction).
- Strong west trade winds
- Strong Equatorial current
- West flow current
During a “normal” year, which side of the equatorial pacific experiences upwelling?
Upwelling on east side of Pacific (near So. America)
During an El Niño event, what happens to the trade winds in the equatorial Pacific?
NE and SE trade winds weaken
During an El Niño event, what happens to the Equatorial counter-current?
Equatorial counter-current becomes strong
What are some of the results of the El Niño? (floods, drought, etc.)
- Upwelling in East pacific ceases-poor primary productivity
- Storms and rains in western North and South America-floods
- Drought in Hawaii, Indonesia
- Less Hurricanes in Atlantic
Describe a La Niña event. What are the results?
- Unusually strong trade winds
- Stronger than usual equatorial currents
- Weaker than usual equatorial counter current
- Water moves from east to west across Pacific
Describe the Southern Oscillation Index (Fig 10.5). What do positive values mean? What do negative values mean?
The southern oscillation index is taken by measuring sea level pressures (as compared to normal) at Tahiti and subtracting sea level pressure at Darwin, Australia
0.0 line = normal
Red, negative = El Niño
Blue, positive = La Niña
Which month has the highest temperature for each graph? What is the difference between the warmest month and coldest month for each graph?
Juneau (high latitude)-highest temperature occurs in July (summer). There is about a 20°difference in temperature between July and January.Guatemala City (low latitude(-June is the warmest month. There s only about a 4°difference between June and December.
What effect does the ocean have on high temperatures?
Cities near the ocean have lower high temperatures. Inland locations have higher high temperatures
What effect does the ocean have on low temperatures?
Cities near the ocean have higher low temperatures. Inland locations have lower low temperatures.
What effect does the ocean have on seasonal temperature variations?
Cities near the ocean have smaller variations in temperature over the course of a year. Winters are warmer and summers are cooler. Inland locations experience more extreme conditions with more variation over the course of a year. Summers are hotter and winters are colder.
Compare the temperatures for the two cities below. Locate there approximate location in relation to the Earth’s major wind belts. In which city does the wind blow from the ocean to land? In which city does the wind blow from land to the ocean? Why are they so different? (hint: specific heat)
Both cities are in the prevailing westerlies (wind blows from West to East). For Seattle, the wind blows from ocean to land. Thus, for Seattle, the ocean is a moderating factor. It does not get as hot in the summer nor as cold in the winter. For New York, the wind blows land to ocean. So, the land has more of an influence on the climate. Thus it is hotter in the summer and colder in the winter.
What is the climate like at the Horse latitudes?
The Horse Latitudes have sinking dry air. No rain and little wind.
The Red arrows below point to several deserts. Why do they form where they do?
The deserts pointed out with arrows are all at/near the Horse Latitudes. The Horse Latitudes is one of the causes of desert formation
What are 2 early signs of a developing El Niño in the tropical Pacific Ocean (in terms of air pressure, winds, ocean currents, or sea surface temperature)?Be sure to include where each result occurs.
1) Trade winds slacken, stop, or even reverse,
2) Warmer ocean water moves eastward from Australia towards South America,
3) Air pressure in Australia increases and air pressure in Tahiti decreases ,
4) Equatorial counter-current strengthens and the North and South Equatorial currents weaken
Describe 2 results of El Niño. Be sure to include where each result occurs.
1) Flooding in South America •2)Poor fishing in South America •3) Increased hurricanes in Hawaii 4) Coral bleaching along the west coast of South America • 5) Droughts in Australia and Indonesia •6)Wildfires in Australia and Indonesia
