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8th Grade Science > Chapter 14.1-14.2 > Flashcards

Chapter 14.1-14.2 Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the climate?

A

The long term average of weather conditions

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2
Q

What is the difference between climate and weather?

A

Climate is long term, weather is short term atmospheric conditions

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3
Q

What are the four factors that affect climate?

A

Latitude
Equator
Poles
Mid-Latitudes

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4
Q

What is latitude?

A

Degrees north and south of equator

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5
Q

How does latitude affect climate?

A

Higher the latitude, the less sunlight

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6
Q

Where on Earth receives the most direct sunlight and how does this affect climate?

A

The Equator, and it makes the climate very hot

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7
Q

Where on Earth receives the least direct sunlight and how does this affect climate?

A

The poles, and it makes the climate very cold

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8
Q

How does altitude affect climate?

A

The higher the altitude, the colder the temperature

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9
Q

What is altitude?

A

Elevation above sea level

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10
Q

What is the windward side of a mountain?

A

The side of the mountain that faces the prevailing winds. (Characterized by thick vegetation.)

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11
Q

Describe the weather on the windward side of a mountain and why this occurs.

A

On the windward side of the mountain, there is a lot of precipitation, this is because the wind takes up precipitation, thus making the windward side characterized by thick vegetation.

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12
Q

What is the leeward side on a mountain?

A

The leeward side of a mountain faces away from the prevailing winds, and has very dry land, for this is because of the lack of precipitation.

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13
Q

Describe the weather on the leeward side of a mountain.

A

It has little to no precipitation, and is very dry.

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14
Q

What is a rain shadow?

A

Area of low rainfall on the downwind slope of a mountain.

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15
Q

What is specific heat?

A

Amount of heat required to raise 1 kg of material by 1 degree celsius.

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16
Q

Compare the specific heat of land and water.

A

Land has low specific heat, and water has high specific heat.

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17
Q

How do land and water heat and cool relative to one another?

A

Land heats and cools quickly, and water heats and cools slowly.

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18
Q

Compare the climate of coastal areas to that of mid-continents.

A

High specific heat of water results in consistent climates along the coast.

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19
Q

How do ocean currents affect the climate?

A

They warm and cool air above them

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20
Q

What is the Koppen Climate Classification System?

A

A system that classified climate according to temperature, precipitation, and native vegetation

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21
Q

What is native vegetation?

A

Plant unique to a climate

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22
Q

Table (Not done)

A
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23
Q

What is a microclimate?

A

A localized climate that is different than a climate of a larger area surrounding it

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24
Q

What is an urban heat island?

A

A city that is warmer than a surrounding countryside

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25
Q

Identify three examples of microclimates.

A

Soil, wind, precipitation

26
Q

Identify three ways that climate affects living organisms.

A

Organisms adapt to their environment (Fur, camouflage)

Humans grow crops based on climate (Oranges grown in florida)

Humans design homes based on Climate

27
Q

What is the cause of long-term climate change?

A

The Solar energy the Earth receives

28
Q

What are ice ages?

A

Cold periods of time lasting millions of years when glaciers cover much of the earth

29
Q

What are Interglacial periods?

A

Warm periods that occur during the ice ages

30
Q

What is the Holocene Epoch?

A

The current interglacial period

31
Q

Identify four causes of long-term climate change?

A

Change in shape of earth’s Orbit

Change in angle of earth’s tilt

Movement of continents over time

Changes in Ocean Currents

32
Q

How often does the shape of the Earth’s orbit change?

A

Changes every 100,000 years

33
Q

What is the cause of seasons?

A

By the tilt of Earth’s axis

34
Q

How can it be determined which hemisphere is experiencing
summer?

A

When the hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, and days are longer, and nights are shorter, and temperatures increase

35
Q

When the Northern Hemisphere is experiencing summer, what is happening in the Southern Hemisphere?

A

It experiences the opposite season (winter)

36
Q

Why does summer occur?

A

Because the earth’s axis tilts

37
Q

How can it be determined which hemisphere is experiencing winter?

A

When the hemisphere is tilted away from the sun

38
Q

When the Northern Hemisphere is experiencing winter, what is happening in the Southern Hemisphere?

A

The southern hemisphere is experiencing summer

39
Q

Why does winter occur?

A

Because the earth’s axis tilt

40
Q

What are solstices?

A

The longest and shortest days of the year

41
Q

What are equinoxes?

A

Equal daylight and darkness

42
Q

What is El Nino?

A

The combined ocean and atmospheric cycle that results in weakened wind trades

43
Q
A
44
Q
A
45
Q

Where does El Nino occur?

A

In the Pacific ocean every 3 - 8 years

46
Q

What is upwelling?

A

When cold water rises to the surface

47
Q

How does El Nino affect the climate of South America?

A

It prevents upwelling on the coast of South America

48
Q

What is a monsoon?

A

A wind circulation pattern that changes with seasons

49
Q

Where do monsoons occur?

A

India and Southern Asia

50
Q

What is a drought?

A

A period with below average precipitation

51
Q

What is a heat wave?

A

Large hot air masses that remain in one place for weeks or months

52
Q

What is a cold wave?

A

Long periods of unusually low temperatures

53
Q

What is the cause of a cold wave?

A

They are due to large stagnant polar air masses

54
Q

Polar climate has what temperature and precipitation?

A

Cold year round, little precipitation

55
Q

Continental climate has what temperature and precipitation?

A

Warm summers, cold winters, moderate precipitation

56
Q

Dry climate has what temperature and precipitation?

A

Hot summers, cool winters, low precipitation

57
Q

Tropical climate has what temperature and precipitation?

A

Warm year round, high precipitation

58
Q

Mild climate has what temperature and precipitation?

A

Warm summers, mild winters, and High humidity and precipitation

59
Q
A
60
Q
A

8th Grade Science (2 decks)

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