chapter 2 Flashcards
Weather
occurs at a specific place/time
Whether it is the combination of
temperature
humidity
precipitation
wind
cloudiness
any other atmospheric conditions
Climate
it is the long term local, regional, and global average pattern of weather
-Solar radiation is..
-Shorter wavelengths give…
-Longer wavelengths give…
-electromagnetic energy
-give higher energy
-give lower energy
-Albedo
-White sand results in
-Black sand results in
-reflectivity of a surface, some energy that reaches Earth is reflected back into space
-results in high albedo
-results in low albedo
Shortwave Radiation
incoming radiation from the sun
Terrestrial longwave radiation
some absorbed by the surface, and in turn emitted back into space
Greenhouse Gases
absorb longwave radiation
carbon dioxide
water vapor
methane
Greenhouse Effect
help to keep the surface of the Earth warm
Net radiation determines earth average=
-incoming solar (shortwave) radiation
-outgoing terrestrial (longwave) radiation
surface temp
zero
average annual surface net radiation equator vs. poles because of
higher at equator
lower at poles
angle of incidence
amount of atmosphere
Distinct pattern of global temperatures, poles and equator
cool, dry at poles
hot, moist at equator
Earths Orbit
one year for the Earth to orbit once around the sun
Earths Rotation
one day for the earth to rotate on its axis
Earths Tilt
axis has a tilt of 23.5
Equinoxes
“equal nights”
2 equinoxes each year
vernal (spring)
autumnal (fall)
sun is directly overhead at the equator
all places have 12 hours of darkness and 12 hours of light
Summer Solstice
June 22 longest day in N.H
Northern summer/Southern winter
Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun
Sun is directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer
N.H has longer days and warmer temp
Winter Solstice
Southern summer/Northern winter
S.H tilted towards the sun
sun is directly overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn
Dec 22 shortest day in the NH
Seasonality equator vs poles
-regions at equator show very little seasonal variation in temperature
-regions at the poles show the most seasonal variation in a days length (0 to 24 hrs) and solar radiation
Surplus Radiation
incoming > outgoing radiation
Deficit Radiation
outgoing > incoming radiation
Imbalance results in global pattern of heat
mainly through convection
Intertropical Convergence Zone
-warm air at equator rises leads to low pressure at surface
-air flows form N to S to the equator
-rising air at equator moves N and S
-towards poles it cools and sinks
-leads to high pressure at surface
-movement creates cells of circulation
Speed of rotation is faster at the ________ and slower at the ________
-faster at the equator
-slower at the poles
Coriolis Effect
-NH deflection to the right
-SH deflection to the left
Equator
-warm air rises
-low pressure at surface (equatorial low)
-results in: warm air rises, spreads north to south, and cools as it moves
Pa Hadley Cell
circle cell same as tropical convergenze zone
Trade Winds
deflected winds
Evaporation and Condensation
- requres energy
-releases energy
Saturation vapor pressure (VP)
-What capacity of air
-If this is exceed what occurs
-water vapor capacity of air is the amount of pressure exerted by water vapor at saturation
-if this exceeded, condensation occurs
Relative Humidity
current VP / saturation VP x 100
Near Equator
rising air masses of very warm, humid air
cool and release precipitation
very rainy
30 N and S
falling air masses of dry, cool air
warm and absorb surface moisture, dry
50 to 60 N and S
rising air masses of warm, humid air at
cool and release precipitation, rainy
More rain in ________ Hemisphere because of _______
-southern
-greater ocean area
Maritime Influence
locations near the coat (oceans or large bodies of water) have smaller temperature fluctuations during the year and more precipitaiton
Continentality
locations far from the coast have greater temperature fluctuations during the year, up to 100
Altitude
air temperature decreases with elevation
Adiabatic Cooling
decrease in temperature due to expansion of air
distinct belts of vegetations corresponding to latitude or altitude
Mountains can affect precipitation creates rain shadow on what side
when air mass flows into a mountain?
-the air rises and cools
-researches the dew point and precipitation occurs at higher altitudes
-cool, dry air flows over and down the other side
-warms as is descends so pulls moisture from the surface
-creates a rain shadow on the leewards side
Rain Shadows
arid environments behind mountains
Great Basin, Gobi Desert, Great Plains
Windward Side
higher rainfall
plant growth more vigorous, trees
Leeward Side
lower rainfall
plant growth less vigorous, shrubby
Not all climate patterns have regular temporal variation
little ice age
el nino
What causes irregular variations in climate
changes in the shape of Earths orbit
changes in the tilt of Earths axis
variation in sunspot activity
magnetic storms on the sun
Microclimates
organisms may experience conditions very different from the general climate conditions in an area
Southern Slopes
warmer, drier, xeric plants
Northern Slopes
cooler moister, mesic plants
