chapter 2

Question 1

Why does the earth have seasons?

Answer 1

Due to the tilt of the earth’s axis. As the Earth revolves around the sun, this tilt means that different parts of the planet receive more direct sunlight at different times of the year, creating seasons

Question 2

Explain why the Northern and Southern Hemispheres do not experience the same seasons at the same time.

Answer 2

Because when the Northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, the South hemisphere is tilted away from it and vice versa.

Question 3

Explain why the equator generally has warmer temperatures than the poles.

Answer 3

Because the earth is a sphere, the sunlight hitting the equator is much more intense

Question 4

Explain differences in length of day at different latitudes at different times of year. (Ex: Today, Bellevue will have 9 hours, 39 min of sunlight, but Phoenix, Arizona will have 10 hours, 40 min. of sunlight. Why is this so?)

Answer 4

Additionally, the days become a little longer at the higher latitudes (those at a distance from the equator) because it takes the sun longer to rise and set.

Question 5

Explain why the amount of daylight changes throughout the year (shorter days in winter, longer in summer).

Answer 5

As the tilt of the earth towards the sun, the amount of sunlight received at a given point changes

Question 6

• Explain how and why the path of the Sun changes in the sky from one season to the next.

Answer 6

During summer in the northern hemisphere, the Sun rises north of east and sets north of west. It is high in the sky at noon. During winter in the northern hemisphere, sunrise and sunset appear farther south along the horizon.

Question 7

Differences between weather and climate

Answer 7

Weather is short term, climate is more long term trends

Question 8

How the tilt of the earth impacts climate on earth

Answer 8

Impacts seasons, causes more extreme seasonal variation closer to the poles

Question 9

How wind patterns and the atmosphere influence climate

Answer 9

Redistribute heat and water

Question 10

How ocean currents impact climate

Answer 10

Transporting warm water and precipitation from the equator toward the poles and cold water from the poles back to the tropics.

Question 11

How does topography impact climate

Answer 11

Bodies of water – milder climates, absorb solar radiation and very slowly emit it
Mountainous – more extreme weather, block movement of air and moisture

Question 12

Coriolis Effect and how it affects the movement of air currents on Earth

Answer 12

air moving in a straight path appears to curve to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere due to the earth’s rotation. causes large scale wind patterns that impact the formation of hurricanes

Question 13

Convection currents in air (atmosphere) and water (oceans), considering changes in temperature, density, and pressure

Answer 13

Warmer, less dense air/water rises, and cooler, more dense air/water sinks, causing circular patterns.

In the air: cause large scale wind patterns (e.g. hadley cells, polar cells) and impact climate. There is a pressure diff between high pressure cold air and low pressure hot air zones, the stronger the pressure diff the stronger the winds

In the water: create cold currents in the deep ocean and warm surface currents

Question 14

Hadley cells

Answer 14

Convection currents
Located between equator and 30 degree latitude
Hot air rises after gaining lots of heat from solar radiation, creating a low pressure zone at the equator. This air travels towards the poles and cools and sinks at lat. 30 degrees, creating low pressure zones.
This creates trade winds and contributes to the formation of rainforests at the equator

Question 15

Ferrel cells

Answer 15

Mid-latitude atmospheric circulation cell (30-60) where air near the Earth’s surface flows poleward and eastward, while at higher altitudes it moves equatorward and westward. opposite of hadley cells.
responsible for the prevailing westerly winds in those regions.
unstable weather conditions like mid-latitude cyclones and fronts due to the mixing of warm and cold air masses.

Question 16

Polar cells

Answer 16

Low intensity convection currents (60-70 lat)
Air rises at higher latitudes and travels towards the poles. Sinks and creates polar high pressure zones (polar highs)
Creates east-blowing surface winds. Low-pressure systems that bring rain to temperate regions.

Question 17

Types of weather seen with low pressure systems vs. high pressure systems

Answer 17

Low pressure systems are typically associated with cloudy, rainy, and sometimes stormy weather, while high pressure systems bring clear skies, dry conditions, and light winds

Question 18

• Rain shadows- what they are, what to expect on windward vs. leeward side of the mountains

Answer 18

A “rain shadow” is a dry area on the leeward side of a mountain rang (side opposite the prevailing winds). Wetter windward side; essentially, the mountains “cast a shadow” of dryness on the leeward side.

Question 19

Ocean currents are driven by wind, Coriolis effect, gravity, temperature, salinity, and topography (shape and location of the land/continents)

Answer 19

Wind directly pushes the surface layer of the ocean, creating initial movement and setting the direction of surface currents.
This force, caused by Earth’s rotation, deflects moving water to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere, influencing the overall path of ocean currents.
Gravity plays a role in density differences within the ocean, causing denser water to sink and less dense water to rise, which contributes to vertical circulation.
Differences in temperature and salinity create density variations in the water, further impacting vertical movement and influencing the direction of surface currents.
The shape and location of the ocean floor and landmasses can obstruct or redirect ocean currents, creating gyres and other large-scale circulation patterns.

Question 20

Gyres, connection to garbage patches

Answer 20

Large, circular ocean currents. Act as whirlwinds to pull garbage in

Question 21

Upwelling- how it occurs and why it is an important phenomenon

Answer 21

Upwelling is an oceanographic process where deep, cold water rises to the surface, typically driven by winds pushing surface water away from the coast, which then gets replaced by nutrient-rich water from below, creating a vital food source for marine life and making upwelling regions highly productive fishing grounds; this is considered an important phenomenon because it significantly contributes to the base of the marine food chain by bringing essential nutrients to the surface layer

Question 22

How terrestrial biomes are defined (which factors are used to categorize the biomes)

Answer 22

Temp, precipitation, vegetation

Question 23

Tundra

Answer 23

Extremely cold temperatures, low precipitation + productivity, short growing season, permafrost, a lack of trees, and simple vegetation consisting mainly of low-lying shrubs, grasses, mosses, and lichens. Found at high lats and arctic regions

Question 24

Taiga (Boreal forest)

Answer 24

Very cold winters with significant snowfall
Short, mild summers. Moderate precipitation. Mostly coniferous evergreen trees like spruce, fir, and pine. Poor soil conditions – thus low productivity relative to other forests. High lats

Question 25

Temperate rainforests

Answer 25

Mild temperatures, heavy rainfall, and a long growing season. Mid latitudes. High productivity

Question 26

Temperate seasonal forest

Answer 26

Experiences distinct seasons and is characterized by broadleaf trees that lose their leaves in the fall. Moderate temps and rainfall

Question 27

woodland/shrubland

Answer 27

Small trees and shrubs, and is found in areas with a variety of climates and soil types. Hot dry summers and mild/wet winters. Moderate precipitation (more than deserts but less than forested areas). Poor productivity.

Question 28

Temperate grassland/cold desert

Answer 28

Cold winters, hot summers, and some rain (moderate to low) that supports grasses and nonwoody flowering plants. Large temp fluctuations. More productive than deserts but not great.

Question 29

Tropical rainforest

Answer 29

A hot, wet biome with dense vegetation and heavy rainfall that occurs near the equator. Highest productivity.

Question 30

Tropical seasonal forest/savanna

Answer 30

Grasslands with scattered trees that develop in areas where seasonal forests or woodlands would normally grow, but certain factors prevent the establishment of those trees. Savannas are characterized by a hot, tropical climate with a long dry season and a short wet season. Some precipitation in wet season. Variable productivity

Question 31

Subtropical desert

Answer 31

A subtropical desert is a hot, dry biome with low annual rainfall, high winds, and warm soil. Low productivity

Question 32

How aquatic biomes are defined, which factors are used to categorize them

Answer 32

Sunlight availability, water depth, salinity levels, water flow, temperature, and dissolved oxygen concentration

Question 33

Streams and rivers

Answer 33

Flowing bodies of water that move in one direction, originating at a high point and traveling downhill. Typically starting from a source like a spring or snowmelt, and carrying sediment as they erode the land, shaping their channels as they flow towards a larger body of water like a lake or ocean.

Question 34

Ponds and Lakes

Answer 34

Ponds and lakes are both bodies of freshwater, but ponds are generally smaller and shallower than lakes. Both are surrounded by land. Lakes are usually too deep for plants to grow on the bottom, while ponds are shallow enough for sunlight to reach the bottom and plants to grow.

Question 35

Freshwater wetlands

Answer 35

Characterized by water-saturated soil, shallow water bodies, and vegetation specifically adapted to moist conditions. High productivity and nutrient dense – high biodiversity.

Question 36

Salt marshes, including estuaries

Answer 36

Salt marshes are spongy areas with water that ranges from freshwater to salt-saturated. They are dominated by salt-tolerant plants An estuary is a partially enclosed body of water where freshwater from rivers mixes with salt water from the ocean

Question 37

Mangrove swamps

Answer 37

Coastal wetlands that are home to a variety of specialized plants and animals that can survive in the brackish to saline waters and extreme conditions of these environments