Chapter 2: Climate Flashcards
Define anadromous
Live in the ocean but return to spawn in streams
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather: current conditions, temperature, precipitation, humidity and cloud cover
Climate: long term description of weather. Determines the geographic distribution of organisms
What is conduction?
Kinetic energy is transferred by molecules in direct contact with one another.
Define Convection
Energy transferred by movement of air of water current
What is sensible heat flux?
Energy transfer from warm air immediately above the surface to the cooler atmosphere by sensible heat flux convection and conduction
What do greenhouse gasses do?
Absorb and reread I ate the emitted by earth
What is climate change
The directional change in climate over a period of at least three decades
How much has the average Flanagan temp increased?
0.97 Celsius per year
What cause prevailing winds?
Areas of high or low pressure created by the circulation cells result in air movements.
What is polar downwelling?
When warm tropical surface currents reach polar areas: the water cools, ice forms the water becomes more saline and more dense and sinks (downwelling)
What is costal upwelling?
This is where deep
Ocean water roses to the surface.
What causes upwelling?
- prevailing winds blowing parallel to a coastline.
- surface water flows away from the cost and deeper, colder ocean water rises up to replace it.
Consequences of upwelling for marine ecosystems
Bring nutrients from the deep sediments to the photic zones where light penetrates and phytoplankton grow
What shows grater seasonal variation land or water?
Land
What is maritime climate?
Little daily and seasonal variation in temperature and high humidity. In costal areas
