Chapter 3 - Climate and Vegetation Flashcards
Two lines of latitude—the tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn—mark the points farthest north and south that the sun’s rays shine directly overhead at noon. The day on which this occurs is called a ______.
Solstice
_______ occur frequently in the southern and eastern United States during summer and fall. During these seasons, storm systems with strong winds form over warm ocean water.
Hurricanes
Twice a year on the _______, the days and nights all over the world are equal in length.
equinox
_______ is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular location and time.
Weather
_______ is the term for weather conditions at a particular location over a long period of time.
Climate
____ determines whether there will be precipitation— falling water droplets in the form of rain, sleet, snow, or hail.
Water vapor
_____ heats slowly but also loses heat slowly.
Water
______ heats rapidly but loses heat quickly as well.
Land
As ______ above sea level increases, the air becomes thinner and loses its ability to hold moisture.
elevation
________ depends on the amount of water vapor in the air and the movement of that air.
precipitation
The land on the leeward side of hills or mountains is called ____________ because it gets little rain from the descending dry air.
Rain shadow
_____, _____, _____, _____, and ____ are examples of extreme weather.
Hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards,
droughts, and floods
Storms that form over warm, tropical ocean waters are called _____—also known as _____ in Asia.
hurricanes; typhoons
A _____, or twister, is a powerful funnel-shaped column of spiraling air.
tornado
In the United States, these violent funnel clouds occur frequently between May and October in a region known as “_______”
Tornado Alley
A ______ is a heavy snowstorm with winds of more than 35 miles per hour and reduced visibility.
blizzard
A ______ is a long period of time without rain or with very minimal rainfall.
drought
Wind and ocean currents help distribute the sun’s heat from one part of the world to another through _____, the transfer of heat in the atmosphere by upward motion of the air
Convection
Another factor in determining the climate of a region is ____or distance above sea level.
elevation
Landforms also affect the climate. This is especially true of mountain areas. Remember that moisture-laden winds cool as they move up the side of a mountain, eventually releasing rain or snow. By the time the winds reach the other side of the mountain, they are dry and become warmer as they flow down the mountain.
Topography
The warming of the waters off the west coast of South America—known as ________—is a natural change in the climate. About every two to seven years, prevailing easterly winds that blow over the central Pacific Ocean slow or reverse direction, changing the ocean temperature and affecting the weather worldwide. Normally, these easterlies bring seasonal rains and push warm ocean water toward Asia and Australia. In ________ years, however, the winds push warm water and heavy rains toward the Americas. This can cause floods and mudslides there, while Australia and Asia experience drought conditions.
El Nino
When the reverse occurs—that is, when the winds blow the warmer water to the lands on the western Pacific rim—the event is called _______. ________ causes increases in precipitation in places such as India and increased dryness along the Pacific coasts of the Americas.
La Niña
Most climate scientists argue that global warming is caused by the ________________. The layer of gases released by the burning of coal and oil traps some solar energy, causing higher temperatures in the same way that a greenhouse traps solar energy.
Greenhouse effect
The flat, treeless lands forming a ring around the Arctic Ocean are called _______. The climate subregion is also called _______.
Tundra
