Chapter 4 pt.2 Flashcards
Large-scale (global) patterns of solar heating determine __________ and _________ of locations across the earth
temperature
moisture
Large-scale (global) _______ of solar heating determine temperature and moisture of locations across the earth
patterns
_____ air rises, ____ air sinks
warm
cool
As air warms, it absorbs _________
As air cools, moisture ___________ and forms _______
moisture
condenses
clouds
Describe atmospheric circulation at the equator.
Warm air rises, cools and so
moisture falls
Describe atmospheric circulation at 30oN & S (deserts).
Dry air then falls and
absorbs moisture
Describe atmospheric circulation at 60oN & S (temperate).
Cold polar and warm air
meet, climate is moist and cool
Heat moves from the equator to the ______
poles
Heat moves from the ________ to the poles
equator
Earth’s rotation influences direction of _____.
wind
Earth rotates from _____ to _____ (counterclockwise
viewed from North Pole)
East
West
Earth’s rotation deflects _____ from straight-line path
wind
Influence of the earth’s rotation on movement of air
and fluids
Coriolis effect
According to the coriolis effec, Earth’s rotation
Turns them _____ in the Northern Hemisphere
Turns them ____ in the Southern Hemisphere
Right
Left
Prevailing winds interact with Coriolis forces to produce ocean currents and generate _____
gyres
Example: the North Atlantic Ocean
◦ ______ _____ blow west
◦_________ blow east
Trade winds
westerlies
Periodic large scale warming of surface waters of
tropical E. Pacific Ocean due to weaker trade winds
El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO); prevents _________ of nutrient-rich waters off South America–> large impacts on fishing
upwelling
True or False: We are currently experiencing a large El Niño event
True
What’s the difference between weather and climate?
Weather, is the conditions in the atmosphere at a given place and time.
Climate, is the average weather conditions (=pattern) that
occur in a place over a period of years
What are the two most important factors in climate?
- temperature
2. precipitation
Temperature, precipitation, and cloudiness are examples of _________
weather
