Chapter 5 Flashcards
Greenhouse effect
the process of solar radiaDon striking Earth, being converted to infrared radiaDon, and being absorbed and re-emitted by atmospheric gases.
What are the two most prevalent greenhouse gases?
CO2 and H2O. derived from the transpiration of plants, decomposition, respiration, and volcanic eruptions.
Other gases, such as ________, _________, and _______ are naturally derived and contribute to the greenhouse effect.
nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), and ozone (O3)
Which greenhouse gas is man made?
chlorofluorocarbons
Albedo
the fraction of solar energy reflected by an object.
The ____ albedo of forests causes the tropics at the equator and _________ average temperatures.
low; increases
The ______ albedo of snow at the poles _______ average temperatures.
high; decreases
The axis of Earth is?
23.5 degrees
During the June solstice, the Sun is directly
over 23.5°N (i.e., Tropic of Cancer); during the
December solstice it is over 23.5°S (i.e., Tropic of Capricorn).
Solar equator
the latitude receiving the most direct rays of the Sun.
During the March and September equinoxes, the Sun is directly over the equator.
Atmospheric convection currents
the circulation of air between the surface of Earth and the atmosphere; caused by properties of air.
As air temperature increases, it can hold more water vapor.
Saturation
the limit of the amount of water vapor that air can contain.
If vapor content exceeds saturation, water condenses to liquid or ice, and produces clouds or precipitation.
Condensation occurs when the temperature of saturated air decreases.
Adiabatic cooling
the cooling effect of reduced pressure on air as it rises higher in the atmosphere and expands.
Adiabatic heating
the heating effect of increased pressure on air as it sinks toward the surface of Earth and decreases in volume.
Latent heat release
when water vapor is converted back to liquid, water releases energy in the form of heat and warms air.
Hadley cells
the two circulation cells of air between the equator and
30°N and 30°S latitudes.
Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)
the area where the two Hadley cells converge and cause large amounts of precipitation.
The location of the solar equator determines the location of the ITCZ.
The movement of the ITCZ between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn leads to a single rainy season over most of the tropics and subtropics.
Latitudes near the equator experience two rainy seasons.
Polar cells
atmospheric convection currents between 60° and 90° latitudes that are similar to Hadley cells.
At 60°N and 60°S latitudes, air rises and drops moisture; air moves toward the poles and sinks back to Earth at 90°N and 90°S.
Air between Hadley cells and polar cells (i.e., from ~30° to 60°) lack distinct convection currents.
This region can have dramatic fluctuations in wind direction, temperature, and precipitation.
Winds generally move from _______ to _______, leading to ____________ conditions on the west coast.
west to east; warmer
Coriolis effect
the deflection of an object’s path due to the rotation of Earth.
Since the circumference of the planet at the equator is larger than at the poles, the speed of rotation is faster at the equator.
The different rotation speeds deflect the direction of surface air circulation in the Hadley and polar cells.
northeast trade winds
Air moving along the surface of Earth within the northern Hadley cell is deflected so that it moves from the northeast to the southwest.
southeast trade winds
air moving along the surface within the southern Hadley cell is deflected to the northwest
westerlies
Winds in the mid-latitudes tend to move from west to east
Gyre
a large-scale water circulation pattern between continents.
Gyres redistribute heat energy and influence global climates.
Currents flow ___________ in the Northern Hemisphere, and ______________ in the Southern Hemisphere.
clockwise; counterclockwise
Upwelling
an upward movement of ocean water.
Upwelling occurs in locations along continents where surface currents move away from the coastline.
As water moves away, cold water from ocean depths is drawn upward.
Since deep water tends to be high in nutrients, upwelling zones are ogen areas of high biological productivity and fish biomass.
The El Niño-Southern Oscillation
Every 3–7 years, trade winds reverse (i.e., oscillate), moving warm water in the opposite direction.
Upwelling of nutrients stops, causing fisheries to become less productive and generating massive precipitation.
Thermohaline circulation
a global pattern of surface- and deep- water currents that flow as a result of variations in temperature and salinity that change the density of water.
- Warm water flows from the Gulf of Mexico to the North Atlantic, where some of it freezes and evaporates.
- Saltier water sinks to the ocean bottom.
- Cold water travels along the ocean floor.
- Cold water eventually rises and circulates back to the Atlantic.
Rain shadow
a region with dry conditions found on the leeward side of a mountain range as a result of humid winds from the ocean causing precipitation on the windward side.
Tropical climate
characterized by warm temperatures and high precipitation, occurring in regions near the equator.
Dry climate
characterized by low precipitation and a wide range of temperatures; found at approximately 30°N and 30°S latitudes.
Moist subtropical mid-latitude climate
characterized by warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters.
Moist continental mid-latitude climate
exists in the interior of continents and is characterized by warm summers, cold winters, and moderate amounts of precipitation.
Polar climate
characterized by very cold temperatures and relatively little precipitation.
Soil
the layer of chemically and biologically altered material that overlies bedrock or other unaltered material at the Earth’s surface.
Parent material
the layer of bedrock that underlies soil and plays a major role in determining the type of soil that will form above it.
Leaching
a process in which groundwater removes some substances by dissolving them and moving them down to lower soil layers.
Weathering
the physical and chemical alteration of rock material near Earth’s surface; occurs when water penetrates to parent material and reacts with minerals.
Water dissolves soluble minerals and replaces elements with H+ ions derived from carbonic acid in the water and decomposition of organic material.
This produces insoluble materials, such as clay.
Clay is negatively charged and attracts positive ions (i.e., cations) such as Ca2+ and K+, which are important nutrients for plants.
Cation exchange capacity
the ability of soil to retain cations.
Young soils have less weather, have fewer cations, and are less fertile.
Podsolization
a process occurring in acidic soils typical of cool, moist regions, where clay particles break down in the E horizon, and soluble ions are transported down to the lower B horizon.
Podsolization ogen occurs when plant material is broken down slowly (e.g., with spruce and fir litter), which produces acidic soils.
Podsolized soils exhibit distinct horizon bands.
Laterization
the breakdown of clay particles, which results in the leaching of silicon from the soil, leaving oxides of iron and aluminum to predominate throughout the soil profile.
Laterization occurs in tropical and subtropical regions where soils weather to great depths.
Clay breakdown lowers the soil carbon exchange capacity, and minerals are readily leached.
New minerals from parent material are too deep to be of value to plants.
