Chapter 5

Question 1

Greenhouse effect

Answer 1

the process of solar radiaDon striking Earth, being converted to infrared radiaDon, and being absorbed and re-emitted by atmospheric gases.

Question 2

What are the two most prevalent greenhouse gases?

Answer 2

CO2 and H2O. derived from the transpiration of plants, decomposition, respiration, and volcanic eruptions.

Question 3

Other gases, such as ________, _________, and _______ are naturally derived and contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Answer 3

nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), and ozone (O3)

Question 4

Which greenhouse gas is man made?

Answer 4

chlorofluorocarbons

Question 5

Albedo

Answer 5

the fraction of solar energy reflected by an object.

Question 6

The ____ albedo of forests causes the tropics at the equator and _________ average temperatures.

Answer 6

low; increases

Question 7

The ______ albedo of snow at the poles _______ average temperatures.

Answer 7

high; decreases

Question 8

The axis of Earth is?

Answer 8

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).

Question 9

Solar equator

Answer 9

the latitude receiving the most direct rays of the Sun.

During the March and September equinoxes, the Sun is directly over the equator.

Question 10

Atmospheric convection currents

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

Saturation

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

Adiabatic cooling

Answer 12

the cooling effect of reduced pressure on air as it rises higher in the atmosphere and expands.

Question 13

Adiabatic heating

Answer 13

the heating effect of increased pressure on air as it sinks toward the surface of Earth and decreases in volume.

Question 14

Latent heat release

Answer 14

when water vapor is converted back to liquid, water releases energy in the form of heat and warms air.

Question 15

Hadley cells

Answer 15

the two circulation cells of air between the equator and

30°N and 30°S latitudes.

Question 16

Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

Polar cells

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

Winds generally move from _______ to _______, leading to ____________ conditions on the west coast.

Answer 18

west to east; warmer

Question 19

Coriolis effect

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

northeast trade winds

Answer 20

Air moving along the surface of Earth within the northern Hadley cell is deflected so that it moves from the northeast to the southwest.

Question 21

southeast trade winds

Answer 21

air moving along the surface within the southern Hadley cell is deflected to the northwest

Question 22

westerlies

Answer 22

Winds in the mid-latitudes tend to move from west to east

Question 23

Gyre

Answer 23

a large-scale water circulation pattern between continents.

Gyres redistribute heat energy and influence global climates.

Question 24

Currents flow ___________ in the Northern Hemisphere, and ______________ in the Southern Hemisphere.

Answer 24

clockwise; counterclockwise

Question 25

Upwelling

Answer 25

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.

Question 26

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation

Answer 26

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.

Question 27

Thermohaline circulation

Answer 27

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.

1. Warm water flows from the Gulf of Mexico to the North Atlantic, where some of it freezes and evaporates.
2. Saltier water sinks to the ocean bottom.
3. Cold water travels along the ocean floor.
4. Cold water eventually rises and circulates back to the Atlantic.

Question 28

Rain shadow

Answer 28

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.

Question 29

Tropical climate

Answer 29

characterized by warm temperatures and high precipitation, occurring in regions near the equator.

Question 30

Dry climate

Answer 30

characterized by low precipitation and a wide range of temperatures; found at approximately 30°N and 30°S latitudes.

Question 31

Moist subtropical mid-latitude climate

Answer 31

characterized by warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters.

Question 32

Moist continental mid-latitude climate

Answer 32

exists in the interior of continents and is characterized by warm summers, cold winters, and moderate amounts of precipitation.

Question 33

Polar climate

Answer 33

characterized by very cold temperatures and relatively little precipitation.

Question 34

Soil

Answer 34

the layer of chemically and biologically altered material that overlies bedrock or other unaltered material at the Earth’s surface.

Question 35

Parent material

Answer 35

the layer of bedrock that underlies soil and plays a major role in determining the type of soil that will form above it.

Question 36

Leaching

Answer 36

a process in which groundwater removes some substances by dissolving them and moving them down to lower soil layers.

Question 37

Weathering

Answer 37

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.

Question 38

Cation exchange capacity

Answer 38

the ability of soil to retain cations.

Young soils have less weather, have fewer cations, and are less fertile.

Question 39

Podsolization

Answer 39

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.

Question 40

Laterization

Answer 40

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.