Chapter 7

Question 1

Climate

Answer 1

an area’s general pattern of atmospheric conditions over periods of at least three decades and up to thousands of years.

Question 2

Ocean currents

Answer 2

Prevailing winds blowing over the oceans produce mass movements of surface water

Question 3

Greenhouse gasses

Answer 3

allow mostly visible light and some infrared radiation and ultraviolet (UV) radiation (see Figure 2-11, p. 45) from the sun to pass through the atmosphere.

Question 4

Natural greenhouse effect

Answer 4

Some of this released energy radiates into space, and some warms the lower atmosphere and the earth’s surface. This natural warming effect of the troposphere is called

Question 5

Rain shadow effect

Answer 5

As the drier air mass passes over the mountaintops, it flows down the leeward slopes (facing away from the wind), and warms up. This increases its ability to hold moisture, but the air releases little moisture and instead tends to dry out plants and soil below. Over many decades, the resulting semiarid or arid conditions on the
leeward side of a high mountain create what is called

Question 6

Biomes

Answer 6

large terrestrial regions, each characterized by certain types of climate and dominant plant life

Question 7

Permafrost

Answer 7

underground soil in which captured water stays frozen for more than 2 consecutive years.

Question 8

Weather

Answer 8

is a set of physical conditions of the
lower atmosphere such as temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind speed, cloud cover, and other factors in a given area over a period of hours or days