Chapter Fourteen Flashcards
Climatology
The study of earth’s climate and the factors that affect future, present, and past changes in climate
Climate
Long term weather patterns of an area
Normal
Standard value of stuff for a location. Average of data gathered over a while
Tropics
Area between 23.5 latitude north and 23.5 latitude south. Receives most solar radiation since the sun strikes this area directly.
Temperate zone
Lies between 23.5 and 66.5 latitude north and south. Temperatures are moderate cuz of the moderate angle of the sun rays.
Polar zone
Zone located above 66.5 latitude north and south. Cold due to the angle of the sun being low and so solar radiation and such.
Koeppen classification system
Classification system for climates, widely used. Based off average monthly values for temperature and precipitation, and distinct vegetation found in an area.
Microclimate
A small, localized climate different from the surrounding climate. Example: mountain
Heat island
Where the presence of concrete buildings and tons of asphalt cause a microclimate with higher temperatures than the surrounding area
Ice age
A climactic change where average global temperatures decrease by about 5 Celcius and ice sheets form and grow
Season
Short term climatic change with regular changes of daylight, and heat, and weather patterns. Caused by variations in amount of solar radiation recieved
El Niño
Causes short term climactic changes every few years or so. It’s a warm ocean current that forms off the west coast of South America
Maunder Minimum
A period where sunspot activity is scarce to nonexistent.
Greenhouse effect
Natural heating of earth’s surface caused by greenhouse gases AAAAAAAAGGGHHHH
Global warming
When the greenhouse effect happens too much cuz of too much greenhouse gases and global temperatures rise….
