Climate Flashcards
Weather
Local conditions of temperature, air pressure, cloud cover, precipitation, and humidity that occur at a place at a particular time
Climate
Average weather conditions that occur in a region over a long period of time
Open System
Both energy and matter are exchanged between the system and the surroundings
Closed System
Energy is exchanged between the system and the surroundings, but matter is not
Isolated System
Neither energy nor matter are exchanged between the system and the surroundings
What type of system is the Earth
Earth is a closes system because energy flows through it, but matter must be recycled
Biosphere
A thin layer of air, land, and water on or near the Earth’s surface that supports life
Biosphere - Atmosphere
Air composed of a mixture of different gasses
Biosphere - Lithosphere
Land that extends about 100km below teh surface
Biosphere - Hydrosphere
All of the water on earth
- Surface and groundwater
- Clouds
- Cryosphere (Frozen Water)
Solar Energy
Form of radiant energy. All energy on earth comes from the sun as solar energy
Angle of inclination
The angle the Earth tilts from perpendicular to its orbit (~23.5°)
Solstice
Two points in Earth’s orbit when the poles are the most tilted toward or away from the sun
- December 21- Shortest Day
- June 21 - Longest Day
Equinox
Two points in the Earth’s orbit when the number of daylight hours is equal to number of hours of night
- March 21
- September 22
______ ____ causes season variation in temperature and daylight hours at different latitudes
Earth’s tilt
- Summer in Canada - North Pole tilted toward the Sun (March to September)
- Winter in Canada - North Pole tilted away from the Sun (September to March)
Angle of Incidence
The angle between the incoming solar radiation and the line perpendicular to the Earth’s surface
Climate Zones
A result of Earth’s curved shape which causes a variation in the intensity of light at different latitudes
Climate Zones - Tropical (0° - 23.5°)
Nearly perpendicular angle of incidence throughout the year, warm temperatures year-round
Climate Zones - Temperate (23.5° - 60°)
Small angle of incidence that depends on the season, moderate temperatures that are quite variable between seasons
Climate Zones - Temperate (60° - 90°)
High angle of incidence that depends on the season, cold temperatures year around
Low angle of incidence means that incoming solar radiation is focused on a smaller surface area, causing more heating
Lower latitudes (equator)
High angle of incidence means that incoming solar radiation is spread over a larger surface area, causing less heating
Higher latitudes (poles)
Radiant energy that reaches the Earth’s atmosphere can _________ __ ________ by all 3 components of the biosphere
Reflected or absorbed
Reflected
The radiant energy changes direction
- ~30% of incoming radiant energy is reflected by the atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere
Absorbed
The radiant energy is converted to another form of energy, such as kinetic energy, which increases the temperature of the substance
- ~70% of incoming radiant energy is absorbed by the atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere
Albedo Effect
The albedo of a surface is the percent of solar radiation that it reflects
- Light colored (eg. snow) - High albedo
- Dark colored (eg.soil) - Low albedo
Greenhouse Effect
Some solar radiation is absorbed by the Earth’s surface is re-emitted into the atmosphere as infrared radiation (heat), which can be trapped by greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere
- Nautral process that is important for life on Earth
- Causes heating of the Earth
- H2O (g) is a natural greenhouse gas
Net Radiation Budget
The difference between the amount of incoming radiation (solar) and of outgoing radiation (infrared)
Infrared Radiation
Re-emmited radiant energy absorbed by the biosphere
Thermal Energy Transfer
Movement of thermal energy from an area of high temperature to an area of low temperature
Thermal Energy Transfer - Radiation
Emission of energy as particles or waves
Thermal Energy Transfer - Conduction
Transfer of heat through direct contact
Thermal Energy Transfer - Convection
Transfer of heat through movement of high energy particles, in the form of a current, from one location to another
Convection Currents
Created by warm air rising at the equator and then is replaced by dense cool air flowing down from the poles
Thermal energy transfer in the atmosphere occurs through __________ ________
Convection currents
Coriolis Effect
The deflection of convection currents in the atmosphere by the spinning of the Earth
- Causes moving air to turn right in the Northern Hemisphere and left in the Southern Hemisphere
Jet Streams
Currents of extremely fast-moving air in the stratosphere formed by convection currents
- Form at the boundaries between cold and warm air
- Flow from west to east
Ocean Currents
Cool water from the poles travels down toward the equator and warm water from the equator travels upward toward the poles
- Currents travel clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere
- Ocean currents have a large effect on weather and climate, especially in costal areas
Thermal energy transfer in the hydrosphere occurs through _____ ________
Ocean currents
Geographic Features - Moisture
Moisture in the air can increase precipitation (air/snow) and fog
Geographic Features - Water
Water can absorb large amounts of thermal energy before it changes temperature (high specific heat capacity)
- Causes lower ranges in temperature in cities near large bodies of water
- Causes breezes
Geographic Features - Orographic precipitation
Moisture that is released from air that is pushed up the side of moutanins by wind
- The area on the other side of the mountain receives little rain and is said to be in a rain shadow
- The warm, dry, fast-moving air on the other side of the mountain is called a chinook
Sea Breeze
Blow cool air toward the land during the day
- During the day, the land heats up faster than the sea
- Warm air rising from the land is replaced by cool air coming off of the water
Land Breeze
Blow cool air out to sea at night
- At night, the water stays warm as the land cools down
- Warm air rising from the water is replaced by cool air coming off of the land
Biomes - Tundra
- Extremely cold climate
- Low biotic diversity
- Low precipitation
- Frozen Desert
- Permafrost – Leads to small plant roots
