Climate Flashcards

1
Q

Weather

A

Local conditions of temperature, air pressure, cloud cover, precipitation, and humidity that occur at a place at a particular time

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2
Q

Climate

A

Average weather conditions that occur in a region over a long period of time

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3
Q

Open System

A

Both energy and matter are exchanged between the system and the surroundings

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4
Q

Closed System

A

Energy is exchanged between the system and the surroundings, but matter is not

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5
Q

Isolated System

A

Neither energy nor matter are exchanged between the system and the surroundings

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6
Q

What type of system is the Earth

A

Earth is a closes system because energy flows through it, but matter must be recycled

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7
Q

Biosphere

A

A thin layer of air, land, and water on or near the Earth’s surface that supports life

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8
Q

Biosphere - Atmosphere

A

Air composed of a mixture of different gasses

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9
Q

Biosphere - Lithosphere

A

Land that extends about 100km below teh surface

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10
Q

Biosphere - Hydrosphere

A

All of the water on earth
- Surface and groundwater
- Clouds
- Cryosphere (Frozen Water)

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11
Q

Solar Energy

A

Form of radiant energy. All energy on earth comes from the sun as solar energy

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12
Q

Angle of inclination

A

The angle the Earth tilts from perpendicular to its orbit (~23.5°)

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13
Q

Solstice

A

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

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14
Q

Equinox

A

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

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15
Q

______ ____ causes season variation in temperature and daylight hours at different latitudes

A

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)

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16
Q

Angle of Incidence

A

The angle between the incoming solar radiation and the line perpendicular to the Earth’s surface

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17
Q

Climate Zones

A

A result of Earth’s curved shape which causes a variation in the intensity of light at different latitudes

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18
Q

Climate Zones - Tropical (0° - 23.5°)

A

Nearly perpendicular angle of incidence throughout the year, warm temperatures year-round

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19
Q

Climate Zones - Temperate (23.5° - 60°)

A

Small angle of incidence that depends on the season, moderate temperatures that are quite variable between seasons

20
Q

Climate Zones - Temperate (60° - 90°)

A

High angle of incidence that depends on the season, cold temperatures year around

21
Q

Low angle of incidence means that incoming solar radiation is focused on a smaller surface area, causing more heating

A

Lower latitudes (equator)

22
Q

High angle of incidence means that incoming solar radiation is spread over a larger surface area, causing less heating

A

Higher latitudes (poles)

23
Q

Radiant energy that reaches the Earth’s atmosphere can _________ __ ________ by all 3 components of the biosphere

A

Reflected or absorbed

24
Q

Reflected

A

The radiant energy changes direction
- ~30% of incoming radiant energy is reflected by the atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere

25
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
26
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
27
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
28
Net Radiation Budget
The difference between the amount of incoming radiation (solar) and of outgoing radiation (infrared)
29
Infrared Radiation
Re-emmited radiant energy absorbed by the biosphere
30
Thermal Energy Transfer
Movement of thermal energy from an area of high temperature to an area of low temperature
31
Thermal Energy Transfer - Radiation
Emission of energy as particles or waves
32
Thermal Energy Transfer - Conduction
Transfer of heat through direct contact
33
Thermal Energy Transfer - Convection
Transfer of heat through movement of high energy particles, in the form of a current, from one location to another
34
Convection Currents
Created by warm air rising at the equator and then is replaced by dense cool air flowing down from the poles
35
Thermal energy transfer in the atmosphere occurs through __________ ________
Convection currents
36
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
37
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
38
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
39
Thermal energy transfer in the hydrosphere occurs through _____ ________
Ocean currents
40
Geographic Features - Moisture
Moisture in the air can increase precipitation (air/snow) and fog
41
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
42
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
43
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
44
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
45
Biomes - Tundra
- Extremely cold climate - Low biotic diversity - Low precipitation - Frozen Desert - Permafrost -- Leads to small plant roots
46