climate

Question 1

what is weather?

Answer 1

the atmospheric conditions, in a particular location over a short period of time

Question 2

what is climate?

Answer 2

the average seasonal weather patterns of a region over a long period of time

Question 3

compare the differences and similarities between weather and climate.

Answer 3

differences: weather is over a particular location over a short amount of time. climate is the average seasonal weather patterns of a region over a long period of time.
similarities: calculates atmospheric conditions

Question 4

what causes weather?

Answer 4

energy from the sun and the interaction between water and air on earth

Question 5

how were climate zones identifies with the koppen climate classification?

Answer 5

temperature, precipitation and plant communities

Question 6

what are the 5 factors affecting climate?

Answer 6

-the distance from the equator (latitude)
-the presence of large bodies of water
-the presence of ocean and air current
-land formation
-the height above sea level (altitude)

Question 7

what types of radiation does the sun emit?

Answer 7

ultraviolet radiation, visible light, infrared radiation

Question 8

when radiation contacts a particle of matter it:

Answer 8

-can be absorbed, causing the particle to gain energy (heat up)
-transmitted through the particle
-reflected off the particle

Question 9

what are the 4 main components of earth’s climate system?

Answer 9

atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere (living things)

Question 10

what is the atmosphere?

Answer 10

-layers of gasses surrounding earth
-one the energy from the sun reaches earth’s surface, the atmosphere traps much of it

Question 11

what is the troposphere? (parts of the atmosphere)

Answer 11

-layer nearest to and in contact with earth’s surface
-greatest concentration of oxygen and water vapour
-ozone here is very toxic and corrosive

Question 12

what is the stratosphere? (parts of the atmosphere)

Answer 12

-highest concentration of ozone
-ozone (O3) absorbs UV radiation, preventing it from reaching the earth’s surface
-ozone depletion is caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Question 13

what is the mesosphere? (parts of the atmosphere)

Answer 13

low density gases - low temperature

Question 14

what is the thermosphere? (parts of the atmosphere)

Answer 14

-more radiation is absorbed here
-region of highly ionized particles, which from bands of light and colour called Auroras (Northern Lights)

Question 15

what is the exosphere? (parts of the atmosphere)

Answer 15

-few particles
-mostly hydrogen gas
-transition into space

Question 16

what is the hydrosphere?

Answer 16

part of the climate system that includes all water on and around earth

Question 17

what is the lithosphere?

Answer 17

-the earths crust (solid rocks, soil and minerals)
-absorbs radiation from the sun, converts it into thermal energy and then emits the energy back to atmosphere as infrared radiation

Question 18

what are living things (biosphere)?

Answer 18

through various process, plants and animals release relative amount of gases into atmosphere

Question 19

what is the greenhouse effect?

Answer 19

is a naturally occurring process that aids in heating the earth’s surface and atmosphere

Question 20

how does the greenhouse gas effect occur?

Answer 20

due to certain atmospheric gases, such as carbon dioxide, water vapour, tropospheric ozone, nitrous oxide and methane that are able to absorb low energy radiation - infrared radiation (heat) emitted from the earth’s surface

Question 21

why is the natural greenhouse effect necessary to life on earth?

Answer 21

the natural greenhouse effect aids in heating the earth’s surface and atmosphere. without it, life on earth would probably not exist, ad the average temperature on earth would be much colder than it is.

Question 22

what is the ice age?

Answer 22

a time in earth’s history when the planet was covered in ice. a decrease in the energy from the sun causes lower temperature.

Question 23

what is the interglacial period?

Answer 23

time between ice ages when earth warms up. an increase in the energy will cause higher temperatures. changes in the climate are triggered by changes in earth’s energy balance.

Question 24

what are the 3 causes of interglacial period and ice age?

Answer 24

-eccentricity (change of shape of orbit)
-change of the earth’s tilt
-procession (change) of tilt

Question 25

what are 3 possible causes of short-term climate change?

Answer 25

volcanic eruptions, air and ocean currents change, changes in the sun’s radiation

Question 26

where does most of the earth’s thermal energy circulation occur?

Answer 26

atmosphere and hydrosphere

Question 27

what are convection currents?

Answer 27

when air or water is unevenly heated, colder or denser air or water sinks, pushing up the warmer less dense air or water

Question 28

what does convection create?

Answer 28

prevailing winds and ocean currents

Question 29

what is thermohaline circulation?

Answer 29

when surface water from the equator flows toward the poles to replace water that gets colder and saltier that sinks at the poles

Question 30

what is a feedback loop?

Answer 30

a process in which the result creates an effect that impacts the original process

Question 31

what is a positive feedback loop?

Answer 31

the effect increases the original cause

Question 32

what is a negative feedback loop?

Answer 32

the effect decreases the original cause

Question 33

what are anthropogenic greenhouse effect?

Answer 33

a process in which humans produce greenhouse gases

Question 34

name 4 anthropogenic greenhouse gases.

Answer 34

carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, CFCs