climate Flashcards
what is weather?
the atmospheric conditions, in a particular location over a short period of time
what is climate?
the average seasonal weather patterns of a region over a long period of time
compare the differences and similarities between weather and climate.
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
what causes weather?
energy from the sun and the interaction between water and air on earth
how were climate zones identifies with the koppen climate classification?
temperature, precipitation and plant communities
what are the 5 factors affecting climate?
-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)
what types of radiation does the sun emit?
ultraviolet radiation, visible light, infrared radiation
when radiation contacts a particle of matter it:
-can be absorbed, causing the particle to gain energy (heat up)
-transmitted through the particle
-reflected off the particle
what are the 4 main components of earth’s climate system?
atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere (living things)
what is the atmosphere?
-layers of gasses surrounding earth
-one the energy from the sun reaches earth’s surface, the atmosphere traps much of it
what is the troposphere? (parts of the atmosphere)
-layer nearest to and in contact with earth’s surface
-greatest concentration of oxygen and water vapour
-ozone here is very toxic and corrosive
what is the stratosphere? (parts of the atmosphere)
-highest concentration of ozone
-ozone (O3) absorbs UV radiation, preventing it from reaching the earth’s surface
-ozone depletion is caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
what is the mesosphere? (parts of the atmosphere)
low density gases - low temperature
what is the thermosphere? (parts of the atmosphere)
-more radiation is absorbed here
-region of highly ionized particles, which from bands of light and colour called Auroras (Northern Lights)
what is the exosphere? (parts of the atmosphere)
-few particles
-mostly hydrogen gas
-transition into space
what is the hydrosphere?
part of the climate system that includes all water on and around earth
what is the lithosphere?
-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
what are living things (biosphere)?
through various process, plants and animals release relative amount of gases into atmosphere
what is the greenhouse effect?
is a naturally occurring process that aids in heating the earth’s surface and atmosphere
how does the greenhouse gas effect occur?
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
why is the natural greenhouse effect necessary to life on earth?
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.
what is the ice age?
a time in earth’s history when the planet was covered in ice. a decrease in the energy from the sun causes lower temperature.
what is the interglacial period?
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.
what are the 3 causes of interglacial period and ice age?
-eccentricity (change of shape of orbit)
-change of the earth’s tilt
-procession (change) of tilt
