climate Flashcards
Climate types
tropical equitorial climate
tropical monsoon climate
cool temperate climate
How can temperature vary across a day and a year
earth rotating ain its own axis
earth revolution around sun
how can change in tilt cause climate variations ?
GREATER TILT –> varies back and forth btwn 21.5-24.5
hemispheres closer to sun in summers, more exposed to sun, and more SWR reaches earth in summer –> Hotter summers
hemispheres further from sun in winter, less exposed to sun, less SWR reaches earth in winter –> cooler winters
SMALLER TILT
hemispheres further from sun in summer, less exposes, less SWR, cooler cummers
hesmispheres nearer to sun in winter, more SWR, warmer winters
how can altitude affect temperatures ?
altitude
higher, lower air density due to gravity and pressure, lower ability to absorb and radiate heat, lower temps.
lower, higher air density due to gravity and pressure, higher ability to absorb and radiate heat, higher temp.
eg. genting highlands ab 1700m above sea level, 21deg. average temp of areas at sea level 32deg.
how can type of surface affect climate variability ?
type of surface
dark surface absorb more solar radiation, higher temo.
light durface reflect more solar radition, lower temp
eg. urban areas, roads which absorb a lot of solar radiation, glass buildings reflect solar radiation onto roads increasing rate of absorption.
eg. night time SG CBD 2deg warmer than macritchie area.
how does latitude cause climate variations ?
latitude - due to earth spherical shape.
lower latitudes, solar angle 90deg, solar ratiation more concentrated, spread over smaller area, higher temp.
higher latitudes, solar angle smaller, solar radiation less concentrated, spread over larger area.
e.g. beijing, 40deg N of eq, 12 degrees / SG 1deg N of eq, 30 degrees.
How can diswtance from sea vary across place
distance from sea
- coastal areas –> maritime effect –> sea heats up and cools down slower than land, during winter sea is warmer, warming up air at coastal areas. during summer, sea is cooler, cooling air at coastal areas. –> warmer winters cooler summers. eg. low annual temperatures range of 20 degrees.
- inland areas –> continental effect –> land heats up and cools down faster, cooler winters, hotter summers. eg. NYC high annual temp range of 40 degrees.
describe the water cycle
water vapour enter atmosphere
- evapotranspiration (water bodies evaporate / plants transpire)
wv rise, cool and condense on condensation nuclei at dewpoint temperature –> clouds.
water droplets collide and coalesce, big and heavy, fall as precipitation.
iinfiltrates and stored as groundwater / flow into water bodies.
urban areas less infiltration more surface runoff, concrete no tiny pores on ground + pavements and roads less friction.
opposite for vegetated areas.
what are 3 types of rain
convectional rain
heat from sun causes land and air above it to gain heat and rise, water vapour in warm air cools and condenses on condensation nuclei at dewpoint temp, form clouds. collide and coalesce , fall to ground as rain.
eg. freq afternoon thunderstorms in SG
relief rain
prevailing winds pick up moisture over sea, push mosit air up windward side of mountain. wv in moist air cools and condense on condensation nuclei at dewpoint temperature, form clouds. collide and coalesce, heavy, fall as rain on windward side of mountain. leeward side experience dry descending air –> very dry and few trees.
eg. Sierra nevada mountain ranges, lush rainforests on one side, death valley dessert on the other.
monsoon rain
(another card)
formation of winds
unequal distribution of air temperature, pressure gradients.
highr temp, warm air less dense and rise, creating a void with LOWER ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE.
lower temp, cool air denser and sinks, HIGHER ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE.
air moves from higher to lower to fill the void and wind is formed
formation of winds
unequal distribution of air temperature, pressure gradients.
highr temp, warm air less dense and rise, creating a void with LOWER ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE.
lower temp, cool air denser and sinks, HIGHER ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE.
air moves from higher to lower to fill the void and wind is formed
what determines strength of wind
strength of pressure gradient –> larger duff in temo, stronger wind
friction –> places w valleys and mountains, experience frictional drag and slower winds
formation of land breeze and sea breeze
at night : Land breeze (breeze from land)
sea cools slower than land. warmer less dense air rises, lower atmospheric pressure over sea. cooler denser air sinks, higher atmospheric pressure over land. HP , land –> LP, sea.
in day : sea breeze ( breeze from sea)
air above sea cooler, air above land warmer. HP –> LP, sea –> land.
formation of NE monsoon
october to feb
- NH
how does climate change impact oceanic systems
changes to ocean circulations
- due to climate change –> water at surface gain heat due to rising atmospheric temp –> unable to cool and sink
- deep amd surface water cannot mix
- species on surface eg. phytoplankton unable to obtain nutrients, drop in phytoplanktons –> affect entire food chain, lack of phytoplankton
increase in ocean surface temps
- lead to changes in geographical distribution
- as fish migrate polewards, parrotfish rabbitrish dropped in last 50 years
- eg. diversity of species droopped in last 50 years. \
- lead
