Climate Flashcards
What describes the weather conditions in an area over a long period of time?
Climate
What is the condition of the Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place.
Weather
What are some factors that affect temperature and precipitation of an area?
Latitude, wind patterns, elevation, locations of mountains and large bodies of water, and nearness to ocean currents.
What is a temperature range?
The measure of temperature extremes in an area or climate.
How is a temperature range an important measure of a climate?
It tells us about organisms that can survive the extreme heat and cold and provide detailed information that is unique to a region or climate.
Why is the pattern of precipitation a better indicator of climate than average precipitation?
Precipitation may not be spread evenly over the year and while two regions may have the same annual precipitation, one may have small amounts throughout the year while one may have droughts and extreme rain. Both types will much different vegetation patterns.
What is the angular distance in degrees north or south from the equator?
Latitude
How does latitude help determine the temperature of an area?
It affects the amount of solar energy the area receives. An example is the equator where the sun’s rays hit the Earth at an almost 90 degree angle. The concentrated solar energy results in higher temperatures.
How does the sun power the water cycle?
The sun warms the surface creating water vapor which eventually cools and falls as precipitation as the water cycle.
How does the sun power the wind?
The sun warms the Earth’s surface unevenly creating different areas of air pressure. As air moves from areas of high pressure to low pressure, it creates wind.
What are the combined surface features of an area called?
Topography
What is the measure of a land feature’s height above sea level?
Elevation
What is a rain shadow?
The side of a mountain that does not get much rain because the moist air hits the other side of the mountain and releases it’s moisture as the air rises and cools. The air is them dry as it descends.
How much does temperature decrease as you rise a kilometer in elevation?
6.5 degrees Celsius or 11.7 degrees Farenheit
How do large bodies affect area temperature?
Water absorbs and releases energy more slowly than land does. Therefore, climates with large bodies of water have less swings in temperature ranges.
