CLIMATE Flashcards
what is climate
an average weather in a region over a few years
tundra
a treeless region, cold, it grows plants, northern hemisphere
ice cap
freezing, doesn’t grow plants, never above 0 degrees
ice cap
freezing, doesn’t grow plants, never above 0 degrees
factors
let vong latitude elevation topography vegetation ocean currents nearness to water global winds
latitude–how does it affect temp
closer to the equator is hottercloser to n+s poles(90) is colderbc-equator receive all year sun light –more sun = more heat
latitude–how does it affect precip.
0+60 n and s– air rises due to low pressure so their contracts and and squeezes out the moisture–lots of precip30+90 n/s–due to high pressure the molecules are very closely packed and there is no room for water -no precip and dry air
elevation- how does it affect temp
lower elevation- hotterhigher-colderhigher up there is less pressure from other molecules pushing down so it has room to bounce around but lower elevation is being pushed down and has no room to move creating a hotter climate
elevation- how does it affect precipitation
higher - cause more precip bc more space for water molecules BUT water can also be too heavy to travel so some higher has less
nearness to water -how does it affect temp
water has a specific heat: the amt of energy required to change the temp of a substancecoastal towns have more moderate temp change range than inland towns
nearness to water - how does it affect precip
closer to water- more further - less percip
ocean currents- how does it affect temp.
water coming from higher latitudes is colder and pushes colder air above it with itwater coming from lower = hotter and pushes hotter air w it
ocean currents - how does it affect precip
warm water = warmer air = holds more water and humiditycolder water= colder air- less water and humitywarmer air - expands creating space for water and more evapcolder air- contracts and lets its water go
topography - how does it affect temp
windward side - air cools as it risesleeward side - air cools as it descends ^ both refer to elevation
topography - how does it affect precip
wside- lots of precip bc air needs to release moisture to get up the mt.’s peaklside-no moisture left .. dry climate bc all was lost on w side
global winds temp and precip
where ever the winds originate or come from they bring air w the qualities it came from—ex. ocean-humidland-drylower lat-warmhigher lat- cold
global winds temp and precip
where ever the winds originate or come from they bring air w the qualities it came from—ex. ocean-humidland-drylower lat-warmhigher lat- cold
vegetation - how does it affect temp
trees absorb carbon dioxide-> less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere means a lighter blanket for a cooler tempw/o trees carbon dioxide will accumulate in the atmosphere to created a heavier blanket and keep warmth in
vegetation -how does it affect precip
transpiration(where plants take in carbon dioxide and release water into atmosph.)more plants=more transpiration= more humidity=more precip.less plants = less precip.
vegetation -how does it affect precip
transpiration(where plants take in carbon dioxide and release water into atmosph.)more plants=more transpiration= more humidity=more precip.less plants = less precip.
dry climates
have little precip and moisture
humid climates
more percip and moisture
temperate climate
it is a region that experiences all 4 seasons, its not extremely cold or hot, changes btwn seasons are not dramatic
2 variables that define climate of a region
precip and temp
dry climates
have little precip and moisture and yearly percip isn’t big compared to water lost in evap
2 variables that define climate of a region
precip and temp
why do currents curve
corriolis effect–spinning earth causes winds and water tp curve as well
what factor causes the desert climate
topography
humid tropical
no winters, temps above 18 degrees, 200cm of rain per year
humid mid-lat w/ mid winters
average temp, coldest month below 18 above -3
humid mid-lat w/ severe winters
average temp below -3
polar climates
temp of warmest month below 10
highland climates
varies, cooler and wetter than nearby areas at lower el.