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.
highland climates
varies, cooler and wetter than nearby areas at lower el.
types of humid-mid-lat
subartic, humid subtropical, maritime west coast, subtropical
subartic
winter=bitter, long and coldsummer= short and warm40-50 degrees n lat
humid subtropical–us
winter=mild20+40 lat. summers are hoteastern side of cont.
maritime west coast
cali to alaska40+60 latmaritime airmild winter and hot sum
subtropical
30-45 latunique lots of rainonly cali
Carbon cycle
The process in which carbon moves through our earth ( short term and long term)
Greenhouse effect
a natural process in which certain gases in the atmosphere trap in heat radiated by earth
Greenhouse gases
co2(carbon dioxide), CH4 (methane), H2O(water vapor),ect.
Interstadial events
intervals lasting a few hundred to thousand years during which icey land(greenland) warms up rapidly then cools at first slowly then quickly - not predicted by milankivitch
Carbon cycle changes/imbalance
there is an increase in emission from eco-systems and increase in emissions from human activity.there is a decrease in global eco-systems capacity to absorb greenhouse gases.
Carbon reservoirs/sinks
a reservoirs where some form of carbon is storedex- oceans, rocks, atmosphere
respiration
breathing (co2)
photosynthesis
plants absorbing co2
combustion
burning
weathering
carbon stored in rocks
decomposition
plants and animals break down to basic elements
short term carbon cycle
This cycle operates over one to a few hundreds of years.works by photosynthesis of green plants, the largest contribution comes from ocean surfacephytoplanktonrespiration and decompositionTheshort-term carbon cyclerefers to the circulation of carbon among the surface reservoirs: the ocean, the atmosphere, the soil, and the biosphere (Figure 2). As noted, this cycling can be rapid, taking from months to decades to centuries. In the land-based part of the short-term carbon cycle, photosynthesis removes carbon from the atmosphere. The reaction for photosynthesis, which is driven by sunlight,
long term carbon cycle
It operates over thousands to hundreds of thousands of years through the land and oceans. In both cases the organic carbon from dead life forms is pressurized over ages of time to form solid fossil carbon.On land this is fossil carbon- coal, oil and gas. The coal we burn up in no time took millions of years to form.The ocean process forms rock- limestone and dolomite.This starts with the minute ocean surface plants called phytoplankton. This is how most of the carbon dioxide gets absorbed. Through the ocean food chain the carbon gets converted by shell forming organisns to calcium carbonite. Throughages of time and pressure in the ocean floor sediment, calcium carbonate based rock is formed- limestone and dolomite.We are rapidly returning this carbon to the atmosphere by burning it. Land fossil carbon we burn to produce heat energy as fossil fuels. Limestone we burn to make cement.
largest carbon resevior
ocean
what does carbon in the atmosphere do for our planet
absorbs visible light(sunlight) and keeps most of the heat in. the trees release co2 so when there is trees it becomes hotter.
how do humans lead to an imbalance
we burn fossil fuels, which releases more co2, when there is too much co2 there becomes an imbalance
What are the 3 cycles that are closely related to historical climate change in Earth’s past? Describe them. What are the lengths of these cycles?
Eccentricity–Over a time period of 100,000 years, the orbit ranges from being a nearly perfect circle to being an oval and back to a near-circle again. provides more sunlight to different parts of the earth based on which side is closer to the sun in its orbittilt–The earth’s tilt,causes the seasons, one side is getting more sunlight ehich affects climate, 40,000 yearsprecession–The precession is how much the earth wobbles on its axis. it takes 20,000 and it affects the amount of sunlight each hemp. gets
what cycle does milankavitch coincide with?
the basic climate cycle
how are ice layers similar to tree trunks
they both hav layers from several past yearsrings and layers help determine age
why is data from older ice less reliable
bc as it gets older the pressure that has been exerted on the ice cores has caused more and more distoration and it becomes hard to read
what are the five secrets
ice remembrance, thickness of ice layers, dust particles, oxygen isotopes, air bubbles
air bubbles
ancient air gets trapped as gas formswe extract the air from the ice core adn we study it to see all the molecules and determine its composition knowing comp. and greenhouse affect so we can estimate temp.
thickness of layers
thicker layers= more percip. that shows there was a warmer climate bc there was more room for moisture
isotopes
water can be heavier if it contains isotopes of oxygyn that have an extra neutronwhen humid air is cold, heavier h2o falls first and by the time the air hits land only light h2o remains– so if you mostly seeh2o you know it was colder
wind blown materials
coaser dust= greater windscomposition of dust=trace its origin and wind patterns
How do humans impact climate (other than altering the 7 climate factors)?
we increase greenhouse gasses–which affects climate
what are the other 7 climate factors
lat, ele, ocean/wind currents, nearness to water, topography, vegetation, humans
Discuss observed changes that Earth has experienced since the industrial revolution?
an increase in ghg- from burning fossil fuels, production of cement, mass produced live stock, farming, urbanization, landfills ect.
what are the potential impacts of the current changing global climate?
errosion and costal flooding, storm intensity, more droughts and floods, changes in ocean currents, coral bleaching, loss of biodiversity, shorting growing seasons
explain erosion and costal flooding as an effect of cc
there is less room for growing population and it causes damage to habitat and communities
explain storm intensity and frequency as an effect of cc
rising ocean temp= more evap = more humidity which leads to hurricanes
explain changes in ocean currents as an effect of cc
ocean currents are caused by convection which is caused by densitythe ice caps melting is releasing more fresh water into the salt water ocean which affects the concentration which affects the convections which ultimately stops it.
explain coral bleaching as an effect of cc
coral is very sensitive and can nay live in specific temps w specific ph levelsthe increase in ghg and ocean temp creates more acidic rain which causes the algae to diethe coral itself isn’t the problem its the increase in temp which affects it\this is bad bc it affects environment and habitat and stops it from calming waves, and impacts tourism
explain shorter growing seasons as an effect of cc
less crop= less money
explain loss of bio diversity as an effect of cc
loss of species– it will affect food chain, ecological services, health and economic issues etc.
What is the difference between adaptation and mitigation?
adaptation is the adjustment to climate change and mitigation is the stopping of climate change from changing
two pros of adaptation
longer growing systemsmore revenue from foodavalibility to stronger roads, bridges ect
two examples of adaptation
harvesting or reusing of rain watercrop relocation, adjustment of planting dates an improved land management
two cons of adaptation
limits to human tolerancetech. and financial constrains
two examples of mitigation
improved electrical appliances reduced deforestation and more re-forrestation
two pros of mitigation
creates markets for low emission technologiesmay stimulate techno diffusion
two cons of mitigation
periodic revisions of standards neededeffectiveness may drop w higher incomes
Briefly explain the “north/south” debate
the north would be developed countries and south is developING countries they are trying to figure out who is responsible for the biggest factor to our climate changing –emmisions of ghgthe north used to burn more but the south is now burning more
who is responsible for the financing and people???
they don’t know yet
specific heat
: the amt of energy required to change the temp of a substance
