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Geography > Climate > Flashcards

Climate Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the difference between weather and climate?

A

weather is short-term (what you get) and climate is long-term (what you expect)

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2
Q

What is the difference between meteorology and climatology?

A
  • meteorology: the study of weather

- climatology: the study of climate

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3
Q

What are the two climatic components?

A

temperature and precipitation

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4
Q

What are the components of Earth’s climate system (6)?

A

insolation, Earth’s energy balance, temperature, air pressure, air masses, and atmospheric moisture and precipitation

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5
Q

How does insolation impact climate?

A

amount of energy coming into Earth’s system

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6
Q

How does Earth’s energy balance impact climate?

A

lower latitudes receive a surplus of energy while higher latitudes have a deficit of energy

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7
Q

How does temperature impact climate?

A

varies by latitude, elevation, cloud cover, and land vs. water heating

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8
Q

How does air pressure impact climate?

A

high and low pressure belts drive winds and experience seasonal fluctuation

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9
Q

How do air masses impact climate?

A

bodies of air with similar moisture and temperature characteristics

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10
Q

How does atmospheric moisture and precipitation impact climate?

A

movement of water through the hydrological cycle impacts weather and climate everywhere

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11
Q

What is the Köppen Climate Classification System?

A

developed by German scientist Vladimir Köppen in the 1800s to categorize different climates

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12
Q

What are the main climate categories (5)?

A
  • Tropical: A (lower latitudes, warm and wet conditions)
  • Mesothermal: C (midlatitudes, temperate conditions)
  • MIcrothermal: D (mid-high latitudes, cold winters, require large landmasses)
  • Polar/Highland: E/H (high latitudes/elevations, cold year-round, no summer temperatures)
    Dry: B (midlatitudes, very dry due to high pressure, rain shadow, lack of water, etc.
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13
Q

What causes tropical climates to form?

A

consistent day-length and insolation and the ITCZ

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14
Q

What do the climate letters mean (5 climate, 4 precipitation, 4 temperature, 2 dry climates, 2 dry temperatures)?

A 
A: tropical
B: dry
C: mesothermal
D: microthermal
E/H: polar/highland
f: no dry season
m: wet and dry season
s: summer drought
w: winter drought
a: hot
b: warm
c: cool
d: cold
W: desert
S: steppe
h: hot
k: cold
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15
Q

What are the three tropical climates?

A
  • Tropical Rain Forest: Af
  • Tropical Monsoon: Am
  • Tropical Savanna: Aw
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16
Q

How are the seasons distinguished in A climates?

A

by precipitation

17
Q

What causes mesothermal climates to form (3)?

A

increased daylight variability, air masses, and pressure

18
Q

What are the four mesothermal climates?

A
  • Humid Subtropical: Hot Summer (Cfa)
  • Humid Subtropical: Winter Drought (Cwa)
  • Marine West Coast: Cfb
  • Mediterranean: Csa
19
Q

How are the seasons distinguished in C climates?

A

temperature and precipitation

20
Q

What causes microthermal climates to form (4)?

A

high latitude, large landmasses, increased temperature variability, increased pressure variability

21
Q

What are the five microthermal climates?

A
  • Humid Continental: Hot Summer (Dfa)
  • Humid Continental: Winter Drought (Dwa)
  • Humid Continental: Mild Summer (Dfb)
  • Subarctic: Cool Summer (Dfc)
  • Subarctic: Cold Winter (Dwd)
22
Q

What causes polar and highland climates to form (4)?

A

low sun angle, lapse rate, high pressure, high albedo

23
Q

What are the two polar/highalnd climates?

A
  • Tundra Climate: Ef

- Dry Climate: Ef

24
Q

What causes dry climates to form (3)?

A

high pressure year-round, leeward side of mountain ranges, continental interiors far from moisture

25
Q

What are the four dry climates?

A
  • Tropical/Subtropical Hot Deserts: Bwh
  • Midlatitude Cold Desert: Bwk
  • Tropical/Subropical Hot Steppe: Bsh
  • Midlatitude Cold Steppe: Bsk

Geography (11 decks)

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