Climate Flashcards
What is the difference between weather and climate?
weather is short-term (what you get) and climate is long-term (what you expect)
What is the difference between meteorology and climatology?
- meteorology: the study of weather
- climatology: the study of climate
What are the two climatic components?
temperature and precipitation
What are the components of Earth’s climate system (6)?
insolation, Earth’s energy balance, temperature, air pressure, air masses, and atmospheric moisture and precipitation
How does insolation impact climate?
amount of energy coming into Earth’s system
How does Earth’s energy balance impact climate?
lower latitudes receive a surplus of energy while higher latitudes have a deficit of energy
How does temperature impact climate?
varies by latitude, elevation, cloud cover, and land vs. water heating
How does air pressure impact climate?
high and low pressure belts drive winds and experience seasonal fluctuation
How do air masses impact climate?
bodies of air with similar moisture and temperature characteristics
How does atmospheric moisture and precipitation impact climate?
movement of water through the hydrological cycle impacts weather and climate everywhere
What is the Köppen Climate Classification System?
developed by German scientist Vladimir Köppen in the 1800s to categorize different climates
What are the main climate categories (5)?
- 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.
What causes tropical climates to form?
consistent day-length and insolation and the ITCZ
What do the climate letters mean (5 climate, 4 precipitation, 4 temperature, 2 dry climates, 2 dry temperatures)?
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
What are the three tropical climates?
- Tropical Rain Forest: Af
- Tropical Monsoon: Am
- Tropical Savanna: Aw
How are the seasons distinguished in A climates?
by precipitation
What causes mesothermal climates to form (3)?
increased daylight variability, air masses, and pressure
What are the four mesothermal climates?
- Humid Subtropical: Hot Summer (Cfa)
- Humid Subtropical: Winter Drought (Cwa)
- Marine West Coast: Cfb
- Mediterranean: Csa
How are the seasons distinguished in C climates?
temperature and precipitation
What causes microthermal climates to form (4)?
high latitude, large landmasses, increased temperature variability, increased pressure variability
What are the five microthermal climates?
- Humid Continental: Hot Summer (Dfa)
- Humid Continental: Winter Drought (Dwa)
- Humid Continental: Mild Summer (Dfb)
- Subarctic: Cool Summer (Dfc)
- Subarctic: Cold Winter (Dwd)
What causes polar and highland climates to form (4)?
low sun angle, lapse rate, high pressure, high albedo
What are the two polar/highalnd climates?
- Tundra Climate: Ef
- Dry Climate: Ef
What causes dry climates to form (3)?
high pressure year-round, leeward side of mountain ranges, continental interiors far from moisture
What are the four dry climates?
- Tropical/Subtropical Hot Deserts: Bwh
- Midlatitude Cold Desert: Bwk
- Tropical/Subropical Hot Steppe: Bsh
- Midlatitude Cold Steppe: Bsk
