Climate Change Flashcards
Climatologist use past years’ data to determine the
normal for an area
Climate is ____ and weather is ____
Personality, mood
Areas with the lower latitudes are located in the
topic zone, they receive more sunlight and have high temperatures year-around.
Areas with the highest latitudes are located in the
polar zone, they receive the least amount of sunlight and have cold temperatures.
Areas between polar and tropic zones are considered the
temperate zone, their temperatures are moderate year-around.
Latitude of equator
0°
Latitude of North Pole
66.5°N
Latitude of South Pole
66.5°S
Latitude of Tropic of Cancer
23.5°N
Latitude of Tropic of Capricorn
23.5°S
Rain shadow
mouton side that receives less rainfall (usually leeward)
Windward Side
Greener side where bodies of water blow on it
Leeward Side
Where the dry air blows
El Nino
Raises global temperatures, because warm ocean currents from the eastern pacific of South American
El Nina
Lower global temperatures, cold ocean currents, east pacific of South American
Sunspots
More sunspots causes higher intensity of the sun, raising temperatures
Greenhouse Effect
Natural heating of Earth’s surface by greenhouse gases being absorbed
Methane
burning fossil fuels and natural animal emissions
Nitrous oxide
remains in the atmosphere for decades, result of motor vehicle exhaust
Carbon Dioxide
Main greenhouse gas, comes from deforestation and burning fossil fuels
The extra trapped gases are heating the earth causing
polar waters to warm causing sea levels to rise
Global warming increases
frequency and severity of storms
Global warming causes climates in places
change, ex; semi-arid, wet areas become wetter
Climates are defined by their
temperature and precipitation
Tropical; Tropical Wet
77°-90° F, intense rain for short periods of time, Mawsynram, India: wettest place on earth
Tropical; Tropical Monsoon
Less rain (Occurs during rainy season), African savannas
Tropical; Tropical Wet and Dry
77°F, rain nearly every day, Africa, Brazil, India
Polar; Polar Ice Caps
-16° - -90°F, very little precipitation, freezing most of the year
Polar; Polar Tundra
-18° - 50°F, practically no precipitation, most extreme climate on earth
Dry; Dry Arid
Temperatures vary, very little precipitation, Atacama Desert (Driest place on earth)
Dry; Dry Semi-Arid
Temperature vary, inconsistent amount of precipitation, outback, southern texas
Moist Subtropical (Mid-Latitude); Humid Subtropical
Warm temp, moderate rain, southeast US
Moist Subtropical (Mid-Latitude); Mediterranean
Warm temp, moderate precipitation, Southeastern US
Moist Subtropical (Mid-Latitude); Marine West Coast
Cool temp, moderate precipitation, Pacific NW and Western Europe
Moist Continental (Mid-Latitude)
Dry Winter, Dry Summer, Wet All Season- Cool/cold temp, moderate precipitation, areas with conflict in between tropical and polar air masses.
