Coker Climate Flashcards
What is climate?
The average weather condition of an area over a long period of time
What is the climate affected by?
Latitude, elevation, Orographic effect (mountain), Ocean currents, Proximity to water (Lake snow effect and El Nino)
What is latitude?
It affects both temperature and moisture
How does the latitude affect temperature?
The amount of insolation (energy) any location receives is determined by latitude
What does low latitude cause?
It is closer to the equator and has a higher angle of insolation and warmer climate
What does high latitude cause?
It is closer to the poles and has a lower angle of insolation and colder climate
How does the latitude affect moisture?
Different latitudes receive different amounts of rainfall due to rising and sinking surface winds
What does wet climate cause?
Surface winds converge and warm air rises and there are more cloud and rain
What does dry climate cause?
Surface winds diverge and cold air strikes and there are clear skies
What is elevation(altitude)
Height above water
How does high and low elevation affect climate?
High elevation causes colder climate and lower elevation causes a warmer climate
What is the orographic effect (mountains)?
When prevailing winds at the surface approach a mountain, air is forced up and the rising air cools and reaches the dew point and produces rain
What are the windward side of the orographic effect (aka orographic lifting) and its climate?
Air rises and cools, water vapor condenses and there is a lot of rain the climate is cool temp and wet (precipitation)
What are the leeward side (aka rain shadow) of the orographic effect and its climate?
Air sinks and warms, air has lost most of its water vapor and there is little rainfall. The climate is warm temperature and dry (no precipitation)
What occurs when ocean currents are flowing from the equator?
it carries warm water to higher altitudes and these currents will warm coastal areas
What occurs when ocean currents are flowing from the poles?
its carries cold water to the lower latitudes and these currents will cool coastal areas
How does proximity (how close) to water affect climate?
Water can moderate the temperature on land and there is not as much change in temp from season to season
What happens to the climate when the land is closer to water?
There are cooler summers and warmer winters because the ocean regulates the temperature of the regions
What happens to the climate when the land is farther from the water?
There are warmer summers and colder winters because there is no water nearby to regulate the temperature
What is the lake snow effect?
When continental polar mass (cP) passes over a warm body of water(lake) it picks up moisture and it deposits the moisture in the form of snow over land
What is the el nino?
It basically switches the currents of the world or well the wind and idrc rn so imma let u edit this in the future gl lmao ahahahahaahahahaha
