Earth's Geography & Climate

Question 1

Rainshadow

Answer 1

• A rain shadow is a region of land that has become drier because a higher elevation area blocks precipitation from reaching the land
• dry conditions found on the leeward side of a mountain range as a result of humid winds from the ocean causing precipitation on the windward side

Question 2

What is the effect of large bodies of water on local temperatures and climate?

Answer 2

• Large bodies of water stabilize local temperatures
• contribute to the overall moisture content of the air above the land adjacent to the water.
• Currents in large bodies of water can make the land adjacent to the water cooler or warmer than expected.

Question 3

How do land and water differ in the speed at which they heat up when coming in contact with solar radiation?

Answer 3

• Water has high specific heat and high mobility so when solar radiation comes in contact with the water the temperature increases slowly
• Land has low specific heat & no mobility so the temperature increases quickly when solar radiation comes in contact with the land

Question 4

Gyre

Answer 4

A large-scale pattern of water circulation that moves clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere

Question 5

Upwelling

Answer 5

The upward movement of ocean water toward the surface as a result of diverging currents (brings nutrients from the ocean bottom)

Question 6

Thermohaline circulation

Answer 6

An oceanic circulation pattern that drives the mixing of surface water and deep water

Question 7

How does the rainshadow effect work and how is it affected by geography?

Answer 7

• cool air moving inland from the ocean contains a large amount of water vapor
• when it meets the windward side of a mountain range (the side facing the wind), it rises and begins to experience adiabatic cooling.
• because water vapor condenses as air cools, clouds form and precipitation falls.
• the presence of the mountain range causes large amounts of precipitation to fall on its windward side.
• the cold, dry air then travels to the other side of the mountain range (the leeward side), where it descends and experiences higher pressures, which cause adiabatic heating
• this air is now warm and dry and produces arid conditions on the leeward side forming the region called a rain shadow