ecology 2 Flashcards
conditions occurring at a specific area and time
weather
long term average pattern of weather
climate
solar energy that powers the earth’s climate system
short-wave radiation
roughly half of the incoming solar radiation is absorbed by?
earth’s surface
solar radiation absorbed by the earth’s surface is converted into? and emitted as
heat, long-wave radiation
what warms up the earth’s lower atmosphere and surface?
infrared radiation that is absorbed by greenhouse gases and clouds in the atmosphere
3 climate zones
polar, temperate, tropical
cold areas
polar
hot to cold seasons
temperate
direct sunlight, always warm
tropical
solar radiation falls directly on the tropic of cancer, increased day length on the northern hemisphere
summer solstice (june)
solar radiation falls directly on the equator
vernal & autumnal equinoxes
solar radiation falls directly on the tropic of capricorn, increased day day length in the southern hemisphere
winter solstice (december)
reasons for seasons
- uneven heating of the earth’s surface
- tilting
northern hemisphere, spring equinox, equator facing the sun
southern hemisphere autumnal equinox
northern hemisphere, summer, titling towards the sun
southern hemisphere, winter, facing away from the sun
northern hemisphere, autumnal equinox, equator facing the sun
southern hemisphere, spring equinox
northern hemisphere, winter, tilts away from the sun
southern hemisphere, summer, faces towards the sun
gases such as water vapor and carbon dioxide that are good absorbers of longwave radiation are
known as
“greenhouse gases.”
The resulting
convergence of winds from the north and south in the region
of the equator is called
the Intertropical Convergence Zone, or
ITCZ, for short.
subtropical & polar air masses meet
creating a moist temperate climate
dry descending air absorbs moisture creating a?
desert
rising air in the equator is associated with?
moist tropical climate
how many air circulation cells on each side of the equatoe
3
this is due to longitudinal compression
belts of prevailing winds
air masses and
all moving objects in the Northern Hemisphere are deflected to
the right (clockwise motion), and in the Southern Hemisphere
to the left (counterclockwise motion)
Coriolis effect
systematic patterns of water movement are
called
currents
the transformation of
water from a liquid to a gaseous state,
Evaporation
the transformation of
water vapor to a liquid state, releases an equivalent amount of
Condensation
A more familiar measure of the water content
of the air , or the amount of water vapor
in the air expressed as a percentage of the saturation vapor
pressure
relative humidity
the windward
side of a mountain supports denser, more vigorous vegetation
and different species of plants and associated animals than does the leeward side, where in some areas dry, desert-like conditions exist
rain shadow
