Energy, Climate, Weather Flashcards
Specific Heat Capacity
the amount of energy required to change the temperature by 1C
greater the SHC, the longer it takes something to heat up or cool down
Weather vs Climate
daily changes in atmospheric conditions
long-term averaged weather for an area and any departures from that average
defines our expectations + extreme weather
Climate forcings (3)
factors which have shown to influence climate, global or regional
solar radiation
energy
precipitation
Seasons (temporal variability)
the more something faces the sun, the more energy it receives, earth rotates where this is
period of year defined by specific climatic conditions like day length and weather (precipitation bc driven by solar radiation)
greatest difference at poles, least at equator
Climatic oscillations
recurring global or regional climate pattern
range of timescales and weather
El Niño (ENSO) pattern
Warm surface waters shifts eastward toward SA,
now distributed across the entire region and ocean
still drives convection cell but starts more centrally in the ocean
typical patterns in the Pacific
surface winds at the equator drive surface ocean westward
this water replaces by colder water (upwelling)
warmer water collects as it moves, heats up the air and drives air circulation in the west pacific
air circulation moves eastward, fueling more movement of air westward
global effects of El Niño
warmer waters shift jet stream closer to the equator
some areas will be wetter or dryer than usual
less upwelling in SA
reduces monsoons in asia
La Niña
strengthening of normal westward surface winds
convection cell moves westward
shift jet stream northwards
more upwelling
increased monsoons, more sever Atlantic hurricane season
Buffering effect of water
land loses heat faster than water
also changes between night and day
water warmed by sun during day cools slower than land bringing cool air over land to replace it
The Gulf Stream
surface current at equator deflect by NA and pushed to Northwest Europe
Flying Rivers
system which brings moisture over large areas as a result of wind current and significant plant transpiration
precipitation falls –> released by plants –> enough plants can transpire enough water to move over vast distances
