Fall Semester Exam Review #1 (Units 5 & 6) Flashcards
study study study
What are the 4 types of Air Masses and what are their characteristics
contenental polar- cold moist air & dry
contential tropical- warm dry air & dry
maritime tropical- warm dry air & wet
maritime polar- cold moist air & wet
cold front characteristics
when cold overtake warm
Brings fast moving thunderstorms and precipitation
After= clear skies and cooler temps
cold front symbol
blue spikes
warm front characteristics
where warm overtakes cold
typically brings drizzly rain
warm front symbol
red ovals
stationary front characteristics
warm and cold can’t overtake each other (bc of energy)
brings multiply days of precipitation and thunderstorms
Eventually either one mass will become stronger or they will both die out
stationary front symbol
back and forth on different sides
occluded front characteristics
warm air mass caught between 2 cold masses.
brings large amounts of rain and snow due to so much warm air rising to create clouds
occluded front symbol
back on forth on same side
How does the sun’s energy affect the ocean’s convection currents
The sun heats the Earth unevenly and causes differences in density to the air and water on Earth. These changes in density cause currents to circulate throughout Earth causing a natural cooling effect to Earth’s oceans and air (wind).
What is Specific Heat
the amount of thermal energy needed to raise temp by 1 degree celsius
How does Specific Heat apply to Earth’s oceans and atmosphere
The Earth’s oceans and atmosphere have water and air that change tempers at different rates (quickly or slowly)
How does specific heat affect our oceans and atmosphere
Air doesn’t take much thermal energy to change its temp whereas water takes more thermal energy from the sun to warm
What are Gyres
Large looped systems of surface currents moving in the same direction
they help cycle the water throughout Earth’s oceans
What characteristics do Gyres have in different hemispheres
Northern- circle clockwise
Southern- circle counterclockwise
Describe High Pressure systems and how they affect our weather
- cooler/denser sinking air
- When it nears the ground it spreads out toward areas of low pressure in a clockwise manner
Describe Low Pressure systems and how they affect our weather
- warmer/less dense rising air
-It rises into the atmosphere in an inward and upward motion
Coriolis effect
the movement of wind or currents in a curved path due to Earth’s rotation
What 3 things impact wind
Coriolis effect
air pressure
convection
What two things impact deep currents
salinity
temp
El Nino
Weather phenonmenon that occure is the Pacific Ocean
creates high pressure of the Western Pacific (SE Asia and Australia) and low pressure overthe Eastern Pacific (by CA)
What type of pressure ofren brings precipitation and why
low because when air rises, it brings clouds, leading to precipitation
What type of weather is associated with high pressure
sunny and clear weather with no clouds
this is because high pressure air cool and sinking, so clouds cannot form
How do you know what direction a front is moving on a weather map
based on the way the front is pointing
What are 3 ways that carbon is fast cycled
photosynthesis
cellular respiration
decaying matter
In what sphere does fast cycling occure
biosphere
What is the greatest output on Earth of Greenhosue Gases
burning of fossil fuels
automobiles
What is coral bleaching
because coral are sensitive to temp changes, when water temp increases, it causes coral to release their photosynthetic algae. They then lose color, and coral bleaching essentially kills the coral
How does deforestation impact CO2 in the atmosphere
Deforestation increases Co2 in the atmosphere because there are less producers conducting photosynthesis and removing Co2 from the atmosphere
What are the main types of greenhouse gases
water vapor
carbon dioxide
methane
nitrous oxide
How do producers impact the carbon cycle
Their ability to conduct photosynthesis allows for oxygen to be placed into the atmosphere and for carbon to leave the atmosphere.
How do seasons impact the carbon cycle
Growings seasons in the summer and spring where the plans are growing and more active allow for more Co2 to be taken from the atmosphere
The winter and summer seasons where plants go dormant or die don’t cause less Co2 to be taken from the atmosphere
Where does carbon first enter food webs
From plants as they absorb carbon from the atmosphere
What would be the side effects to the carbon cycle in case of a volcanic eruption
Global temps could cool to ash and sulfur dioxide particles in the atmosphere. This would also limit plant growth due to the lack of sunlight for photosynthesis
What does an increase in ultraviolet radiation tell us?
Ozone layer is thinning and more UV radiation is able to get through the atmosphere
What does the thickness or thinning of polar ice caps tell us
The temp. of the Earth is warming (climate change?)
