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Geography > GEO_Vocab_GP4_Atmosphere and Climate > Flashcards

GEO_Vocab_GP4_Atmosphere and Climate Flashcards

1
Q

Convection

A

Transfer of thermal energy by the circulation of a fluid (air or liquid)

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1
Q

Greenhouse Effect

A

This occurs when the gases in the Earth’s atmosphere trap thermal energy and keep the planet warm.

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2
Q

climate

A

average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time. Primarily determined by temperature and precipitation

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2
Q

Mediterranean climates (Chaparral)

A

cool wet winters and hot dry summers. Plants are mainly drought resistant evergreen shrubs.

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2
Q

a stratus cloud that is formed when water vapor condenses near the ground

A

fog

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3
Q

front

A

the boundary formed when two air masses with different characteristics collide

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4
Q

biome

A

a large region characterized by a specific type of climate and the plants and animals that live there

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4
Q

wind created by

A

differences in air pressure; the greater the air pressure difference the stronger the wind.

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4
Q

cool wet winters and hot dry summers. Plants are mainly drought resistant evergreen shrubs.

A

Mediterranean climates (Chaparral)

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4
Q

The layer closest to the earth’s surface from 0-16km in altitude. It contains about 90% of the atmosphere’s air. CO2, water vapor, clouds, air pollution and weather all reside in this layer.

A

Troposphere

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4
Q

The layer that is 16-50 km in altitude and is very thin except for the upper portion which contains a large amount of ozone.

A

Stratosphere

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5
Q

Transfer of energy from one thing to another by direct contact.

A

Conduction

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6
Q

weather which causes property damage or harm to people.

A

severe weather

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7
Q

monsoon

A

a wind reversal which causes changes in air pressure and precipitation in a particular area.

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7
Q

Radiation

A

Transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves.

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7
Q

fog

A

a stratus cloud that is formed when water vapor condenses near the ground

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7
Q

strato

A

prefix for clouds that form at low altitudes

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7
Q

snow

A

the most common form of solid precipitation; it is made up of ice crystals when water freezes very quickly.

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8
Q

Tropical rain forests

A

Forests which are wet year-round

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10
Q

occurs when cold air displaces warm air, pushing it up and often creating thunderstorms , rain or snow, followed by cold weather

A

cold front

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11
Q

global winds

A

move across the entire Earth in specific directions.

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12
Q

prefix for clouds that form at high altitudes

A

cirro

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13
Q

Convection current

A

A circular movement of air caused by the continual process of rising and falling air.

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14
Q

Transfer of thermal energy by the circulation of a fluid (air or liquid)

A

Convection

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15
Q

Desert

A

Dry climates which receive less than 25cm of rain per year.

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15
Q

air mass

A

a large body of air with a similar temperature and humidity throughout; characteristics depend on where they form

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15
Q

sound waves caused when lightning strikes releasing energy which causes air to expand rapidly moving faster that the speed of sound

A

thunder

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15
Q

A circular movement of air caused by the continual process of rising and falling air.

A

Convection current

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15
Q

This occurs when the gases in the Earth’s atmosphere trap thermal energy and keep the planet warm.

A

Greenhouse Effect

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16
Q

alto

A

prefix for clouds that form at middle altitudes

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16
Q

occurs when cold and warm air meet and stay fairly still. Weather can be similar to that of a warm front

A

stationary front

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17
Q

Forests which are wet year-round

A

Tropical rain forests

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18
Q

Carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane

A

greenhouse gases

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20
Q

taiga (Boreal Forest)

A

are found just south of the tundra. This area experiences long cold winters an short warm summers. Conifer forests and little else grow here.

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21
Q

Atmosphere

A

A mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth

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23
Q

Wetlands

A

Seasonally or permanently saturated with water - some of these are freshwater, some are saltwater

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23
Q

hail

A

lumps of ice which form in layers high up in the air; the ice will fall towards the ground until an updraft brings it higher where it will freeze, then fall again and repeat the process many times

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23
Q

Deserts which tend tostay above freezing while experiencing a large daily temperature range

A

Tropical Deserts

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23
Q

differences in air pressure; the greater the air pressure difference the stronger the wind.

A

wind created by

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24
Q

cirro

A

prefix for clouds that form at high altitudes

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25
Q

a large rotating tropical weather system with wind speeds of at least 119 km/hr.

A

tropical cyclone

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26
Q

The layer from 50-80km and is a cold, thin layer with heavy winds.

A

Mesosphere

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27
Q

Warm summers and cold winters - with too little rain for tress

A

Temperate Grasslands

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28
Q

occluded front

A

occurs when a cold fron overtakes a wanr front forcing the warm air up. This type of front bring cold temperatures and a lot of precipitation.

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29
Q

large electrical discharge between two oppositely charged surfaces

A

lightning

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30
Q

Thermosphere

A

Highest layer from 80-600 km, and is a thin layer with a high temperature.

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30
Q

Warm temperature year round with a short rainy season

A

Tropical Grasslands

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31
Q

experience four seasons with warm summers, and cold winters, and high precipitation. Some are deciduous while others are coniferous.

A

temperate forests

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32
Q

sleet

A

freezing rain; the liquid water droplets freeze as they fall to Earth

34
Q

Temperate Grasslands

A

Warm summers and cold winters - with too little rain for tress

36
Q

Forests which expereince drought part of the year

A

Tropical dry forests

36
Q

Upper part of the mesosphere and the lower part of the thermosphere make up this layer. This layer absorbs x-rays and gamma rays. This energy can create ions which make colorful displays called auroras.

A

Ionosphere

37
Q

a dry environment with long cold winters and short cool summers. The top layer of soil freezes during the winter and thaws during the summer and beneath this layer is constantly frozen permafrost.

38
Q

local winds

A

move short distances and can blow in any direction

40
Q

stationary front

A

occurs when cold and warm air meet and stay fairly still. Weather can be similar to that of a warm front

41
Q

lumps of ice which form in layers high up in the air; the ice will fall towards the ground until an updraft brings it higher where it will freeze, then fall again and repeat the process many times

43
Q

a small rotating column of air that has high wind speeds and low central pressure that touches the ground

44
Q

The height of an object above the Earth’s surface

45
Q

temperate forests

A

experience four seasons with warm summers, and cold winters, and high precipitation. Some are deciduous while others are coniferous.

46
Q

Tropical Forests

A

Warm year round and the only seasons they experience are wet and dry seasons.

48
Q

thunderstorms

A

localized intense weather systems that produce thunder, lightning, strong winds and rains. Occur when warm moist air rises quickly, frequently along cold fronts, and creates cumulonimbus clouds.

49
Q

cirrus clouds

A

thin feathery clouds made of ice that form at high altitudes.

49
Q

Deserts which tend to be cold with freezing temperatures at night

A

Temperate deserts

51
Q

Conduction

A

Transfer of energy from one thing to another by direct contact.

52
Q

Transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves.

54
Q

stratus clouds

A

form in layers and cover wide areas.

56
Q

a wind reversal which causes changes in air pressure and precipitation in a particular area.

58
Q

Ozone layer

A

This absorbs UV light and protects the Earth. Part of the stratosphere.

60
Q

localized intense weather systems that produce thunder, lightning, strong winds and rains. Occur when warm moist air rises quickly, frequently along cold fronts, and creates cumulonimbus clouds.

A

thunderstorms

61
Q

Tropical dry forests

A

Forests which expereince drought part of the year

62
Q

weather

A

the condition of the atmosphere at a particular time and place. Formed and defined by many different characteristics such as temperature, hunidity, precipitation and air pressure.

62
Q

This absorbs UV light and protects the Earth. Part of the stratosphere.

A

Ozone layer

63
Q

lightning

A

large electrical discharge between two oppositely charged surfaces

64
Q

form in layers and cover wide areas.

A

stratus clouds

66
Q

Temperate deserts

A

Deserts which tend to be cold with freezing temperatures at night

67
Q

a large region characterized by a specific type of climate and the plants and animals that live there

68
Q

the boundary formed when two air masses with different characteristics collide

69
Q

occurs when a cold fron overtakes a wanr front forcing the warm air up. This type of front bring cold temperatures and a lot of precipitation.

A

occluded front

70
Q

cold front

A

occurs when cold air displaces warm air, pushing it up and often creating thunderstorms , rain or snow, followed by cold weather

72
Q

Prairies, steppes, veldt, pampas and savannas

A

Other terms for Grasslands

74
Q

freezing rain; the liquid water droplets freeze as they fall to Earth

75
Q

Mesosphere

A

The layer from 50-80km and is a cold, thin layer with heavy winds.

77
Q

global warming

A

throughout history humans have burned fossil fuels (petroleum, coal, natural gas) which release carbon dioxide into the air. This increase in greeenhouse gases has caused the Earth’s climate to warm at a rate faster than ever before. This warming of the earth is called _____ _____.

79
Q

Highest layer from 80-600 km, and is a thin layer with a high temperature.

A

Thermosphere

80
Q

cumulonimbus clouds

A

thunderstorms

81
Q

move across the entire Earth in specific directions.

A

global winds

82
Q

Troposphere

A

The layer closest to the earth’s surface from 0-16km in altitude. It contains about 90% of the atmosphere’s air. CO2, water vapor, clouds, air pollution and weather all reside in this layer.

83
Q

Ionosphere

A

Upper part of the mesosphere and the lower part of the thermosphere make up this layer. This layer absorbs x-rays and gamma rays. This energy can create ions which make colorful displays called auroras.

84
Q

cumulus clouds

A

big, white, puffy cloudswith flat bottoms. When they get saturated they get dark and can produce thunderstorms (cumulonimbus clounds)

84
Q

throughout history humans have burned fossil fuels (petroleum, coal, natural gas) which release carbon dioxide into the air. This increase in greeenhouse gases has caused the Earth’s climate to warm at a rate faster than ever before. This warming of the earth is called _____ _____.

A

global warming

85
Q

liquid precipitation

86
Q

Seasonally or permanently saturated with water - some of these are freshwater, some are saltwater

88
Q

big, white, puffy cloudswith flat bottoms. When they get saturated they get dark and can produce thunderstorms (cumulonimbus clounds)

A

cumulus clouds

89
Q

prefix for clouds that form at middle altitudes

90
Q

fossil fuels

A

petroleum, coal, natural gas

92
Q

a large body of air with a similar temperature and humidity throughout; characteristics depend on where they form

93
Q

severe weather

A

weather which causes property damage or harm to people.

95
Q

occurs when warm air mass slowly moves ofer and replaces cold air creating drizzly precipitation and warm weathe rafter it has passed

A

warm front

96
Q

thunderstorms

A

cumulonimbus clouds

97
Q

tropical cyclone

A

a large rotating tropical weather system with wind speeds of at least 119 km/hr.

98
Q

thunder

A

sound waves caused when lightning strikes releasing energy which causes air to expand rapidly moving faster that the speed of sound

100
Q

rain

A

liquid precipitation

101
Q

tundra

A

a dry environment with long cold winters and short cool summers. The top layer of soil freezes during the winter and thaws during the summer and beneath this layer is constantly frozen permafrost.

102
Q

Warm year round and the only seasons they experience are wet and dry seasons.

A

Tropical Forests

103
Q

Tropical Grasslands

A

Warm temperature year round with a short rainy season

105
Q

average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time. Primarily determined by temperature and precipitation

106
Q

Altitude

A

The height of an object above the Earth’s surface

107
Q

prefix for clouds that form at low altitudes

108
Q

are found just south of the tundra. This area experiences long cold winters an short warm summers. Conifer forests and little else grow here.

A

taiga (Boreal Forest)

109
Q

Other terms for Grasslands

A

Prairies, steppes, veldt, pampas and savannas

111
Q

A mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth

A

Atmosphere

112
Q

the condition of the atmosphere at a particular time and place. Formed and defined by many different characteristics such as temperature, hunidity, precipitation and air pressure.

113
Q

tornado

A

a small rotating column of air that has high wind speeds and low central pressure that touches the ground

114
Q

the most common form of solid precipitation; it is made up of ice crystals when water freezes very quickly.

115
Q

Tropical Deserts

A

Deserts which tend tostay above freezing while experiencing a large daily temperature range

116
Q

thin feathery clouds made of ice that form at high altitudes.

A

cirrus clouds

117
Q

greenhouse gases

A

Carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane

118
Q

Dry climates which receive less than 25cm of rain per year.

119
Q

petroleum, coal, natural gas

A

fossil fuels

120
Q

Stratosphere

A

The layer that is 16-50 km in altitude and is very thin except for the upper portion which contains a large amount of ozone.

121
Q

move short distances and can blow in any direction

A

local winds

122
Q

warm front

A

occurs when warm air mass slowly moves ofer and replaces cold air creating drizzly precipitation and warm weathe rafter it has passed

Geography (20 decks)

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