Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

GCSE g > Global atmospheric circulation and climate change > Flashcards

Global atmospheric circulation and climate change Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
GCSE Geography - AQA flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Edexcel Route B flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Eduqas Route A flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Edexcel Route A flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Eduqas Route B flashcards
1
Q

How does the equator getting more solar radiation create air pressure

A

The equator gets most of the suns radiation, causing a difference in temp creating air pressure.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How does air pressure effect wind

A

Wind goes from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure, which transfers heat from the equator

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is global atmospheric circulation cells

A

They are loops which have warm air rising creating a low pressure belt, and cool air falling, creating a high pressure belt.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the names of the three belts

A

1 Hadely, 2 Ferrel and 3 Polar cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Why do some parts of the Earth get more solar radiation than others

A

The thickness of the atmosphere

The size/area of what is getting heaten up (less distrupution)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What happens to the air at low pressure

A

As air heats it rises and becomes less dense as it cools and condenses. As the air leaves the surface, it causes low air pressure (rainfall and clouds)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What happens to air at high pressure

A

When air cools it becomes more dense meaning it falls, transfering heat to the surface (clear skiesand wind)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Direction of air through the cells

A

From the equator (low pressure belt) the air rises to 30° north and south (high pressure belt), then 60° (low pressure belt)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What happens at 30° of the equator

A

Cool air sinks, creating a high pressure belt. As it reaches the ground it moves as surface winds to the equator or pole with cloudless skies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Trade winds

A

Surfaces winds blowing to the equator. They blow from the SE in the south hemisphere and the NE in the north hemisphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Westerlies

A

Surface winds blowing towards the Pole. They blow from the NW in the south hemisphere and the SW in the north hemisphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What happens at 60° from the equator

A

Warmer surface winds meet colder air from the poles. The warm air is less dense so it rises, creating low pressure and frontal rain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What happens at the poles to air

A

Cool air sinks creating high pressure which is drawn back to the equator as surface winds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How do ocean currents transfer heat

A

They are large scale movements that transfer heat energy from warmer areas to cooler areas by surface currents and deep ocean currents

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Surface currents

A

Caused by winds, they help transfer heat away from the equator

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Example of surface currents

A

Gulfstream brings warm water to the Carrabisn keeping Western Europe warm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Deep ocean currents

A

They are driven by differences in water density. As water freezes at the poles, the surrounding water gets saltier, increaing in density. This thermohaline circulation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is thermohaline circulation

A

water sinks causing warmer water to rise creating a current and cycle called thermohaline circulation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Arid climate

A

Sinking air from hadely and ferrel cells meeting causes high pressure climate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Location of Arid areas

A

Approx close to the 30°

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Tropical climate

A

Rising air from Hadely cells meeting caises low pressure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Tropical loaction

A

Inbetween 30°

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Polar

A

Sinking air from polar cells creates area of high pressure

24
Q

Location of Hadely cell

A

From equator to 30°

25
Q

Loaction of Ferrel cell

A

30° to 60°

26
Q

Location of Polar cells

A

Above 60°

27
Q

Quanternary period

A

Most recent geological period from 2.6 mill years ago to now

28
Q

How long to glacial periods usually last

A

100,000 years (lasr one 15000 years ago).

29
Q

How long do interglacial periods last

A

10,000 years

30
Q

What are orbital changes

A

Ways the Earth moves round the sun:
Stretch
Tilt
Wobble

31
Q

Stretch (eccentricity)

A

Path of the Earth’s orbit from an almost perfect circle to an ellipse and back (every 96000 years)

32
Q

Tilt

A

Earth’s axis tilting at an angle of approx 23° (every 41,000 years) further from the Sun meaning more extreme and pronounced seasons. If it is tilted closer to the Sun less of a difference in seasons

33
Q

Wobble (precession)

A

The axis of Earth wobbles ever 22,000 years

34
Q

Volcanoc activity

A

Dust and particles from erruptions reflect the sun’s rays like in Mount Tambora where there was a year without summer

35
Q

Solar output

A

Every 11 years or longer the sun’s output changes, causing periods where solar output could be reduced like the Mauder Minimum where there was a little ice age

36
Q

Asteroid collisions

A

If one hit the Earth’s surface it could cause dust to rise into the atmosphere reflecting the Sun’s solar radiation

37
Q

Evidence of natural climate change

A

Tree rings
Ice cores
Historical records

38
Q

Tress rings

A

Most tres produce a ring a year showing the climate by its thickness.

39
Q

Ice cores

A

Ice sheets form one layer a year. The ice core contains gases like CO2 so you can see what temp the year was

40
Q

Historical record examples

A

Historical diaries, records and paintings like images of orange vines and warm crops show the medievsl warm period in 900 to 1300 AD or the little ice age in England at 1700 century

41
Q

Wave radiation structure

A

Incoming of short-wave radiation

Outgoing of long-wave radiation (trapped by insulating layer of gasses)

42
Q

How has farming causes climate change

A

Livestock produce methane
Rice paddies emitt methane
Deforestaion of trees

43
Q

How has industry causes climate change

A

Requires lots of energy which is usually fossil fuels
Processes like cement is made of limestone which contains CO2
Industrial waste decays releasing methane

44
Q

Energy

A

Requires fossil fuels

45
Q

Transport

A

Most vechiles run on fossil fuels and as car ownership is rapidly rising from its avordability its increases congestion meaning cars run for longer

46
Q

Evidence of climate change

A

Decline in artic ice
Global temp rise
Sea levels and temp rise
Extreme weather events

47
Q

Declining ice

A

Sea ice froms in temps of -1.8°c. The extents of artic sea ice in winter has decreased by over 3% each decade for 35 years

48
Q

Global temp rise

A

Temps have increases by nearly 1°c since 1880. The top ten warmest years have occured since 2000

49
Q

Sea level and temp rise icreases (0.1°c)

A

Since 1901 sea levels have risen almost 0.2 m from:
Eustatic sea level rise-Warmer temps cause glaciers and ice sheets to melt
Thermal exapnsion- water expands as it gets hotter

50
Q

Extreme weather events

A

Since 1950 there has beens higher frequence of heat waves. In the UK more rainfall records were broken in 2010-2014 than in any decade.

51
Q

What senarios have the IPCC come up with

A

Use projection graphs to predict changes in temp and sea level by 2100

4 senarios

52
Q

Senario 1 Minimum emmissions

A

This is the best outcome, in which levels of greenhouse gases peak then reduce

53
Q

Scenarios 2 + 3- stabalising

A

In which greenhouse gas levels continue to increase but eventually level off

54
Q

Scenario 4- maximum emissions

A

This is worst case where the rate of production of emissions continues to increase in greenhouse gasses

55
Q

What is difficult to predict to create uncertanties

A

Emissions-due to pop change and economic development
Complexity-the exact climate changes like unclear natural processes
Management-what attempts will be made to manage greenhouse gases

GCSE g (10 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions