Hazard Earth: Climate Flashcards
What is a Convergent plate boundary?
Tectonic plates to move towards each other.
It is where an oceanic plate needs a continental plate.
The oceanic plate sinks under the continental plate (Subduction).
The huge increase in temperature and pressure forces it to release water.
Explain how atmospheric circulation occurs.
Solar radiation passes through the atmosphere and heats the ground.
As the ground heats up, it warms the air above.
Warm air rises transferring heat to the atmosphere.
Later this cools, becomes denser and sinks towards the Earth.
How is solar radiation distributed towards the Earth?
The Sun hits the Earth at different angles. The Equator is the most concentrated radiation as it is almost at a right angle.
Near the poles, they reach the surface at a lower angle so the same amount of radiation heats a larger surface area.
What is the Coriolis effect?
The Earth rotates so the air does not flow in a straight line.
As the air moves above the surface of the earth, underneath the planets continue to rotate.
Causing the winds to move a curved path.
How does the wind move between the Northern Hemisphere compared to the Southern hemisphere due to the Coriolis effect?
In the Northern hemisphere, winds are deflected to the right.
In the Southern hemisphere, winds are deflected to the left.
Where do Jett streams usually form?
Jett streams can have an impact on air movement.
Jett streams mostly form at the boundaries of the main circulation cells, where there is a significant temperature difference.
How do Jett streams affect the weather?
They can affect movement of other weather systems causing the weather to change for different areas.
What is Oceanic circulation?
Surface ocean currents are driven by the movement of wind across the top of the water, whereas deep ocean currents are driven by water sinking and rising because of temperature change.
What is atmospheric pressure?
Atmospheric pressure is the ‘weight’ of the air and the force this exerts on the ground.
How does high atmospheric pressure affect the climate of an area.
Regular high pressure causes areas to become arid meaning the area receives low average rainfall.
How does low atmospheric pressure affect the climate of an area?
Areas with regular low pressure experience high rainfall totals.
The highest rainfalls are associated with the ITCZ.
What is the ITCZ?
The Intertropical Convergence Zone, or ITCZ, is a band of low pressure around the Earth which generally lies near to the equator.
Why is the ITCZ near the Equator?
Solar radiation is the most intense around the equator causing tropical air to rise quickly.
As the air rises it expands and becomes less dense causing low pressure.
Rising moisture heavy air causes thunder clouds so high rainfall
What is the Milankovitch cycles?
These are natural changes to the Earth’s orbit that affect how much radiation we receive from the sun.
Three types of the cycle:
Eccentricity - Earths eccentric orbit
Axial tilt - Earth’s 23.5 degree tilt
Precession - The Earth wobbles on its axis like a spinning top
What are 3 evidence that prove for natural climate change?
Ice cores
Tree Rings
Historical documents
