Lab Exam 1 (1-4) Flashcards
What is the Aphelion?
Earth is the farthest from the sun on July 1 (N. hemisphere summer)
What is the Perihelion?
Earth is closest to the sun on January 1 (S. hemisphere summer)
What causes variations in temperatures?
Sphericity of the Earth
Tilt of the Earth and its axis as it orbits the sun
Day length
How does sphericity affect the interception of the suns rays?
- it changes the surface area receiving the sun’s energy
2. the amount of atmosphere the sun’s energy must travel through to reach the Earth’s surface
What is a sub solar point?
The point on the Earth that receives the most direct and intense rays of the sun - because the surface area is smaller
How does atmosphere in the Northern and Southern part of the Earth affect temps?
the amount of atmosphere that energy must travel through increases with increase in latitude and the transition from direct to oblique rays
What gives the Earth seasons?
The orbit around the sun
What is axial parallelism?
The tilt of the Earth remains fixed at 23.5*
Changes the length of days considerably with the change in latitude
Does the subsolar point migrate?
Yes, from 23.5* N (Tropic of Cancer) to 23.5*S (Tropic of Capricorn)
What is the Circle of Illumination?
The portion of the Earth receiving solar energy
Formed perpendicularly to the income solar radiation
- during equinox N and S poles receive 12 hours of day and night
- during June solstice N pole gets 24 hours of light
- during December solstice N pole gets 24 hours of dark
When are the Equinox/Solstices?
March 20: Vernal/March Equinox
June 20: June Solstice
September 22: Autumnal Equinox
December 21: December Solstice
What is the difference between the angle and the tilt of the Earth?
The angle stays the same at 23.5* and the tilt is either towards or away from the sun
What is weather?
The immediate conditions of the atmosphere at any specific time or place
What is climate?
The weather of any spot is examined over a longer time span, consistent patterns begin to emerge in the ranges of temperature and precipitation that fall there
- The long term average of recorded weather at a location
- varies continuously throughout history and space
What is a climograph?
Provides information about temp and precipitation
- Useful for the differences in climate of 2 places in terms of warm/cold and wet/dry
- precip = bars
- temps = line
Main factors influencing temps?
Latitude (& insolation)
Elevation
Continentality
What is insolation?
Incoming Solar Radiation
- amount of energy the Earth receives from the sun at the top of the atmosphere
- high latitudes receive less total insolation over the course of a year
Main feature of temp change with increasing latitude?
Related to the gradual increase in month-to-month temperature changes as you move away from the equator
Is there a difference in precipitation at ITCZ and equator?
ITCZ and near equator - receives a great deal of precipitation
- there is a dry period because the ITCZ migrates throughout the year
Describe elevation.
The temperature of the atmosphere cools with increasing elevation (adiabatic lapse rate)
Why does cooling with elevation happen?
Density of air particles near the surface is greater than at higher elevations both due to the Earth’s gravitational pull and the diminishing weight of the atmosphere overhead.
What is continentality?
Water surfaces warm and cool more slowly than land surfaces due to water’s higher specific heat.
What is maritime climates?
A steadier climate because there are bodies of water nearby
What is a continental climate?
More dramatic changes in temps because no body of water to regulate temps
What factors affect precipitation?
Latitude and atmospheric circulation
Converging and subsiding air
Frontal lifting and precipitation
Orographic processes
How does latitude impact precipitation?
Because air temps and the ability to hold moisture in vapor form, are in part related to altitude
- cold air generally holds less moisture = less precipitation
What is converging air?
Subsiding - leads to low pressure at the surface and the formation of clouds and precipitation as the air rises, cools, and water vapor condenses
What is subsiding air?
Sinking - occurs around 30* N and S and the poles(because of the cold air condensing particles), causing air to warm as it compresses, which leads to drying, inhibiting the formation of precipitation
What is frontal lifting?
- Happens above deserts
- Particularly in winter months
What causes frontal lifting?
Cold air is typically denser than warm air, warmer air masses tend to override an advancing cold air masses because the cooler air stays near the ground.
- when air is forced to rise, it could and forms clouds and rain
What is orographic lifting?
Occurs when air is forced to rise up and over mountain ranges
- when it cools it holds less water vapor leading to a lower dew point and the formation of precipitation
What is a time series plot?
Displays the variation in a variable such as precipitation over the period of record and helps highlights periods of anomalous weather
- time variable along the X
- interest variable along the Y
What is a biome?
A large terrestrial ecosystem characterized by specific plant communities and formations
Biome boundaries.
- Similar climates have similar biomes but may differ in terms of specific plants there
- identifying a specific boundary between biomes can be difficult
What are ecotones?
Areas between biomes where vegetation types are gradually changing
What is seasonality for biomes?
It isn’t the hot/cold, wet/dry, or vegetation types/patterns, its the timing of the temps.
6 major types of biomes.
Forest - tree dominated with continuous canopy
savanna - mix of trees and grasses
Grassland - dominated by grass
Shrub-land - similar to woody plants that typically do not grow tall
Desert - specific plants with specialized adaptations to survive when water availability is limited during at least some portion of the year
tundra - plants that are typically small with specialized adaptations to short, cool growing seasons
What are the biomes of MN?
Prairie grassland - Southwestern part of state
Deciduous forest - Southeastern part of state
Tall grass apen parkland - Northwestern part of state
Coniferous forest - Northeastern part of state
What is the climate and vegetation of the Coniferous Forest?
- cool and moist
- cold winters and cool summers from arctic air masses
- moisture levels maintained by summer rain and winter snow
What is the climate and vegetation of the Deciduous forest?
- Air of Gulf brings warm summer and humid, sunny days
- Gives a long good growing season
- optimum moisture and sunlight
What is the climate of the Prairie Biome?
- lower rainfall and warmer summer temps than other biomes
Describe the adaptations plants made to Coniferous Forest.
- adapted to cold
- able to live in very thin layer of soil over bedrock
- able to begin photo synthesis right away in spring because of needles
Describe the adaptations plants made to Deciduous Forest.
- leaves drop for winter
- decomposed leaves give nutrients to soil for trees
Describe the adaptations plants made to the Prairie biome.
- plants have massive roots
- if fire or drought kills plants, able to grow easily
What are the advantages of broad-leaf vs. needle-leaf trees in deciduous and coniferous forests?
BROAD-LEAF:
- when fall to ground more nutrients for trees to pick up
- very important to gain these nutrients back in summer
NEEDLE-LEAF:
- able to grow back and start working sooner in spring
- only lose needles every 2-15 years so less energy focused on that
Why are so few trees in prairie biome?
fire, bison, and drought
What natural factors might lead to a lack of trees?
wildflowers and grasses
What is the dominant plant-type in the prairie biome?
underground growing points and plants are able to go dormant during drought periods
What is an ecotone?
A place where a mixture of biomes collide.
What factors other than temp and price do you think could explain potential biome discrepancies?
- location on a global scale - if MN was lower it would be completely different with temps and price
- winds - movement of air masses and pressure systems
