midterm 3rd quarter Flashcards
troposphere
lowest, 90% of atmo’s total mass
stratosphere
thin air, lower= extreme cold but gets warmer
mesosphere
coldest
thermosphere
highest temp but doesn’t feel like it because of quick particles
exosphere
outermost
causes of climate change
humans increasing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. often by burning fossil fuels. variations in eccentricity. increased obliquity makes seasons more jurrasic (tilt of earth)
how specific heat affects climate
It takes less energy to change the temperature of land compared to water. This means that land heats and cools more quickly than water and this difference affects the climate of different areas on Earth. … The smaller volume of land however attains higher temperatures.
what is specific heat
amount of heat required for a single unit of mass of a substance to be raised by one degree of temperature.
example of where rain shadow takes place
by washington and idaho
how currents in ocean are formed
can be caused by wind, density differences in water masses caused by temperature and salinity variations, gravity, and events such as earthquakes or storms.
where ocean currents are found
ocean surface and deep water
how hurricanes are formed
begins as a group of thunderstorms over tropic waters, winds going in opposite directions meet and cause storm to spin. turns counterclockwise in northern hemi and clockwise in southern hemi. gets energy from condensation and water vapor. fueled from contact with warm ocean water. moisture is added to warm air by evaporation of ocean. water vapor condenses and releases large amounts of energy. continues to grow
when air masses meet
Image result for what happens when air masses collide
When two different air masses come into contact, they don’t mix. They push against each other along a line called a front. When a warm air mass meets a cold air mass, the warm air rises since it is lighter. At high altitude it cools, and the water vapor it contains condenses.
