Module 2 Flashcards
Because of its heat capacity the ocean acts as a buffer to prevent…
Large and rapid temperature changes
The orbit of the earth leads to…
Seasonal variations in distribution of incident solar radiation
North Pacific wintertime NH circulation
Aleutian Low
East Pacific High
North Atlantic wintertime NH circulation
Icelandic Low
Azores High
The two atmospheric teleconnection patterns in the Northern Hemisphere
Pacific Northern American (PNA) pattern
North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) pattern
Seasonal variations of heating of earth’s surface due to…
Tilt of the earth axis of rotation and the orbit of the earth around the sun
Surface pressure distribution in the winter
High over land and low over the ocean
Surface pressure distribution in the summer
Low over land and high over the ocean
Storm tracks
Corridors along which storms tend to move in the North Pacific and the North Atlantic
Anomalies
Departures from the mean
Variations in Aleutian Low associated with…
PNA pattern
PNA Index
Amplitude of PNA pattern
The wintertime phase of the PNA pattern is strongly influenced by…
El Niño and La Niña
Positive phase of PNA favored during…
El Niño
Negative phase of PNA favored during…
La Niña
Variations in Icelandic Low and Azores High associated with…
NAO pattern
NAO Index
Amplitude of the NAO pattern
Does the atmosphere or ocean have more mass?
Ocean
Aleutian Low in positive phase of PNA is…
Stronger than the mean
Aleutian Low in negative phase of PNA is…
Weaker than the mean
PNA pattern most active during…
Winter
El Niño’s effect on ocean surface temperatures
Elevated
La Niña’s effect on ocean surface temperatures
Cooler
Positive phase of NAO
Stronger Icelandic Low and Azores High
Negative phase of NAO
Weaker Icelandic Low and Azores High
NAO phase influences transport of…
Saharan dust which contains iron
Positive NAO winters
Evaporation vs Precipitation
Drier: Greenland, Canadian Arctic, southern Europe, the Mediterranean, and parts of Middle East
Wetter: Iceland through Scandanavia
