Oceans and Climate Flashcards
The fluid movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
Wind
This drives air currents because of differences in air density and temperature
Convection
Differences in air pressure are caused by
unequal heating of the atmosphere
An increased cooling that a wind can cause
wind-chill factor
These blow over short distances, and are caused by unequal heating of Earth’s surface within a small area
Local winds
Winds that blow FROM an ocean or a lake and is caused by unequal heating along the shore of a body of water
Sea breeze
The flow of air FROM the land over a body of water
Land breeze
Winds that blow steadily from specific directions over a large area
Global winds
Warm air rises at the equator (less dense air) and cool air sinks at the poles (more dense air). This difference in air pressure is what drives winds to blow from the poles to the equator and this is called
Global convection currents
Earth’s rotation causes winds to travel in a curved pattern from west to east. This is called
The Coriolis Effect
horse latitudes and doldrums
Calm air
Bands of high speed winds 10 km above Earth’s surface. They travel from west to east.
Jet stream
What percentage (approximately) of the Earth’s surface is covered with water?
70%
Which heats up faster, water or land?
land
Differences in temperature of air above land and water causes _________ and __________.
wind and weather
What type of energy is transferred between the ocean and the atmosphere ?
thermal energy
Ocean currents in the Northern Hemisphere travel in a ________________ pattern.
clockwise
Ocean currents in the Southern Hemisphere travel in a _______________ pattern.
counter-clockwise
They occur in the open ocean and are powered by wind from all over the globe. Ex: Gulf Stream
Surface ocean currents
They occur at depths deeper than 100m. Ex: West Australian Current
Deep ocean currents
The transfer of heat by the movement of air or fluid is
convection
A powerful surface current in the Atlantic Ocean that helps warm Europe
The Gulf Stream
The large scale movement of warm and cold currents all over the world
The Great Conveyor Belt
The average year after year conditions of temperature, precipitation, winds, and clouds in an area.
Climate
Name 3 temperature zones on Earth
Tropical zone, polar zone, temperate zones
In the case of high mountains, which is more important in determining climate: altitude or latitude?
altitude
A short term climate change. Warm water event in the western Pacific Ocean. It brings heavy rains or droughts and happens every 2 - 7 years.
El Nino
A short term climate change. Surface water in the eastern Pacific are colder than normal. It brings colder than normal winters and greater precipitation to the pacific northwest and central US
La Nina
A climate defined by flat, treeless land, with very little precipitation surrounding the Artic Ocean
tundra
A climate defined by evergreen forests called taiga cover the lands, especially in Canada and Russia. Although the summers are short and cool, the winters are always very cold.
subartic
The winds over the warm ocean moderate the temperatures and keep them relatively
constant. Parts of the west coast of the United States and Canada and most of Western Europe experience this climate. Lots of fog and precipitation
marine west coast
A climate that receives less than ten inches of rain per year. High temperatures during the day. At night, temperatures drop because the dry air cannot hold
heat well.
deserts
A climate that is always hot, with an average temperature of 80°F. The days begin sunny but by afternoon have clouded up, and rain falls
almost daily. This climate is found in Central and South America as well as Africa and Southwest Asia.
tropical wet
