Quest 12/11/23 Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

latitude

A

distance north and south of the equator

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

longitude

A

distance east and south of prime meridian

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

albedo

A

percent of incoming sunlight reflected from a surface

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

tropic of cancer

A

sunlight rays directly on the tropic of cancer on 6/21, 23 1/2 degrees north

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

tropic of capricorn

A

sunlight rays directly on it on 12/21, 23 degrees south

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

windward

A

side facing the wind (left side of mountain)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

leeward

A

side not facing the wind (right side of mountain)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

adiabatic heating

A

the heating effect of increased pressure on air as it sinks towards the surface of the Earth and decreases in volume.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

orographic lifting

A

enhances and makes rain/snow harder

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

coriolis effect

A

the deflection of an object’s path because of the rotation of the earth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

el nino

A

a reversal of wind and water currents in the south pacific

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

la nina

A

trade winds in the south pacific reverse strongly as opposed to an el nino which causes regions that were hot and try to become cooler and wetter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

chinook winds

A

molecules condensing, increases temperatures, very dry.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

troposphere

A

most dense layer, weather takes place

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

stratosphere

A

jet stream and ozone / protects from UV

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

mesophere

A

coldest sphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

thermosphere

A

less dense layer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

exosphere

A

least dense layer (hottest)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

latitude is _____. Latitude is measured in ____. Each _____ is equal to __ miles (exact and absolute location)

A

distance north and south of the equator; degrees; degree; 70

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

longitude is ____. Longitude is measured in ____. Each ____ is equal to ___ miles. (exact and absolute location)

A

distance east and west of the prime meridian; degrees; degree; 70 miles.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

How does latitude affect warming on Earth?

A

1) angle variation at which the rays of the sun strike the earth
2) variation in the amt of surface area over which the sun’s rays are distributed
3) some areas on Earth reflect more solar energy than others- referred to as its albedo
higher albedo= more sunlight reflects = lower absorption
average albedo on earth is 30%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Layers of the atmosphere

A

nitrogen: 78%
oxygen: 21%
misc gas: 1%
these gases make earth substantially warmer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Storms in the northern hemisphere rotate ______ while in the southern hemisphere they rotate ______. This is due to the ______

A

counter clockwise; counter clockwise; coriolis effect

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

the coriolis effect works in ways that makes things travelling ____ distances around the _____ appear to move in a _____ rather than a ______ line. The Coriolis effect affects _____ patterns, ocean ______, and even _______

A

long; earth; curve; straight; weather; currents; airplanes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

which part of Earth rotates faster?

A

Equator

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Why do storms spin counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere?

A

The low pressure zones and the fact that it spins faster at the equator (high rotation).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Ocean currents

A

important factor for global climates that moves warm or colder water across the world (ex: Gulf stream and Alaska Current)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What drives ocean currents?

A

temperature, gravity, prevailing winds, coriolis, salinity, location of continents

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

the earth’s surface is warmed ____ by the sun

A

unevenly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

the ____ absorbs and stores more ____ than the ______

A

ocean; heat; atmosphere

31
Q

The atmosphere moves heat _____, while the ocean moves it _____

A

quickly; slowly

32
Q

At the oceans surface, _____ drive currents

A

winds

33
Q

the “ocean conveyor belt” is also known as the _______

A

thermohaline circulation

34
Q

deeper ocean currents are driven by _______. Mixing and ____ transport _____ rich waters to the surface.

A

Differences in density; upwelling; nutrient

35
Q

An ____ is a circular moving body of water that spins of a main current. They play a major rule in transporting ____ and ______.

A

eddy; heat; nutrients

36
Q

t/f: the mesosphere is the coldest layer of the atmosphere

A

t

37
Q

if you were living in argentina, what would be the “longest” day of sunlight in the calendar year

A

december 21

38
Q

which of the following would have the highest albedo?

A

snow

39
Q

which of the following statements is true?

Earth’s atmosphere is composed of 68% Nitrogen, 31% Oxygen, and 1% miscellaneous gasses.

Earth’s atmosphere is composed of 78% Nitrogen, 25% Oxygen, and 1% miscellaneous gasses.

Earth’s atmosphere is composed of 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, and 1% miscellaneous gasses.

None of the answers listed are correct.

A

Earth’s atmosphere is composed of 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, and 1% miscellaneous gasses.

40
Q

t/f meteors will often burn up in the thermosphere

A

f

41
Q

which layer of the atmosphere would be considered the densest

A

troposphere

42
Q

which layer of the atmosphere is the “ozone layer” a part of

A

stratosphere

43
Q

which area on Earth would you expect to find higher levels of solar energy being absorbed and less being reflected

A

tropical rainforest

44
Q

Earth has an approximate latitude of 42oN. Approximately how many miles is Connecticut located from the Equator?

A

2,940

45
Q

On which day would you expect to find the Sun’s rays directly above the equator?

A

september 21

46
Q

Which of the following is true of a typical El Nino (ENSO) year?

A

upwelling decreases off the coast of Southern America, causing a decrease in fish populations and fishery production

47
Q

Based off history, which climatic pattern is more favorable for hurricane development in the Atlantic Ocean?

El Nino
La Nina

A

La Nina

48
Q

How often on average does an El Nino event occur?

A

typically every 3-7 years

49
Q

On which date during the year would you typically expect an El Nino or La Nina event to really kick in?

A

christmas

50
Q

Which ocean is the most affected by an El Nino or La Nina climatic event?

A

Pacific

51
Q

When did the tuscaloosa storm occur?

A

April 27, 2011

52
Q

What US state did this storm take place?

A

Alabama

53
Q

Adiabatic heating occurs when ____________________________________.

A

air moves to lower altitudes therefore increasing the pressure and decreasing the volume of the air

54
Q

If you were examining the currents found in deep ocean waters, which of the following would affect the currents the most?

A

density/salinity

55
Q

Adiabatic heating is most commonly associated with _______________.

A

chinook winds on the leeward side of a mountain

56
Q

Why are hurricanes uncommon in California?

A

the cold Alaska current impedes hurricane development

57
Q

Cyclones in the northern hemisphere rotate ________________.

A

counter clockwise due to the Coriolis Effect

58
Q

El Nino

A

trade winds bring warmer air and water towards North and South America

-winters lack polar jet, limiting storms in New England
-winters more stormy in Southern US due to southern jet stream

59
Q

La Nina

A

trade winds bring colder air and water towards North and South America

-winters do involve polar jet, but can lack the southern jet
-winters often stormy in the northern US

60
Q

What is latitude?

A

the distance north or south of the equator

61
Q

What causes storms to rotate clockwise in the southern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere?

A

Coriolis Effect

62
Q

t/f Albedo should be very high near a tropical rainforest.

A

f

63
Q

t/f Adiabatic heating is less common during a La Nina event due to a weak polar jet stream.

A

f

64
Q

The sun’s rays are directly above the Tropic of Capricorn. What day of the year is it?

A

dec 21

65
Q

t/r The exosphere is less dense than the thermosphere.

A

t

66
Q

t/f The troposphere is less dense than the thermosphere.

A

f

67
Q

t/f Meteor Crater is located in Arizona and gave scientists insight as to where to begin their investigation as to how the Earth was made.

A

t

68
Q

Which of the following is not true concerning El Nino?

A

El Nino usually occurs every 2-7 years, contains a strong subtropical jet stream which bring above average precipitation to the southern United States and an increase in hurricane development

69
Q

How does latitude affect warming on Earth?

A

changes in the surface area over which the sun’s rays are distributed

70
Q

t/f Orographic lifting would be stronger in Peru than it is in Washington.

A

t

71
Q

What causes the enhanced precipitation rates found on the windward side of a mountain?

A

orographic lifting

72
Q

If you travelled a total of from 240W to 170E, how far did you travel?

A

2,870 miles

73
Q

t/f Nitrogen makes up approximately 72% of the gasses found in Earth’s atmosphere.

A

f