Quest 12/11/23 Flashcards
latitude
distance north and south of the equator
longitude
distance east and south of prime meridian
albedo
percent of incoming sunlight reflected from a surface
tropic of cancer
sunlight rays directly on the tropic of cancer on 6/21, 23 1/2 degrees north
tropic of capricorn
sunlight rays directly on it on 12/21, 23 degrees south
windward
side facing the wind (left side of mountain)
leeward
side not facing the wind (right side of mountain)
adiabatic heating
the heating effect of increased pressure on air as it sinks towards the surface of the Earth and decreases in volume.
orographic lifting
enhances and makes rain/snow harder
coriolis effect
the deflection of an object’s path because of the rotation of the earth
el nino
a reversal of wind and water currents in the south pacific
la nina
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
chinook winds
molecules condensing, increases temperatures, very dry.
troposphere
most dense layer, weather takes place
stratosphere
jet stream and ozone / protects from UV
mesophere
coldest sphere
thermosphere
less dense layer
exosphere
least dense layer (hottest)
latitude is _____. Latitude is measured in ____. Each _____ is equal to __ miles (exact and absolute location)
distance north and south of the equator; degrees; degree; 70
longitude is ____. Longitude is measured in ____. Each ____ is equal to ___ miles. (exact and absolute location)
distance east and west of the prime meridian; degrees; degree; 70 miles.
How does latitude affect warming on Earth?
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%
Layers of the atmosphere
nitrogen: 78%
oxygen: 21%
misc gas: 1%
these gases make earth substantially warmer
Storms in the northern hemisphere rotate ______ while in the southern hemisphere they rotate ______. This is due to the ______
counter clockwise; counter clockwise; coriolis effect
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 _______
long; earth; curve; straight; weather; currents; airplanes
which part of Earth rotates faster?
Equator
Why do storms spin counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere?
The low pressure zones and the fact that it spins faster at the equator (high rotation).
Ocean currents
important factor for global climates that moves warm or colder water across the world (ex: Gulf stream and Alaska Current)
What drives ocean currents?
temperature, gravity, prevailing winds, coriolis, salinity, location of continents
the earth’s surface is warmed ____ by the sun
unevenly