Seasons Waves and Currents Quiz Flashcards
insolation
heat intensity from the sun
what two factors change the angles of the sun’s rays on the earth, and in turn solar intensity, the length of a day, and seasons
the earth’s orbit of the sun and its tilt
solstice
when north or south hemisphere is maximally tilted towards the sun
what months do solstices occur in
june and december
equinox
when north and south hemispheres are facing sun eqaully
what months do equinoxes occur in
march and september
5 major lines of latitude
Arctic Circle(65.5 N)
Tropic of Cancer(23.5 N)
Equator( 0 lat.)
Tropic of Capricorn(23.5 S)
Antarctic Circle(66.5 S)
Earth’s axis of rotation is tilted ___ degrees relative to sun’s rays or plane of orbit
23.5
during the summer solstice, the tropic of ____ is the most northern position on planet where the sun can be directly overhead
cancer
during the winter solstice, the tropic of ____ is the most southern position on planet where the sun can be directly overhead
capricorn
the longest day in the northern hemisphere occurs on the ___
the longest day in the southern hemisphere occurs on the ___
summer solstice(June 21)
winter slstice(December 21)
what day of the year does the arctic circle get 24 hours of sun
summer solstice(June 21)
waves transfer in forms of
sound, visible light, radio waves, microwaves, water, etc.
the gravitational potential energy of a water drop turns into ___, which transfers energy in the form of a wave
kinetic energy
wave
any disturbance that transfers energy through matter or empty space
crest, trough, wavelength, amplitude, of a wave
-highest point of a wave
-lowest point of a wave
-distance from two adjacent crests or troughs
-half of distance from trough to crest
wave frequency
number of waves produced in given amount of time
wave period(inverse of wave frequency)
measurement of how much time it takes for a wave to pass a fixed point
wave speed formula
wavelength x frequency
tsunami is unlike a regular wave in that
it holds energy through whole water column(surface to sea floor)
wind-driven waves are generated by
local or distant winds blowing across the water’s surface
tsunamis are generated by
underwater earthquakes, volcano explosion underwater, landslide , meteor impactind
wind driven wave speed
40-90km/h
tsunami speed
up to 10,000km/h
capillary wind waves
small waves with short wavelengths caused by surface tension
breakers
medium to large waves that approach the shoreline, as they approach shore, wavelength decreases so wave height increases, top of wave curls as crest and trough(slowed by friction in shallow water) come together when wave slows
surging breakers
crest remains relatively unbroken, creating low foam, but can have serious effects during storm flooding
spilling breakers
wave will steepen until crest spills, when cont. shelf has gradual slope, white water foam from spills down face of wave
plunging breakers
moderately steep cont. shelf or sudden depth change causes crest to agressively steepen and curls, creating crashing sound, and can have violent impacts
swells
large waves in open ocean with long wavelength, it is measured as 10 ft swell rises 5 feet above sea level
gyers
large ocean circulaition patterns due to global winds
upwelling zones
where winds blow, warm surface water away from a land mass, drawing up colder water from deeper to replace it, also bringing oxygen and nutrients to the surface, making fishing better
thermahaline circulation
connects all the world’s oceans mixing salt, nutrients, and temperature throughout.
