Unit 2 Flashcards
The upward movement of ocean water toward the surface as a result of diverging currents.
Upwelling
large scale pattern of water circulation.
Gyre
what way do the northern hemisphere gyres move?
clockwise
what way do the southern hemisphere gyres move?
counterclockwise
what are ocean currents driven by?
combination of temperature, gravity, prevailing winds, coriolis effect, and location of continent
The deflection of an object’s path due to the rotation of earth
Coriolis effect
like warm air, what expands and rises?
warm water
What are the 5 major gyres?
Indian ocean gyre, North pacific gyre, South pacific gyre, North Atlantic Gyre and South Atlantic Gyre.
What does upwelling do?
brings nutrients from the ocean bottom that supports the large populations of producers.
An oceanic circulation pattern that drives the mixing of surface water and deep water.
Thermohaline circulation
Appears to be driven by surface waters that contain unusually large amounts of salt.
Thermohaline circulation
to pack tightly
density
why do we float better on the ocean than on a lake?
Salt water packs more molecules into a space than fresh water.
A layer of atmosphere closest, to the surface of earth, extending approximately 16km.
Troposphere
The layer of the atmosphere above the Troposphere, extending roughly 16 to 50km above the surface of earth. contains the ozone layer.
Stratosphere
The percentage, of incoming sunlight reflecting from a surface
Albedo
Which surface has the higher albedo snow or asphalt?
snow
The average weather that occurs in a given over a long period of time.
Climate
The short-term conditions of the atmosphere in a local area, which include temperature, humidity, precipitation, clouds, and cloud speed.
Weather
How is most of earth’s energy transferred?
Through wind and air currents.
What is the earths axis of rotation?
23.5 degrees
Which one is slightly closer to the sun: North pole or South pole?
North Pole
How does the earth’s axis affect the seasons?
Because the rotation is tilted 23.5 degrees, the latitude that receives the most direct rays of the sun and the most hours of daylight changes throughout the year, causing seasons.
What does arid mean?
dry
What prevents the tropics from being unbearably hot and keeps the rest of the world from freezing etc.?
air currents
The maximum amount of water vapor in the air at a given temperature.
saturation point
the cooling effect of reduced pressure on air as it rises higher in the atmosphere and expands.
Adiabatic cooling
the heating effect of increased pressure on air as it sinks toward the surface of earth and decreases in volume
Adiabatic heating
The release of energy when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into liquid water.
Latent heat release
a convention current in the atmosphere that cycles between the equator and 30 degrees N and 30 degrees S
Hadley cell
The latitude that receives the most intense sunlight, which causes the ascending branches of the two Hadley cells to converge.
Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)
A convection current in the atmosphere, formed by air that rises at 60° N and 60° S and sinks at the poles, 90° N and 90° S.
Polar cell
A convection current in the atmosphere that lies between Hadley cells and polar cells.
Ferrell cell
Global patterns of air movement that are initiated by the unequal heating of Earth.
Atmospheric convection current
A region with conditions found on the leeward side of a mountain range as a result of humid winds from the ocean causing precipitation on the windward side.
Rain shadow
side of the mountains, air rises and cools, and large amounts of water vapor condense to form clouds and precipitation.
Windward side
side of the mountains, cold, dry air descends, warms via adiabatic heating, and causes much drier conditions.
Leeward side
