Unit 2 - Climate and Population Ecology Flashcards
(90 cards)
What is climate?
The LONG-TERM prevailing weather conditions in an area.
What is weather?
The DAILY conditions of the atmosphere in terms of temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, and moisture.
What is the ultimate source of energy?
The Sun.
Weather or Climate: There are more sunny days per year in Los Angeles than Seattle.
Climate
Weather or Climate: A thunderstorm toppled some trees in my neighborhood last summer.
Weather
Where is sunlight most direct and intense?
The equator.
How does the sun shine light on the poles?
It hits it at an oblique angle, making the light energy more diffuse and less intense.
Why is climate seasonal?
Due to the tilt of the Earth and its annual orbit around the Sun.
On average, solar energy is _____ intense as you move away from the equator.
less
How do rising air masses affect the tropics?
They release water and cause high precipitation.
What do descending air masses do?
They create arid climates, especially near 30° north and south.
What are the different bends of air moving?
It is “bent” to the west when moving towards the equator, and “bent” to the east when moving to the poles.
True or False: Seasons are determined by how close the Earth is to the sun.
False, seasons are determined by the tilt of the Earth’s axis relative to its orbit around the sun.
How are ocean currents created?
Air currents that move water.
Water has a higher _____ than land or air.
specific heat
What is specific heat?
The amount of energy required to raise temperature.
Mountains create _____ effects.
orographic
What are orographic effects?
When air masses are forced to flow over high topography.
Climate is __________ in regions where forests have been cut down.
hotter and drier
What are biotic factors?
The organisms in an environment.
What are abiotic factors?
The physical and chemical properties of an environment.
What is dispersal?
The movement of individuals away from centers of high population density or from their area of origin.
What are the different types of species interactions?
Predation, parasitism, competition, mutualism, and herbivory.
What are biomes determined by?
Climate on land and depth and salinity in water.