Units: 5.1-5.3 Flashcards
TRADEWINDS occur along the equator and carry COOL air from the NORTHEAST to the SOUTHWEST; _________
Latitude is 0 degrees to 30 degrees.
WESTERLIES occur at the mid-latitudes and carry WARM air from the SOUTHWEST to the NORTHEAST;
Latitude 30 degrees to 60 degrees
POLAR EASTERLIES occur at the north and south poles carries LOW COLD AIR from the NORTHEAST to the SOUTHWEST;
Latitude 60 degrees to 90 degrees
A volume of air defined by its temperature, location, and water vapor content.
Air Mass
moist, over the ocean
m (maritime)
dry, over the land
c (continental)
Warm air
T (Tropical)
Cold air
P (Polar)
Coldest air
A (Arctic)
Boundaries between two air masses of different temperature
Weather Fronts
Occur when warm air replaces cold air. Rises creating smell clouds and light rain. Move much slower than cold fronts.
Warm Fronts
Occur when cold air replaces warm air. Move much faster than warm, causes the warm air to rise vertically. Heavy clouds and thunderstorms.
Cold Air
Occur when a cold front over takes a warm front.
Occluded Front
Occurs when a cold front meets a warm front, but there is not foward movement (“standing still”).
Stationary Front
Can be also be used to predict weather patterns.
Air Pressure
Good weather, Low humidity, Lows clouds, NO precipitation.
High Pressure System
Bad weather, High humidity, Many clouds, Rain, Snow, or cyclones.
Low Pressure System
A measurement of thermal heat
Temperature
The transfer of thermal energy between objects.
Heat
Transfer of heat through flowing particles. Ex; circulation in the mantle.
Convection
The amount of a substance by 1 degree Celsius
Heat Capacity
The ability to resist temp. changes
Thermal Inertia
What causes differential heating of the Earth?
Due to the Earth’s tilt 23.5 degrees we have differential heating of the Earth.
How does differential heating affect the Earth? Give details.
It affects the Earth by causing all the season through where the Earth tilts.
A gas layer composed of 3 oxygen atoms
Ozone
When the atmosphere absorbs solar energy and radiates the heat back to Earth’s surface.
Greenhouse Effect
The increase in Earth’s avg. temp. caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases.
Global Warming
What factors affect climate?
Distance from the sea/ Ocean currents/ El Nino/ Phenomenon/ Distance from the equator etc. all affect climate.
Explain what El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and what it causes?
~Definition= A shift in the tradewinds bringing warm water from the west Pacific to the east.
~Causes= High pressure and drought in the west and low pressure and flooding in the east.
Seasonal wind pattern changes caused by temp. difference between the land and sea.
Monsoon
Large, rotating storm systems
Cyclone
Cyclones rotate ______ in the North Hemisphere and ______ in the South Hemisphere.
counterclockwise in North Hemisphere and clockwise in South Hemisphere
Thrive on cold air, create Nor’easters (snow)
Mid-Latitude Cyclones
Thrive on warm air, can strengthen to become typhoons (pacific) or hurricanes (Atlantic)
Tropical Cyclones
Cluster of organized thunderstorms/ Given a #, not named yet/ 38 mph or less.
Tropical Depression
More organized than tropical depression/ Given a name (alphabetically)/ 39-73 mph
Tropical Storm
Clear, no clouds, warm winds that are spiraling up and about, cool winds that are descending and the safest place to be?
Eye
Clouds, stormy weather, warm winds that decrease speed as they are further from the eye wall.
Wind Bands
Clouds, violent storms, warm winds that are spirling at their strongest capacity.
Eye Wall
