weather and climate Flashcards
what are the 3 atmospheric circulation cells?
Polar cells
Ferrel cells
Hadley cells
What are the smallest circulation cells
polar cells
Where are the polar cells located
polar cells= 90(north pole)-60 degrees latitude
Where are the ferrel cells located
ferrel cells=30-60 N degrees latitude
what happens to the pressure when air is desending
high pressure
Where are the Hadley cells located
0(equator)-30 degrees latitude
what happens to the pressure when air is rising
low pressure
what occurs when air in the poles cools and sink(pressure)
it forms area of high pressure
what occurs when warm air rises at the equator in terms of pressure
low pressure occurs
what occurs when warm air rises at the equator
low pressure occurs
what is the Coriolis effect?
makes storms move in a clockwise direction in the southern hemisphere and anti clockwise in the northern hemisphere
what are jet streams
a fast moving current of air in the upper atmosphere
effect prep
effect temp
define climate
The general or average weather conditions of a certain region, including temperature, rainfall, and wind.
what is high pressure
where dry air descends to the ground (clouds unlikely to form meaning low precipitation levels)
what is prevailing wind?
its the most common wind direction(IN THE UK)
temp of wind and amount of rainfall depend where air has come from
where air comes from defines characteristics of weather
what is altitude
altitude or height above sea level- locations at a higher altitude have colder temps
Temps usually decrease by 1 degree for every 100 metres in altitude.
what are atmospheric circulation cells
cool air SINKS
warm air RISES
state the term for the variation in the tilt of the earths axis
axil tlit
whats axil tilt
changed how much the earth is tilted at its axis
21-23
more th earth is tilted the more exetremem seasons
what is the milankovitch cycle
A theory that describes the effects of the Earth’s movements on its climate.
long term changes to earths orbit+positions
changes in climate
changes how much solar radiation the earth recieves
explain why more heat is recieved at the equator than poles
the earths surface is curved
equator recieves more heat/radiation
sun rays more direct
poles located 90(north poles)