Weather and Climate Flashcards
What is Weather?
Temporary behavior of atmosphere (what’s going on at any certain time)
Small geographic area
Can change rapidly
The study of weather is?
meteorology
What is Climate?
Long-term behavior of atmosphere (100+ years)
Large geographic area
Very slow to change
Polar.
90o - 60o latitude
Cool summers, cold year-round
Dry
Temperate.
60o-30o latitude
True Seasons
Variety of climate patterns
Moderate precipitation (rain/snow)
Tropical.
30o - equator
No winter, warm year-round
High temp, rainfall, humidity
What Factors Affect Weather & Climate?
The Sun
The Water Cycle
The Gravity
The Ocean
How Does the Sun Affect Weather?
It warms the land & ocean surfaces
Those surfaces warm the atmosphere
It creates climate zones
It affects weather patterns
How does the atmosphere affect weather?
The atmosphere is a mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth
Has five different layers; each has different properties
Air Temperature and Pressure change with altitude
Weather occurs in the layer closest to Earth (troposphere)
What is the layer of Earth’s atmosphere from us to space?
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Ionosphere
Exosphere
Air Masses.
body of air with a certain temperature and moisture level
Can be warm or cold
Can contain a lot of moisture or not a lot of moisture
Fronts.
= places where air masses meet
What are the four types of fronts?
Cold
Warm
Stationary
Occluded
Air pressure is measured with a
Barometer
Winds.
created from differences in air pressure.
