Weather and Climate Flashcards
What factors effect and drive the wind currents?
Uneven heating of the Earth’s surface
Barometer
Measures air pressure
Anemometer
Measures wind speed and direction
Warm Front
Light rain, warmer temps, slight winds
Cold Front
Violent storms, windy and colder temps
Occluded Front
Heavy rains and colder temp
Stationary Front
Lots of rainfall for several days, little to no winds, could be warmer or colder depending on how the front moves
Coriolis Effect
Northern hemisphere to the right, Southern hemisphere to the left
Westerlies
30-60 Degrees, West to East
Trade winds
0-30 degrees, East to West, towards the equator
Polar Easterlies
60-90 degrees, East towards West away from the poles
What causes winds to occur?
Uneven heating of the earth’s surface, rotation of the earth, temperature
What are the doldrums
The doldrums are a belt around the Earth extending approximately five degrees north and south of the equator
Where do the horse latitudes occur?
Around 30 degrees north and south of the equator
What affects ocean currents?
Wind currents, solar heating, Coriolis effect
What do ocean currents transport
Heat, Nutrients, Organisms, Pollution dispersal, Currents also involved with gas exchanges, especially O2 and CO2
What is thermohaline circulation?
Global ocean circulation that is driven by the differences in the density of the sea water which is controlled by temperature and salinity
Upwelling
Movement of deep water to the surface
Downwelling
Movement of surface water down
