Wind/Density/Currents/Oceans Flashcards
measures distance from the equator, north to south horizonatal lines
latitude
caused by wind, up to 400 cm deep, affects 10 percent of ocean water, moves 1-2m per second
Surface currents
measures distance from the prime meridian, vertical lines east to west
longitude
0 decrees latitude, recieves the most direct sunlight
equator
0 degrees longitude, is in Greenwich, England
prime meridian
the perceptible natural movement of the air, especially in the form of a current of air blowing from a particular direction.
wind
the pressure within the atmosphere of Earth.
air pressure
make a “square circle”, they transfer heat from the equator toward the poles.
convection currents
an effect whereby a mass moving in a rotating system experiences a force acting perpendicular to the direction of motion and to the axis of rotation.
coriolis effect
cirular patterns of cuurents are called
gyre
Deeper than 1000m
Affect 90% of ocean water
Move SLOWLY (1-2 m/day)
caused by density and gravity
deep currents
At these deep-water formation areas, this exceptionally dense water sinks to the bottom of the ocean, driving what is known as the “global conveyor belt,” a global pattern of circulation within the oceans.
thermohaline circulation
the degree of compactness of a substance.
density
Occurs when pulled up to the surface, bringing nutrients from the ocean floor, contain abundant marine life because of the high amount of nutrients!
upwelling
the amount of salt
salinity
photosynthesizing microscopic organisms that float in sea water), which in turn provide a food source for millions of fish. help produce oxygen
phytoplanktin
what is the fuel that drives wind and ocean currents
heat from the sun
How is heat different from temperature
heat is thermal energy while temperature is kinetic energy
when heat is transferred through a liquid/gas
convection
example of convection
camp fire
when heat is transferred through a medium without changing the medium
conduction
example of conduction
impulses along the nerves
when heat/energy travels as a wave and does not need a medium
radiation
example of raditaion
UV rays
How is heat transferred to the earth
Radiation
what other ways is heat transfered around the earth
convection and conduction
Why do we have day and night
The earth roates around the sun, leaving the sun shining on the part that faces the earth
why do we have seasons
Either the northern or southern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun
Why is the equator warmer than the poles
it recieves the most direct sunlight
what air rises and why
warm because it is less dense
What process explains the movements within hadley, ferrell, and polar cells
atmospheric circulaion
What is wind and how is it created
Wind is the movement of air. Wind is caused by a difference in pressure from one area to another area on the surface of the Earth.
Why does air have different pressures
uneven heating of the earth
how does air always move as wind
wind often moves from areas where it’s colder to areas where it’s warmer
what force influences how wind moves accross a surface
corolis effect
What way does the corolis effect spin in the north/south hempispheres repspectivley
north-cw south-ccw
how do prevailing winds get their names
by the direction they blow from
what are the names of the prevailing winds
trade winds, westerlies, easterlies
what are the names of the convection cells
hadley, ferrell, and polar
an equatorial region of the Atlantic Ocean with calms, sudden storms, and light unpredictable winds.
doldrums
why are surface/deep currents important
important part of the global ocean nutrient and carbon dioxide cycles.
Warm surface waters run out of nutrients and carbon dioxide.
Nutrients are replaced when the water cools and sinks to the bottom.
The world’s food chains depend on the cool nutrient-rich waters that support the growth of algae and seaweed.
what causes deep currents
density n gravity
what causes surface currents
wind
What two surface currents directly effect the US and what sides
gulf (east) and California (west)
what effects do the surface currents have on the us
gulf - warm california - cold
what is density
mass/volume
how does temperture effect density of ocean waters
cold-more dense
how does salinity effect density of ocean waters
more salt - more dense
what drives thermoaline cirulation
salinity and temperature
how/where does deep/bottom water form
Currents move water towards the N and S pole and it begins to freeze, expelling the salt into the surrounding water (increasing density)
This Very Cold, Very Salty water sinks and begins moving toward the equator
Cold deep water is pulled up to the surface, bringing nutrients from the ocean floor, rising seawater, the upward movement of ocean water
upwelling
what happens in areas or upwelling
Areas of upwelling contain abundant marine life because of the high amount of nutrients! People may fish and predators may hunt
what do phytoplankton need to survive
nutrients
why are phytoplankton important
provide a food source for millions of fish and produce 50-85% of the worlds oxygen
how does upwelling affect phytoplankin
provides nutrients for phytoplanktin
difference between weather and climate
Weather reflects short-term conditions of the atmosphere while climate is the average daily weather for an extended period of time at a certain location
large terristial biome, dominated by coniferious trees, short, cool, humid summers, and long, cold winters with precipitation as snow
taiga or boreal forest
rainfall here is less than 50cm/year. Temperatures ranfe from 0c at night to 45c during the day. air is hot and dry, so it is difficult to retain heat at night
desert
moderate climate with well defined seasons, dominated by deciduous trees. temps range from -30c to 30c, precipitation spread throughout the year (about 25c), precipitation spread evenly throughout the year as rain in summer and snow in winter
temperate forest
only two wet and dry seasons, temperture remains relatively stable throughout the year(25c). high amounts of precipitation as rain. long growing seasons, but soils are nutrient poor
tropical forest
coldest of all biomes. comes from the word treeless plain. it is noted for its extremely loew temperatures (-34-3c), little precipitation, poor nutrients, and short growing seaons
tundra
dominated by grasses and shrubs precipitation is erratic, so drought/forrest fires can occur, preventing trees. can range from very cold winters (-40) to warm summers (20c)
grasslands
What does a climatogram tell us
the climate of an area
what are the driving factors of a locations climate
distence from the equator (latitude), coastlines, and altitudes
