Worlds Climate Systems Flashcards
What is the Hadley cell
At the equator hot moist air rises moves to higher latitudes and sinks
What is the Ferrell cell
At around 60° either side of the equator moist air rises and travels to lower latitudes at around 30° where it sinks along with the air travelling from the equator
What is the polar cell
At 60° north or south of the equator moist air rises and travels to the poles where it sinks
Name the natural causes of climate change
Asteroid collisions
Variations in the earths orbit around the sun
The effects of a volcanic eruption
Changes in solar output (amount of heat energy) of out sun
Why does asteroid collisions effect the climate
Masses of ash and debris would be ejected in to the air which would block the Sun, causing a decrease in global temperatures
How does orbital change (Eccentricity) affect the climate
The orbit around the sun changes from a circle to an oval. This affects how intense the sun is in certain seasons. 1 cycle takes 100,000 years
How does obliquely affect earths climate
Around every 45,000 years the earths axis changes by around 3°
Which affects the contrast between summer and the winter season
How does precession affect the earths climate
Describes the wobble of the earths axis. Affects the length of days
Full cycle takes around 20,000
What is solar output
Is the amount of solar energy that the sun emits which are thought to have an effect on the earths climate
What is the sunspot cycle
It’s an 11 year old cycle where the amount of sunspots on the suns surface varies from minimum to maximum
Minimum = reduced solar out put
Maximum = enhanced solar output
How does volcanic activity affect the earths climate
Large volcanic eruptions can lead to ash in the sky blocking the sun and cause the earths climate to cool down known as the volcanic winter
Name one example of a volcanic winter
1783 in Laki, Iceland temperatures fell by 1°
What is the quaternary period
It’s a geological time period that started 2.6 million years ago and extends into the present
What are ice cores
Scientists use ice cores to detect tempo change
They drill down inside and extract large cylinders (ice cores) at the top is the youngest ice at the bottom is the oldest ice
What are tree rings
Tree rings can be used to reconstruct the climate that those trees growing
Every year a tree ring gains another layer each year they can see if the surrounding of the tree was warmer or colder
Historical sources in finding out past climates
Photos or paintings may illustrate past climates as people drew what they saw
Name human causes of climate change
Burning fossil fuels
Deforestation
Different farming methods, which release methane
What is the greenhouse effect
It’s a natural process where greenhouse gases trap the energy from the sun inside the earths atmosphere which heats the earth
Explain one role of ocean currents
ocean currents regulate global climate, helping to even out the uneven distribution of heat on the earths surface
why do tropical cyclones lose their power over land
they are no longer receiving heat energy and moisture from the ocean, which is needed to drive them.
Explain two reasons why tropical cyclones lose their energy
they go onto land, which cuts them off from the ocean
Friction from passing over the land makes them lose their energy
What do ocean currents do?
They transfer warmer water to colder regions, and colder water to warmer regions
what are ocean currents?
Ocean currents are predictable continuous movements of water in the ocean
Where do high rainfall areas form?
The form in low pressure areas, as hot moist air rises it condenses to form rain clouds. this causes the climate near the equator to be humid and very rainy
Where do dry, arid areas form?
It forms in high pressure areas, clouds do not form here because the air isn’t rising so it is very dry
