chapter 4 checkpoint quiz
ozone
a pale blue gas composed of molecules made up of 3 oxygen atoms -03 -in stratosphere
stratosphere
above the troposphere -extends from roughly 16 to 50 km -where protective layer floats -JET STREAMS!!!
rain shadow
air is now warm and dry and process arid conditions on the leeward side forming the region
thermohaline circulation
another oceanic circulation that drives the mixing of surface water and deep water -drive by surface waters that contain unusually large amounts of salt
upwelling
as the surface currents separate/diverge from one another, deeper waters rise and replace the water that has moved away
climate
average weather that occurs in a given region over a long period (several decades) -affects distribution of species around the globe
leeward side
cold/dry air travels here and descends and experiences high pressures which causes adiabatic heating
intertropical convergence zone
e area of Earth that receives the most intense sunlight and where the ascending branches of the two Hadley cells converge -NOT FIXED LOCATION but moves N and S of Equator with sun
The El Niño Southern Oscillation
every 3 to 7 years, the interaction of the Earth's atmosphere and ocean cause surface currents in the tropical Pacific Ocean to reverse direction
mangrove
found along tropical and subtropical coasts -contain trees whose roots are submerged in water -salt tolerant and protect coastlines from erosion and storm damage
lakes and ponds
standing water that some is too deep to support emergent vegetation
borreal forest (taiga)
subarctic biome that has cold climate and plant growth is more constrained by temp than precip -coniferous evergreen trees -EXTENSIVELY LODGED
albedo
the % of incoming light that is reflected from surface
weather
the short term conditions of the atmosphere in a local area. These include temperature, humidity, clouds, precipitation, wind speed and atmospheric pressure
exosphere
upper, thin part of the atmosphere
estuary
wetland formed where a river meets the sea -contain a mixture of fresh water and salt water -affected by the rise and fall of ocean tides -shallow
mesosphere
where shooting stars blaze -middle layer, where temp drops
woodlands/shrublands/chappral
-Hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters -common wildfires -12-month growing season, but plant growth is constrained by low precip in summer and by low temperatures in winter
tropical rainforest
-average annual temperatures exceed 20˚C -precip occurs frequently -warm and wet with little temperature variation -more biodiversity
desert
-biome found at 30 N and S with hot temps and extremely dry conditions -ex. Mojave Desert, Sahara, Arabian Desert, etc.
coral
-found in warm shallow waters beyond shoreline -found in water that is poor in nutrients and food
trophosphere
-lower atmosphere, closest to Earth's surface -WEATHER FORMS HERE!!!
temperate seasonal forest
-receive over 1 m (39 inches) of precipitation annually -found in US (MD), Japan, China, etc. -broadleaf deciduous trees
windward
-side facing the wind -air rises and experiences high pressures of adiabatic cooling
Gulf Stream
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