climate
how does latitude affect climate
Earth receives different amounts of solar radiation at different latitudes
what is the Koppen classification system
a classification system for climates that is based on the average monthly values of temperature and precipitation and takes into account the distinct vegetation found in different climates
what is a microclimate
a localized climate in a small area that differs from the main regional climate
what is a heat island
a microclimate of higher temperature caused by a large amount of asphalt and concrete buildings
how is climate for a particular area classified
according to average monthly values of temperature and precipitation relative to distinct types of natural vegetation
what do ice cores contain
air bubbles, distant pollen, volcanic ash, and other chemicals
name the consequences of global warming
altered weather patterns, greater extremes of weather, sea-level rise, disruptions to wildlife, and greater spread of infectious diseases
how long do sunspot cycles last
approximately 11 years
name three causes of increased greenhouse gases
burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and agricultural practices
how is climate for a region determined
by annual averages and variations of temperature, precipitation, wind and other weather variables
what gases are released from burning fossil fuels
carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide
what are the natural causes of climate change
changes in solar activity, Earth's orbit/tilt/wobble, and volcanic activity
what causes seasons
changes in the amount of solar radiation an area receives as Earth revolves around the sun
how do changes in the Earth's tilt affect climate
changes in the angle of the tilt affect the seasons
what is La Nina
colder water off the coast of South America
what type of data is used to describe an area's climate
daily high and low temperatures, amounts of rainfall, wind speed and direction, humidity and air pressure
what did Wladimir Koppen do
developed a system of climate classification in 1918
what are the primary causes that climate conditions vary from place to place
differences in latitude, topography, and air masses
what type of climate zone is the largest
dry climates; they cover over 30 percent of the Earth's land area
how do you determine the normals of climate for a location
find the average for a period of at least 30 years -- could be monthly or annual average
when was the Little Ice Age
from 1500 to 1850
what is the cause of the current period of global warming
human activities that increase the greenhouse effect
what type of climate in the southeastern US
humid subtropical (warm and muggy in summer and dry and cool in winter)
what are three types of mild climate
humid subtropical, marine west coast, Mediterranean
what long term events can change climate
ice ages, interglacial intervals
name some techniques for studying climate
ice cores, tree rings, fossils, and radioactive samples
where do you find highland climates
in high elevations on mountains
how does volcanic activity change the climate
major volcanic eruptions send large quantities of aerosols into the atmosphere that can block incoming solar radiation and lower global temperature
where do climatologists find the data to describe a region's climate
meteorological records from airport weather stations
do normals describe the usual weather conditi0ns for an area
no, normals are the average values over a long period of time
what short-term events can change climate
seasons, El Nino/La Nina
What are two types of dry climates
semi arid (more humid) and arid
how does the Earth's tilt change
the angle of incline of Earth's axis changes from 22.1 degrees to 24.5 degrees on a 41,000 year cycle
when did our current climate era begin
10,000 years ago
who was Louis Agassiz
the first person to scientifically propose that Earth had undergone an Ice Age in the past based on the presence of erratic rocks in the Jura Mountains (1837)
what was the Wisconsin Glacial Episode
the last major advance of continental glaciers in North America
what is climate
the long-term average of varieations in weather for a particular area
what is Precession
the slow wobble of Earth as it rotates on its axis on a 26,000 year cycle
what is eccentricity
the stretching of Earth's orbit on a 100,000 year cycle
what is climatology
the study of the Earth's climate and the factors that affect past, present and future climatic changes
how does the Earth's wobble affect climate
the wobble changes where the axis of the Earth points; when that direction changes, the timing of the seasons will change
how do air masses affect climate
through global wind patterns and ocean currents
what are three types of polar climate
tundra, ice cap and highland
what are three types of continental climate
warm summer, cool summer, and subarctic
what is El Nino
warmer water off the coast of South America
how does topography affect climate
water heats up and cools down more slowly than land so large bodies of water affect the climates of coastal areas; and mountains can alter the flow of air and affect precipitation patterns
how does the Earth's orbit cause climate change
when the Earth's orbit gets longer (more elliptical), Earth travels for part of the year in a path closer to the sun and the global temperatures increase; the opposite happens when Earth's orbit is more circular
what characterizes a tropical climate
year-round high temperatures; can also be wet