Earth Science Chapter 14: Climate

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Study review sheet!!!

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Study the dewpoint sheet and make sure you know how to solve missing variables

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Most recent ice age

10,000 years ago

The shape of Earth's elliptical orbit appears to change, becoming more elliptical, then more circular, over the course of a _____ year cycle

100,000

The angle of the tilt varies from a minimum of ___ to a maximum of _____ every _____ years

22.1º 24.5º 41,000

Angle of the axis tilt now

23.5º

What does this circulation that is driven by a semipermenant high pressure system create?

A cool, dry climate along much of the northwestern coast of South America

Example of the above theory?

A decrease in the angle of the tilted axis might cause a decrease in the temperature difference between winter and summer

Maunder minimum

A period of very low sunspot activity that occurred between 1645 and 1716 and closely corresponded with a cold climatic episode called the "Little Ice Age"

Most meteorological data is gathered where and why?

Airporrts, which cannot operate without up-to-date, accurate weather info

What is the result of glaciers moving this way in the US?

Aparent in the Great Lakes and the Finger Lakes of central New York, which were scoured out as the glaciers retreated

Tropics

Area if earth that receives the most solar radiation, is generally warm year-round, and extends between 23.5º south and 23.5º north of the equator

Temperate zones

Areas of earth that etend between 23.5ª and 66.5º north and south of the equator and have moderate temperatures

Polar zones

Areas of earth where solar radiation strikes at a low angle, resulting in temperatures that are nearly always cold; extend from 66.5º north and south of the equator to the poles

2 subtypes of dry climates

Arid regions or deserts Semi-arid regions or deserts

One of the most significant influences on Earth's climate

Atmosphere

How was the US's climate 50,000 years ago?

Average temps were several degrees cooler The jet stream was probably farther south

Climate

Average weather of a particular area over a long period of time; includes annual variations in temperature and precipitation, which are influenced by latitude, closeness of lakes and oceans, typography, wind patterns, and air masses.

Continental climate

Battlegrouds for clashing tropical and polar air masses Thus, these zones experience rapid and sometimes violent changes in weather Both summer and winter temperatures can be extreme because the influence of polar air masses is strong in winter, while warm tropical air dominates in summer Warm, moist air causes summers to be generally wetter than winters, especially in latitudes that are close to the tropics

Why does the amount of solar radtion received by any one place vary?

Because earth is tilted on its axis, and this affects how suns rays strike earths surface.

Why must we closely examine those activities and work to reduce their environmental impact?

Because global warming appears to be linked to human activities that cause pollution or widespread deforestation

The additional snow in latitudes near the poles would not melt in the summer why?

Because temperatures would be cooler than average. This could result in expanded glacial coverage

Why is the island's average weather conditions, or climate, have maritime tropical characteristics

Because this island is located in an area where maritime tropical (mT) air masses dominate the weather

What did Europe experience at this time?

Bitterly cold winters and below normal temperatures year round; Londoners could ice skate in June

Volcanic dust can remain suspended in the atmosphere for several years, doing what?

Blocking incoming solar radiation and thus lowering global temperatures

How can individuals combat global warming?

By conseving energy, which in tern reduces the consumption of fossil fuels

While normals offer valuable information, they must be used with?

Caution

What else are climatic changes triggered by?

Changes in Earth's axis and orbit

Why do climatic normals based on airport data differ quite a lot from actual weather conditions in nearby cities?

Changes in elevation and other factors like proximity to large bodies of water that can cause climates to vary.

Air masses affect what?

Climate

Reasons for weather differing across the nation

Climatic variations including: Latitude Topography Closeness of lakes and oceans Vailability of moisture Global wind patterns Ocean currents Air masses

Tropical climates

Constant high temperatures 600 cm of rain annually Heat 🔥 + rain ☔️ = tropical rain forests, which have some of the most dramatic vegetation on Earth Always under the influence of maritime tropical air

Some scientists theorize that periods of high volcanic activity causes what?

Cool climatic periods

Are mountain climates cooler or warmer than those at sea level

Cooler

Dry climates

Cover about 30% of Earth's land areas Largest climatic zone Most of the world's deserts (Sahara, Gobi, Australian) are dry Continental tropical air dominates Low precipitation Scarce vegetation Near the tropics Intense amounts of solar radiation means high rates of evaporation nd few clouds Moisture deficit

Temperaturesin the lower atmosphere generally ___ with altitude

Decrease

Weather conditions on any given day might...

Differ widely from normals

Koeppen classification system

Divides climates into 5 basic types, based on the mean monthly values of temperature and precipitation and types of vegetation

Marine coast climates

Dominated by the constant inland flow of air off the ocean, which creates mild winters and cool summers with abundant precipitation throughout the year In San Francisco, CA

Deforestation and CO2

During photosynthesis, vegetation removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When the trees are cut down, rate of photosynthesis are reduced and more carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere. Many scientists hypothesize that deforestation intensifies global warming trends

What happens when the orbit elongates?

Earth passes closer to the sun, and temperatures become warmer than normal

What happens when the orbit becomes more circular?

Earthis farther fromt he Sun and temperaturers dip below average

The end of El Nino

Eventually, the South Pacific high pressure system becomes reestablished and El Nino weakens, but not bfore it causes the climatic effects like droughts or floods. The warm water moves back across the Pacific Ocean, and conditions along the South AMerican coast cool off

What did English astronomer E. W. Maunder provide in 1893?

Evidence of a possible link between solar activity and Earth's climate

What is the end result?

Extensive property damage and untold human suffering

What does this positive effect result in?

Fewer hurricanes in that reggion for the duration of El Nino.

Polar climate variation

Found at high elevtions Includes parts of the Andes mountains of South America near the equator. The intense solar radiation found such equatorial regions is offset by the decrease in temperature that occurs with altitude

The existence of sunsport cycles lasting about 11 years had been recognized since the days of?

Galileo

What does the sudden presence of this warm water heat do?

Heats up the air near the surface of the water

Climatic changes occurred long before...?

Humans came onto the scene

3 mild climate subtypes

Humid subtropical climates Marine west coast climates Mediterranean climates

Interglacial intervals

Ice ages alternate with warm periods

Mediterranean climates

In Italy and parts of Spain Influenceed by the Mediterranean Sea Summers are warm bc of the lack of cool ocean currents in the Mediterranean Sea in relatively warm water temperatures

Meanwhile, the trade winds and ocean currents move westward across the tropics, keeping warm water where?

In the western pacific

This is especially true where?

In tropical regions, where El Nino's effects are most pronounced

Prime source of atmospheric CO2

Industriall emissions Car exhust Any process that involves the burning of a fossil fuel and results in the release of carbon dioxide and other gases into the atmosphere

Humid subtropical climates

Influenced by the subtropical high pressure systems that are normally found over oceans in the summer In the southeastern US Warm, muggy weather prevails during the warmer months and dry, cool conditions predominate during the winter

What do scientists theorize?

It's posible to increase or decrease the amount of atmospheric greenhouse gases, particularly CO2

For this reason, deserts are common on the _____ sides of mountains

Leeward

Microclimate

Localized climate that differs from the surrounding regional climate

Solar radiation strikes the polar zones at a ____angle

Low

The data used to describe an area's climate are compiled from?

Meteorological records

Steppes

More humid than deserts, generally separate arid regions from bordering wet climates

Climates often differ on either side of a _____

Mountain

What affects the climate?

Natural cycles of Earth and the Sun

Greenhouse effect

Natural heating of earths surface by certain atmospheric gases, which helps keep earth warm enough to sustain life.

A good way that Koeppen discovered to distinguish among different climatic zones and example

Natural vegetation. Palm trees don't grow in polar regions

Can either viewpoint be proven or disproven conclusively?

No

During the average human lifetime, do climates appear to change signficantly?

No

In the Southeast Pacific Ocean, atmospheric and coean currents allong the coast of South America normally move____, transporting cold water from the Antarctic region

North

Solar radiation that is not not what does what?

Not reflected by clouds passes freely through the atmosphere. It's then absorbed by Earth's surfce and released as long wavelength radiation. This radiation is absorbed by atmospheric gases then reradiate the stored energy, so that Eart receives energy from 2 sources: the Sun and atmosphere

Normals: what they are and aren't intended to do?

Not: to describe usual weather conditions Are: simply the average values over a long period of time

Leeward side

On the opposite side, the air is dry and warms as it descends

Increase in the greenhouse effect might cause what?

Our planet to be hot, like Venus, which, because of its thick atmosphere, has surface temperatures of 470ºC.

The properties of air masses are also dependent on whether they formed?

Over land or water

Ice ages

Period of extensive glacial coverage, producing long-term climatic changes

What happens if this trned continues?

Poar ice caps might melt Sea level might rise and flood coastal cities Deserts could spread into fertile regions The frequency and severity of storms would increase

What is this theory supported by?

Records over the past century because several large eruptions have been followed by below normal global temperatures. For instance, the ash released during the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatuba in the Philippines rsulted in slightly cooler temperatures around the world the following year

Global warming

Rise in global temperatures, which may be due to increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide from deforestation and burning of fossil fuels a phenomenon related to the greenhouse effect.

Air does what with a mountain?

Rises up one side of a mountain as a result of orographic lifting. The rising air cools, condenses, and drops its moisture.

Wladimir Koeppen

Russian-born German climatologist

What allows the jet stream to shift farther south

Sharp temperature differences in the upper air

Generally, volcanic eruptions appear to have only what type of effects on climate?

Short term

Seasons

Short term period of climatic change caused by regular variations in temperature, hours of daylight, and weather patterns that are due to the tilt of earths axis as it revolves around the sun, causing different areas of earth to receive different amounts of solar radiation.

Water heats up and cools down more ______ than land

Slowly

Air masses have distinct regions of origin, caused primarily by differences in the amount of ______ ______

Solar radiation

Normals

Standard values for a location, including rainfall, wind speed, and temperatures, based on meteorological records compiled for at least 30 years

Convection currents do what?

Strengthen, and the normally cool and dry northwestern coast of South America becomes much warmer and wetter. The increased precipitation pumps large amounts of heat and moisture into the upper level atmosphere, where upper level winds transport the hot, moist air eastward across the tropics

What provides evidence of past climatic changes?

Studies of tree rings, ice-core samples, fossils, and radiocarbon samples

Climatology

Study of Earth's climate in order to understand and predict climate change, based on past and present variations in temperature, precipitaation, wind, and other weather variables

Currently, when do winters occur in the northern hemisphere and when do summers occur?

Summer=when Earth is farthest from the Sun Winter=when Earth is closest to the Sun

What do some scientists hypothesize about ice ages?

That changes in the angle of Earth's tilted axis could cause ice ages

What did Maunder find?

That from 1645 to 1716, sunspot activity was scare to nonexistent

What do studies indicate?

That increased solar activity coincides with warmer-than-normal climates, while periods of low solar activity, liketh Maunder minimum, coincid with cold climatic conditions

What did Koeppen later realize?

That quantitative values would make his system more objective and therefore more scientific. Thus, he revised his sytem to indicate the numerical values of temperature and precipitation

What does mounting evidence indicate?

That the warming trend is a result of increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide

What do scientists theorize about these changes in angle?

That these cause seasons to become more severe

Windward side

The climate on this side (where air rises, cools, condenses, and drops moisture) is usually wet and cool

What do large bodies of water affect?

The climates of coastal areas

In North America, glacier spread from where to where?

The east coast to the west coast and as far south as Indiana

What else can climatic changes be triggered by?

The immense quantities of dust released into the atmosphere during major volcanic eruptions

Increase in the amout of these gases would theoretically result in what?

The increase absorption of radiation

Some scientists hypothesize that these natural changes adequately explain what?

The increased temperatures

The smaller the difference between the difference and the dry bulb...

The more humidity and rain is likely

2 main causes of weather

The movement and interactions of air masses

Normals apply only to?

The specific place where the meteorological data were collected

One positive El Nino effect

The strong upper winds it produces keep tropical disturbances from increasing to hurricane-strength storms in the Atlantic Ocean

This high pressure system and its attendent trade winds weaken drastically, which allow what? Why does this happen

The warm water from the western Pacific to surge eastward toward the South American coast We don't know

What can climatic dta indicate?

The warmest and coldest temperatures ever recorded for a location.

What is responsible for dramatic climatic changes?

This hot, moist air in the upper atmosphere

During the summer in the northern hemisphere, the north pole is what?

Tilted toward the Sun, and this hemisphere experiences long hours of daylight and warm temperatures. At the same time, it is winter in the southern hemisphere. The south pole is tilted away from the Sun, and the southern hemisphere experiences long hours of darkness and cold temperatures. Throughout the year, the seasons are reversed in the north and south hemispheres

Polar climates

To the north of continental climates Coldest regions on Earth Constant cold:temperatures in the warmest month are below 10ºC Generally low precipitation bc cold air holds less moisture than warm air The amount of heat radiated by Earth's surface is too low to produce the strong convection currents needed to release heavy precipitation

Microclimate example

Top of a mountain, where it's colder with increasing elevation

Tropical wet and dry zones

Transition zones that border the rainy tropics north and south of the equator which have distinct dry winter seasons as a result of the occaisional influx of dry continental mair masses. Include savannas

Types of climates (5)

Tropical Dry Mild Continental Polar

Most scientists agree that global warming is occurring: true or false?

True

Ways to conserve energy

Turning off appliances and light when not in use Turning down thermostats int he winter Recycling

Heat islands

Urban area where climate is warmer than in the surrounding countryside due to factors like numerous concrete buildings and asphalt Greater changes in temperature with altitude, which sparks strong convection currents

These changes in Earth's climate were caused by what types of natural events?

Variations in solar activity, changes in Earth's tilt and orbit, and volcanic eruptions

El Niño

Warm ocean current that develops off the western coast of South America and can cause short term climatic changes worldwide

Continental climates 3 subtypes

Warm summer climate Cool summer climate Subarctic climate

Winters would be __ and _______, summers should be ________

Warmer and wetter Cooler

What does this cause?

Weather systems to take a more southerly track, bringing storms to California and the Gulf Coast, which are usually south of the storm tracks

What do they disgaree on?

What causes global warming

What is the amount of radiation Earth receives when its orbit elongates much higher than?

When its orbit is not circular

This type of info + comparisons between recent conditions and long term averages can be used by companies to decide what?

Where to locate new facilities and by people who have medical conditions that require them to live in certain climates

What happens when the axis tilts toward Vega?

Winter will occur in the northern hemisphere when Earth is farthest from the Sun and summer when it is closest to the Sun. This will cause warmer summers and colder winters than those we now experience

What does Earth do on iits axis?

Wobbles

Without the greenhouse effect, life as we know it... what would earth be like?

Wouldn't exist on Earth Like mars, cold and with a very thin atmosphere and surface temperatures that go below -90º C

Are climates in a constant state of change?

Yes

Have temperatures worldwide continuted to increase?

Yes

The effects of hot, moist upper air spread farther east, bringing what to what?

stormy weather to areas that are normally dry and drought conditions to areas that are normally wet

Avrage weather conditions in and near regions of air mass formation are fairly similar to?

those exhibited by the air masses themselves

Many coastal regions are _____________________________ than inland areas of similar latitude

warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer

Because of Earth's wobbling, the axis will do what?

will tilt toward another star, Vega, by about the year 14,000


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