Geo 5

How does elevation affect temperature in Group B Desert and Steppe climates?

Desert and Steppe climates are colder at higher elevations

Do feedbacks from changes in global climate systems amplify or dampen the response from processes such as climate change?

Feedbacks may amplify or dampen changes

Summarize the differences between global circulation models (GCMs) and weather forecasting models (WFMs) by matching the descriptions to the model type

GCM: Focuses on feedbacks between all four of Earth's spheres and uses large grids and long iterations. WFM: Focuses on atmospheric processes and uses small grids and short iterations

Evaporation from warmer surface waters is predicted to increase during a global warming period, which would increase ___

Humidity

What surfaces are efficient reflectors of insolation, causing an decrease in temperature on Earth or in the atmosphere? (Select all that apply)

Ice, clouds, and aerosols

When aerosols act as condensation nuclei and precipitate, do they release, retain, or absorb latent heat in the atmosphere?

Release latent heat

What observations can be made about effects of climate change between these images of Arctic sea ice in 1979 and 2003?

Sea ice has melted, exposing the darker surfaces of sea and land

Which of the following are direct measurements used to measure climate change? Choose all that apply

Sea-surface temperatures, glacier length and thermometer records

Oceans are capable of retaining vast amounts of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. The feedback, or result of absorbing CO2, ____ the rate of global warming

reduces

Under the Koppen classification system, Group B climates differ with regard to the amount of precipitation they receive; ____ climates receive more than ___ climates

steppe and desert

Vladmir Koppen was a botanist who believed the distribution of vegetation types could be related to the ____ and precipitation of a particular region

temperature

Warmer sea and land temperatures with increased evaporation and release of latent heat due to a global warming period may affect atmospheric stability

True

What three components within the atmosphere can react to form ozone at low altitudes where it can corrode living tissues?

Volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides and sunlight

Snow and ice have high ____, or ability to reflect solar energy, which prevents insolation from warming polar and subpolar regions

albedo

A(n) ___ is the way a system such as the atmosphere responds to changing conditions, such as those caused by climate change. The response either amplifies or dampens the changes to the system

feedback

Air masses descending on the poles from westerlies circumnavigating the globe are cold because they descend on the polar ____

highs

Some pollutants in the atmosphere can react with sunlight, water, or additional contaminants to create ____ pollutants

secondary

Which are the gases below are known to significantly contributed insolation absorbed in the atmosphere or are recognized as greenhouse gases?

Carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides, methane, and water

What is the primary source of sulfur dioxide pollution in the atmosphere

Coal-fired power plants

Polar climates have little precipitation because they are so cold. Which type of air masses limit precipitation in Polar climates?

Cold air masses with low water-vapor capacity

How do the mid-latitude westerlies influence Europe's Marine West Coast (Cfb) climate in unique ways, given Europe's topography?

Mid-latitude westerlies are able to penetrate from the Atlantic deep into the European interior, extending the eastern boundaries of some climates

Earth's orbital variations and the associated climates are affected almost exclusively by the Sun and the ____, with one cycle completed over approximtely 100,000 years

Moon

Temperature and precipitation changes accompanying climate change may affect the distribution of ____

Plant and animal communities

Self-regulating processes are ___ the biosphere causes that help to create a favorable environment in the midst of climate changes

Positive or negative feedbacks

How are climates affected as Earth Rotates around the Sun through the year and the angle of the Sun shifts between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn?

The Sun is high over tropical regions, heating them with consistent intensity and providing nearly consistent day lengths through the year

Which of the following accurately describe the correlation between inferred temperatures and CO2 concentrations over the past 400,000 years? (Chose all that apply)

Changes in temperature and CO2 concentrations are directly related. The most recent data seems a little off the historical trend

What changes could be expected if global warming affected the upper-level atmospheric circulation patterns?

Increased precipitation or drought

Carefully examine the graph displaying atmospheric CO2 readings from Mauna Loa, Hawaii. Are CO2 levels increasing, decreasing, or staying nearly the same?

Increasing

How does the Hadley cell affect subtropical areas that in the Group B Koppen classification system

It brings dry air and high-pressure cells

Cold air, such as polar air masses, has a ____ water-vapor capacity, limiting the amount of precipitation in Polar Group E climates

Low

_____ climates (Csa and Csb) are characterized as pleasant and temperate. They are typically found on the western coasts of continents and have wet winters and warm, dry summers

Mediterranean

What observation can be made about the urban heat island effect in these images of Atlanta, Georgia, in the satellite image on the left and the heat map of surface temperatures on the right?

On the satellite image, gray areas showing buildings register warmer than green areas showing vegetation

Mediterranean Csa and Csb climates owe their pleasant temperatures to _____

Receiving abundant insolation in the subtropics

How do subtropical highs cause wetter climates on the east coasts of continents and drier climates on the west coasts of continents?

Subtropical highs are asymmetrical, sinking on western coasts and rising on eastern coasts

In the U.S., what is the primary source of air polluting nitrogen oxides?

Vehicle emissions

Dynamic ___ is achieved when positive and negative feedbacks reach a point of being relatively balanced

equilibrium

Ocean ___ are temperature cycles in oceans that vary in length from few years to decades and show similar patterns to global temperatures

oscillations

Imagine two places name Alpha or Beta located on different continents, with the same average annual temperatures, same elevation, and with the same amount of annual precipitation; however, the precipitation falls during different seasons in each place. What can be said about the climates of Alpha and Beta?

Alpha and Beta have different climates

Which of the following climates is characterized as being a cool and arid climate found in areas such as the U.S. Great Plains and Tibet?

BSk climates

What climate experiences hot temperatures and precipitation all year with short cold seasons and is located on the eastern coasts of continents?

Cfa

What are some of the reasons to classify climates using a globally uniform scale? (Choose all that apply)

Communicating regional characteristics, creating useful generalizations, and observing broad patterns

How might community distributions of plants and animals alter with the possible temperature and precipitation changes associated with climate change?

Communities may either increase or decrease in population range

Mid-latitude climates in Group D that are primarily located in the Northern Hemisphere and hve year-round precipitation, warm to hot summers, and long cold to severe winters are Dfa and Dfb Humid ___ climates

Continental

Which processes contribute to precipitation in mid-latitude Humid Continental climates throughout the year?

Convective thunderstorms, Flow of Gulf of Mexico moisture and Great Lakes moisture

True or false: Areas with the same average temperature may not have the same climate.

False

The angle of the sun in Polar and Subarctic climates is ____ during the summer, and the Sun is below the horizon during the winter. This results in little sunlight per unit area during the summer, keeping temperatures low and causing darkness all day during the winter

low

Changes to precipitation patterns of rainfall or drought and ____ may result from changes to upper-level circulation patterns

the ease with which cyclones form

It is predicted that atmospheric moisture will increase in the atmosphere if the planet ____

becomes warmer

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has concluded that the temperature of Earth's atmosphere has increased since approximately year ____

1800

What area on the map would be ideal for an agricultural crop requiring a mean temperature around 10 degree C and 500 to 1,500 mm of precipitation a year? (Red zones are above 28 degree C and blues are below 0 degrees C. Annual mean precipitation is marked by black contours and labels

A green zone on the eastern side of the country

_____ is defined as the long-term weather pattern of place including the variability and extremes of weather

Climate

Which mid-latitude climates experience warm to hot summers with long cold to severe winters, precipitation all year, and are located in mostly Northern Hemisphere continental interiors?

Dfa and Dfb

How can the Tropical Rain Forest climate (Af), located near the equator, be described?

Hot temperatures year-round with year-round precipitation

Carefully examine the map. Which areas are contributing the most to sulfur dioxide air pollution?

Locations of coal power plants

Observe the two climographs of Am and Aw tropical climates in Vietnam and Brazil, respectively. Which statement below correctly interprets the effect of the changing position of the ITCZ on the precipitation in the area

The ITCZ is farthest from Vietnam from January to March and farthest from Brazil from July to December

What conclusions can be made about the Atlantic storms shown on this graph corresponding to the most recent period of significant warming?

The frequency of moderate-duration storms is consistent, while the frequency of short-duration storms has increased

What process traps longwave raditation between the atmosphere and the surface to warm the planet?

The greenhouse effect

What happens to the shortwave radiation heat absorbed by aerosols in the atmosphere when the aerosols act as a condensation nuclei, attract water, and eventually form rain?

The heat is released back to the atmosphere

Polar climate temperatures are bitterly cold and often experience continental climate patterns due to the ____

continentality of sea ice

Warming of oceans due to climate change would evaporate more water, releasing more water vapor and beginning a ____ feedback cycle

positive

Some desert and steppe climate areas occur due to their proximity to cold ____ currents, which limit the amount of moisture in the air and promote atmospheric stability

ocean

___ are an indicator of solar activity and correspond with temperature changes on Earth from long ago. More recent temperature changes do not correspond as well

Sun spots

What impacts did the Clean Air Act of 1970 have on the way we monitor air pollution and air quality today and what criteria are monitored

The act has led to improved air quality in the U.S. The act created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The act monitors a family of six aerosols

How are tree proportions in tropical A-type climates indicative of the precipitation patterns in the three tropical subclimates?

Tree size decreases and spacing increases as precipitation changes from all year in Tropical Rain Forests to half of the year in Tropical Savannas

Moist air masses coming from the Atlantic Ocean move across Europe, changing climates from Marine West Coast climates in the west to Humid Continental climates in the east. This is due to less available ___ as air masses move from west to east

precipitation

The subtropical location of desert climates means that ____, and insolation will dramatically heat the surface and create hot temperatures

the noon Sun is high

In a climate change situation in which surface temperatures and upper-level atmospheric temperatures both rise what total effect is expected?

There is no net effect on the system, and it remains stable

True or false: Vast areas of the ocean covered by ice act like continents and force temperatures to remain bitterly cold

True

Global warming is predicted to increase evaporation from warmer surface waters, which would increase humidity and water-vapor capacity, resulting in an increase in ____

precipitation

The process of desertification caused by climate change would mean less ____ and possibly warmer temperatures in an affected region

rain

Comparing weather and climate, a tropical typhoon is a ____ event, whereas increasing ocean temperatures over decades is ___ change

weather and climate

Order the steps of modeling for general circulation models (GCM's) from first at the top to last at the bottom

Data are collected from many sources such as satellites. Data are reviewed for quality obvious errors. Simulations are run for atmosphere variables at each point for a set time in the future. Simulation iterations continue at each data point for times father in the future. Predictions are generated for the future, and results are plotted on a map

What climates experience temperatures below freezing throughout the year or during most of the year and are located at high latitudes?

EF and ET

Compare the differences of weather and climate by matching the pairs below

Weather: Short-term atmospheric conditions including temperature and precipitation. Climate: Long-term patterns including averages, variability and extremes of a place

How do climates change across Eurasia from west to east?

Western climates are mild, central climates have variable temperatures, and eastern climates receive more precipitation than the other climates

What affect does wind have on air pollution?

Wind moves air pollution from its original source

How does spatial location (near oceanic influences or being mid-continent) and day length affect mid-latitude climates?

Winters are cold and long due to short days; summers are warm due to long days; marine climates have less seasonality than continental climates

Does the biosphere, containing living creatures, have the ability to stabilize the environment during climate change?

Yes, the biosphere has self-regulating processes

Match each of the secondary classifications from the Koppen climate classification system to the type of precipitation the climate experiences

F: The climate is wet year-round. S: The climate has a dry summer. W: The climate has a dry winter. M: The climate experiences monsoons.

Compare positive and negative feedbacks by the changes they make to climate systems

Positive feedback: Changes are amplified, causing more changes in the same direction. Negative feedback: Changes are dampened, undoing some or all of the changes

in 1884, Vladmir ___ first published his climate classification system. A version of this same system is the most widely used system in the world today

Koppen

What factors influence climate classification patterns and how they are distributed? Study climate distributions on this map and select the summaries that apply

Location on a continent and proximity to oceanic bodies affect climate. Latitude above, below, or the equator affects climate

What additional factors, beyond those characterized in the Koppen classification system, determine the climate of a region? Select all that apply

Topography, wind directions and pollution

What are the differences in A-type tropical climate precipitation patterns? Match the climate to its precipitation pattern

Tropical Rain Forrest (Af) : The climate receives precipitation year-round. Tropical Monsoon (Am) : The climate receives precipitation seasonally. Tropical Savanna (Aw): The climate receives precipitation for half the year

Computer models used to analyze atmospheric conditions are called general ___ models

circulation

Individual storms, such as hurricanes, may last longer and be more intense due to global warming as ___ will provide more moisture and energy for the storms

higher SST (sea-surface temperatures)

Higher global temperatures due to global warming would likely cause an increase in the melting of ____

ice

A-type climates experience warm, consistent temperatures throughout the year because ____

of how the Sun interacts with Earth's spinning axis

Humid ____ climates are classified in Group C of the Kopen climate system and are characterized as being hot and wet all year with short or intermittent cold seasons

subtropical

The movement of air pollution is affected by a landscape's ____. as polluted air settles into valleys, is concentrated by mountains, or is dispersed near coastlines

topography

True or False: Very small drops of liquids in steam, such as those derived from sulfur dioxide, contribute to air pollution

true

Global warming predicts that most areas on the planet will get ____. whereas some other regions might get ____

warmer; cooler

Temperate, mid latitude climates that experience moderate temperatures and precipitation and support large amounts of human activity are designated as Group ____ in the Koppen climate classification system

C

What four elements make up the majority of air pollution gases (in compounds)?

Nitrogen, carbon, oxygen and hydrogen

BSh Hot ____climates are one of the hottest but not the most arid. They surround desert and represent a transition from more humid regions

Steppe

When large amounts of concrete and glass replace open space vegetation, what is the resulting effect called

Urban heat island effect

The transition boundary between vegetation and climate types is gradual and is referred to as an

ecotone

Mediterranean climates are temperate due to their location between ____ climates near the equator and ____ climates in higher latitudes

tropical and polar

The area near the equator where trade winds coverage to create tropical climates is called the Intertropical ____ Zone (ITCZ

Convergence

Compare point and non-point of pollution by matching them to their descriptions

Point source: A localized source of pollution. Non-point source: Multiple sources of pollution

Mediterranean climates are located in the subtropics and receive abundant insolation that results in what kind of general temperatures?

Warm temepratures

When observed atmospheric and oceanic temperatures increase compared to a mean global temperature, we call the process ___ warming

global

Steam made of pure water is ____ to gray in color, but the introduction of liquid chemicals and solid particles pollute and turn the steam brown or black

white

Match each of the five categories of climate to its classification in the Koppen climate classification system

A: tropical climates. B: arid climates. C: temperate mid-latitude climates. D: harsh mid-latitude climates. E: polar climates

Arid areas may not receive precipitation because they are downwind or in the rain ____ of a mountain range

Shadow

Polar climates have limited precipitation because they are located ____ precipitation sources

far from

Which mid-latitude climates experience warm to cool summers with cold but not severe winters, abundant moisture all year, and are located on the western coasts of continents?

Cfb and Cfc

What groups in the Koppen climate classification system are mid-latitude climates with moderate temperature swings dominated by oceanic air masses? Most have mild winters and summers, whereas a few have more severe winters. (Select all that apply)

Group D. Group C

Climates with very cold temperatures all year that support trees and occur at high latitudes or very high elevations are ____ (Dfc and Dfd) climates

subarctic

When land is developed with concrete, glass, and other building materials, it becomes warmer than surrounding rural or undeveloped areas. This warming phenomenon is called a(n)____ heat island

urban

Mid-latitude Marine West Coast (Cfb and Cfc) and Humid Continental (Dfa and Dfb) climates receive their precipitation from the mid-latitude ____ (winds)

westerlies

Match the climate factors used to subdivide climates into their main groups with the climate type

A-Tropical: Hot temperatures occur year-round; precipitation occurs either ll year to half the year. B-Arid: Temperatures vary above or below 54 degrees F; precipitation is limited. C-Temperate: Temperates vary and winters are short; precipitation occurs either all year or seasonally. D-Harsh Mid-Latitude: Temperatures vary and winters are severe; precipitation occurs either all year or seasonally. E-Polar : Temperatures are very; precipitation is mostly frozen

What surfaces absorb enough insolation to cause an increase in temperature on Earth or in the atmosphere? (select all that apply)

Aerosols, clouds, land and oceans

What effects does the Sun angle have on Polar and Subarctic climates during the summer and winter? (Select all that apply.)

Darkness all day during much of the winter. Small amounts of sunlight per unit area during summer

Climates classified in Group B of the Koppen classification system are arid and must have the ability to lose more moisture through potential ____ than they receive in precipitation

Evapotranspiration

In this image of a city, what factors are contributing to, or increasing, the urban heat island effect? (Select all that apply)

Industrial waste heat, paved surfaces, storm drains, and concrete buildings

What kind of climates are designated as Group C climates using the Koppen climate classification system?

Temperate mid-latitude climates

What effects does the ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone) have on precipitation in A-type climates as it shifts north and south of the equator through the year?

The ITCZ stays close to Tropical Rain Forrest climates, where it generates rain all year, and causes fluctuating precipitation for Tropical Monsoon and Tropical Savanna climates

What are some specific ways atmospheric data is used or applied in general circulation models (GCMs)? Select all that apply)

Three-dimensional grids with several vertical levels are used to spatially organize the data. Spectral models are used to convert data into sine and cosine waves to measure inputs of energy, matter, and momentum

Which of the following are proxy evidence used to measure climate change? (Choose all that apply)

Tree ring records and ice core analysis

Air ____ is an assortment of gases, liquids, and solids introduced to the atmosphere by human activities and is considered harmful to living creatures and other aspects of ecosystems

pollution

Which of the following climates experience significant seasonal variations in precipitation, with the majority of their precipitation falling during hot or warm summer months?

Cwa and Cwb

Between the B-type climates, Deserts and Steppes, which is more arid?

Deserts

What two processes lead to peak precipitation in mid-latitude marine climates in October and December?

Distant subtropical highs and warm oceans

How are climate types distributed with increasing latitude? Imagine the Northern Hemisphere, and order the climate types with those closest to the equator at the bottom and those closest to the North Pole at the top

E, D, C, B, A

The hottest and most arid of the B-type arid climates is the BWh Hot _______ climate that extends over large areas of Africa, Australia, and the American Southwest

desert

The ___ effect occurs when longwave radiation is retained between Earth's surface and the atmosphere and keeps the planet warm

greenhouse

What is the name for the processes involved in global climate changes of temperature, precipitation quantities and patterns, wind directions, or other climate indicators?

Climate change

What spatial distribution patterns are observable in this map of climate classifications? Select all that apply

Climates are distributed by lines of latitude. Climate types generally repeat north and south of the equator. Oceans and landmasses affect climate distribution

How do topographic features such as coastlines and mountains affect air pollution? (select all that apply)

Coastlines cause air pollution to move away from the source due to offshore winds and water-land transitions. Mountain trap pollution the wind has blown against them

Where on a large continent would arid (Group B) climate regions be found if their formation were due to a lack of oceanic moisture sources?

Continental interior

A cooler but very arid climate in the B-type climates is the BWk ____ Desert climate that is found in places such as southern Mongolia and near cold ocean currents

cold

What climate impacts, besides heating, do urban heat islands create?

Reduction of humidity in non-arid environments, changes to wind speeds and directions, and changes to the spatial distribution and quantities of precipitation

What are two positive feedbacks associated with warming of Earth's ice and permafrost?

High albedo ice is replaced with low albedo water that will absorb more heat. Warming of permafrost releases methane, which traps longwave radiation

How does high albedo affect Polar climate temperatures

High albedo reflects the majority of insolation, sending it back to space without raising the temperature

High-latitude climates, near the poles, that have ice or are at freezing temperatures most or all year are ____ Cap (EF) and _____ (ET) climates

Ice and Tundra

How do Group E Ice Cap and Tundra and Group D Subarctic climates differ? Compare the climates by match them to their characteristics

Ice cap: Cold temperatures, with averages each month below freezing; not capable of supporting trees. Tundra: Cold temperatures, with averages ech month being below 50 degrees F; not capable of supporting trees. Subarctic: Cold temperatures over the year, with very short summers and very long winters; capable of supporting trees

Observing the map of average precipitation pH, what areas are most prone to acid rain? (Select all that apply,)

Industrialized areas, regions with high humidity

How do oceans help the planet stay cool and reduce global warming effects?

Oceans absorb C02

A transitional climate zone located between two other climate types near the equator that has hot temperatures and seasonal precipitation year-round is a(n) ____ climate

Am

Insolation is able to heat land surfaces in Group B Desert climates when ____ because very little of the insolation is absorbed in the atmosphere. Under the same conditions, longwave radiation is lost to space at night, cooling the atmosphere and land surfaces

Atmospheric moisture is low

What is the predicted change to the amount of moisture in the atmosphere due to global warming?

Atmospheric moisture will increase due to more evaporation and atmospheric instability

A climate zone located near the equator that supports grasslands, has warm to hot temperatures, and has precipitation some parts of the year is a(n) ____ climate

Aw

Precipitation in Polar and Subarctic climates is limited by the low water-vapor capacity of cold air masses and because precipitation originates ____

Far away over warmer oceans

How do clouds and atmospheric moisture affect temperatures in desert climates?

Low humidity allows insolation to travel through the atmosphere to the land surface without being absorbed, causing an increase in temperatures

Mid-latitude climates in the D group that are located in Asia, have seasonal precipitation during warm or hot summers and long severe, dry winter are Dwa and Dwb Continental ___ climates

Monsoon

Temperate climates in the C group that receive most of their rainfall during hot or warm summers are the Cwa and Cwb Temperate ____ climates

Monsoon

What three factors are the primary influences on the temperate Mediterranean climates?

Ocean currents, subtropical highs and subtropical latitude

What climate regions or trends can be described on this map of temperatures and precipitation? (Select all that apply) Red colors are warm, whereas blue colors are cold. Black contour lines represent mean annual precipitation in millimeters

Precipitation in the country is related to temperature. The northern region is a cold, wet climate whereas the southern region is a hot and dry climate

What happens to the shortwave portion of insolation when it interacts with air pollution by reflecting, scattering, or being absorbed? Match the correct pairs

Reflect insolation: Shortwave energy is sent back to space, cooling the atmosphere. Scattered insolation: Shortwave energy is sent in many directions, heating the atmosphere and ground. Absorbed insolation: Shortwave energy is contained, heating the atmosphere but not the ground and reducing chances of precipitation

Tiny drops of liquids, such as steam, and small solid particles, such as dust, collecting in the atmosphere contribute to air pollution and are called _____

aerosols