Chapter 9: Climate Classification
climographs
- a visual way for climatologists to display climate data from a specific location - temperature and precipitation by month - temperature profile (average temperature yearly) - precipitation falls - obvious wet and dry seasons
thermosphere
- air warms as you go up in this layer - where low earth orbit satellites are - where aurora borialis occurs - creates kinetic energy since gas molecules receive a lot of energy here and vibrate intensely
high pressure system
- anticyclone - H on weather map - known for sunny weather - clockwise in the northern hemisphere - air flows away from this pressure system and flows in a low pressure system - air sinks
meandering streams
- carry mostly suspended load - low gradients - farther down in stream profile - thalweg, cutbank, and point bar - these rivers are characterized by their scrolls, meanders, and sinuosity
E horizon
- clay and soluble material is removed in this zone of eluviation (needleaf forests)
stratosphere
- contains the ozone layer - gets warmer as you go up - jets fly at this level in the atmosphere - protects us from uv radiation (skin cancer) because of the ozone layer
low pressure system
- cyclone - L on weather map - air rises - known for storms and rain - counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere
B climate
- deserts - dry, low & mid latitudes - occur when evapotransipiration exceeds precipitation
longshore drift
- how waves hit the shore - waves don't hit at a 90 degree angle, instead, waves tend to hit the shore at a diagonal angle, but wash back into the ocean straight down due to gravity
unsaturated soil
- no water available for plants which could result in subsidence - dry season
flooded soil
- pores are all filled with water but then there is excess water, which causes the soil to flood and go way above groundwater or water table
A climate
- tropical and rainforest - consistently warm temperatures throughout the year
Tropical monsoon climates
-have a dry season that persists for at least one month. -have high average annual rainfall. -are produced by the movement of the ITCZ. -are most common along tropical coasts.
mesosphere
-meteors burn up here and appear as shooting stars - air cools as you go up this layer in the atmosphere
Arid climate
...
equator
0 degrees latitude - where the ssp is during the spring and fall equinoxes and usually receive the most insolation over the course of a year - day is always 12 hours long no matter the time of the year
hadley cell
0-30 degrees N and S - between the STH and ITCZ - goes with the tradewinds - one for north and one for south hemisphere - cool descending, dry air
tradewinds
0-30 degrees n - northeast 0-30 degrees s -southeast - both flow into the ITCZ because of air flowing into low pressure
criteria used to identify fronts on the surface weather map include:
1) sharp temperature (T) difference over short distance, 2) sharp dew point (Td) difference over short distance, 3) shifts in wind direction, 4) shifts in pressure, 50 cloud and precipitation patterns
What are the 3 factors that influence the global distribution of arid (desert) climate?
1. Subtropical high pressure, 2.rain shadow, 3. distance or influence from large bodies of water.
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has concluded that the temperature of Earth's atmosphere has increased since approximately year ____
1800
tropic of cancer
23.5 degrees North - ssp is during the summer solstice - farthest N the ssp will migrate
tropic of capricorn
23.5 degrees South - ssp is during winter solstice - farthest the ssp will migrate South
subtropical high
25-30 degrees N and S - creates a band of consistent high pressure - dry places (deserts and B climates)
ferrel cell
30 - 60 degrees N and S - associated with the westerlies - middle latitudes - rising warm, moist air
Climographs represent averaged weather data for what duration of time?
30 years
westerlies
30-60 degrees N/S - bottom of ferrel cell creates this primary surface winds of the middle latitudes
If we begin our journey at the coast (0 meters) where it is 26 degrees Celsius, what will the temperate be when we reach the upper limit of the Tierra Fria zone at 3000 meters if we use the ELR?
6.5 degrees Celsius
subpolar low
60 degrees N/S - higher latitude locations are affected by this - associated with the subpolar jet stream
easterlies
60-90 degrees N/S - air pushing south is deflected and these are a result
polar cell
60-90 degrees N/S - easterlies are the surface level winds caused by the upper wind pattern
arctic circle
66.5 degrees North - above this line is at least one 24 hour day of light in June and one 24 day of darkness in December
antarctic circle
66.5 degrees south - below this line will be 24 hours of light in December and 24 hrs of darkness in June
polar high
90 degrees - air is very cold and sinks
polar high
90 degrees N/S - cold and dry air that sinks - air pushes towards the subpolar low once it descends and disperses
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
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
Which location corresponds with a humid subtropical climate type? Please reference Fig. 4.
A. Georgia (lime green Cfa)
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
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
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
Highland climate:
Alpine. Mountain ranges, temperature decrease w/ elevation, high annual precipitation, cold, usually moist climates.
Which of the following statements is true? (select all that apply)
Altitudinal zonation makes it possible to grow many different types of crops Altitudinal zonation strongly influences the plants (and crops) that grow there Plants that grow well in the temperate midlatitudes (e.g. Nebraska) can also thrive in the tropics if grown at higher elevations Elevation plays a major role in a region's climate
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
Polar, characteristics
Arctic tundra. long severe winters, small temp range, continuous permafrost. ex: greenland
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
Consider the climograph in Fig 3. Which month averages the most rainfall?
August
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
Which location corresponds with a hot semi-arid climate type? Please reference Fig. 4.
B. East Brazil (orange BSh)
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
right
Because of the coriolis effect, winds in the northern hemisphere deflect which way?
left
Because of the coriolis effect, winds in the southern hemisphere deflect which way?
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
moderate temperatures
C climate has what type of temperatures?
Which location corresponds with a Mediterranean climate type? Please reference Fig. 4.
C. Italy (yellow Csa)
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 regions are microthermal?
Central and Eastern North America, Eurasia
What climate experiences hot temperatures and precipitation all year with short cold seasons and is located on the eastern coasts of continents?
Cfa
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
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
_____ is defined as the long-term weather pattern of place including the variability and extremes of weather
Climate
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
more air pressure closer to the surface and tons of weight pushing down on you
Closer to the surface means what is the pressure like?
What is the primary source of sulfur dioxide pollution in the atmosphere
Coal-fired power plants
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
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
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
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
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
The area near the equator where trade winds coverage to create tropical climates is called the Intertropical ____ Zone (ITCZ
Convergence
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
Which location corresponds with a hot desert climate type? Please reference Fig. 4.
D. Egypt, Africa (red BWh)
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
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
pore space
Depending on the air and water in soil it determines what?
exist in higher mountain ranges, very cold air all year long, and very moist
Describe H climates
consistently warm temperatures throughout the year and rain forest and tropical wet/dry climate
Describe how an A climate is?
How does elevation affect temperature in Group B Desert and Steppe climates?
Desert and Steppe climates are colder at higher elevations
Between the B-type climates, Deserts and Steppes, which is more arid?
Deserts
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
What two processes lead to peak precipitation in mid-latitude marine climates in October and December?
Distant subtropical highs and warm oceans
Which of the following is true of the Mediterranean climate?
Dry summers and wet winters
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
What climates experience temperatures below freezing throughout the year or during most of the year and are located at high latitudes?
EF and ET
Broadly define where the majority of Tropical climates are located using Fig 1.
Equatorial regions
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
highlands
Example of H climates?
Which location corresponds with a subarctic climate type? Please reference Fig. 4.
F. East Russia (turquoise Dfc)
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.
True or false: Areas with the same average temperature may not have the same climate.
False
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
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
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
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
How can the Tropical Rain Forest climate (Af), located near the equator, be described?
Hot temperatures year-round with year-round precipitation
Which location experiences greater temperature variability over a year?
Houston, Texas
Which location is warmer in the month of August (A)?
Houston, Texas
red and greens mix to form a hook echo
How can you tell on a radar site if you have a tornado?
a metamorphic rock has to melt into magma or lava which then cools into an igneous rock
How do you get from a metamorphic rock to an igneous rock?
a sedimentary rock undergoes heat and pressure to become a metamorphic rock
How do you get from a sedimentary rock to a metamorphic rock?
an igneous rock has to undergo weathering and erosion into sediment which then is compacted and cemented into a sedimentary rock
How do you get from an igneous rock to a sedimentary rock?
if the first digit is 5 or more, then add a 9 to the front, but if the first digit is 4 or less, then add a 10 to the front. Move the decimal point one place to the left, also for the change in pressure
How do you read barometric pressure on a weather map?
top left is air temperature, bottom left is dew point, top right is pressure, bottom right is change in pressure. circle is the cloud cover and the line off the circle is the wind direction and speed
How do you read weather data?
write latitude first then longitude
How do you write latitudes and longitudes?
methane is 25x more potent than carbon dioxide but doesn't stay in the atmosphere as long
How does methane behave in the atmosphere compared to carbon dioxide (exists in atmosphere for roughly 100 years)?
Mediterranean
(C climate) closer to the equator dry summers and wet winters
thermohaline circulation
(oceanic conveyor belt) - vertical currents in the ocean are the result of salinity and temperature and creates a world-wide movement of water
first letter determines the general temperature characteristics second letter determines if precipitation is consistent third letter further divides temperature
How does the koppen classification system classifies?
90
How far can degrees go up to for latitude?
180
How far can degrees go up to for longitude?
60
How many minutes do degrees contain? (')
60
How many seconds do minutes contain when writing latitude then longitude? (")
Evaporation from warmer surface waters is predicted to increase during a global warming period, which would increase ___
Humidity
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
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
higher albedo
If an albedo has more reflectivity than what type of albedo is it?
darker
If ground cover has a lower albedo than what color is the surface?
winter
If it is summer in North America then what type of season is it in Australia?
Which of the following is not true of tropical and subtropical hot desert climates?
In most years, they do not receive any precipitation.
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
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
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 does the Hadley cell affect subtropical areas that in the Group B Koppen classification system
It brings dry air and high-pressure cells
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
favored area of formation for cyclones
Leeside of mountains (Alberta Clipper, Colorado Low) & Coastal areas (Nor'easters - storm of the century, HAtteras Low)
rain shadow effect
Leeward side is dry and gets very little rain - on the leeward side
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
Carefully examine the map. Which areas are contributing the most to sulfur dioxide air pollution?
Locations of coal power plants
Cold air, such as polar air masses, has a ____ water-vapor capacity, limiting the amount of precipitation in Polar Group E climates
Low
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
Which of the following is false regarding the tropical rain forest ecosystems?
Low-growing vegetation is dense to the forest floor.
Global Climates from low to high latitude
Lowest: Tropical Humid , Arid, Mesothermal midlatitude, Microthermal midlatitude, Polar, HIghland (highest) TAMMPH
Which location experiences a near absence of rain during the northern hemisphere winter months (D-M)?
Mangalore, India
_____ 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 type of climate is AA? How many inches of rainfall annually?
Microthermal. 32 inches
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
Mesothermal- mediterranean climate
Moderate temp range, seasonal rainfall, summer dry season. narrow coastal zones. ex: monterey, ca
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
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
What four elements make up the majority of air pollution gases (in compounds)?
Nitrogen, carbon, oxygen and hydrogen
What three factors are the primary influences on the temperate Mediterranean climates?
Ocean currents, subtropical highs and subtropical latitude
How do oceans help the planet stay cool and reduce global warming effects?
Oceans absorb C02
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
Temperature and precipitation changes accompanying climate change may affect the distribution of ____
Plant and animal communities
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
Cold Desert- arid/ semi arid characteristics. ex:
Poleward extension of dry tropical climate but greater temp range. cool season, occasional precipitation, more vegetation than dry tropical. ex: monument valley arizona
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
Self-regulating processes are ___ the biosphere causes that help to create a favorable environment in the midst of climate changes
Positive or negative feedbacks
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
Cold midlatitude steppe
Rainshadow, seasonal range in temperature and small precipitation range. Major mountain ranges- rocky, Himalaya, Mojave desert,
Mediterranean Csa and Csb climates owe their pleasant temperatures to _____
Receiving abundant insolation in the subtropics
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 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
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
5 factors controlling climate
Seasonality, Latitude, Air mass circulation, Maritime/ Continental Relationship, Topography.
Arid areas may not receive precipitation because they are downwind or in the rain ____ of a mountain range
Shadow
continental vs continental, oceanic vs oceanic, continental vs oceanic
Since two plates are involved you may have???
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
STH
Sub tropical high. Arid/ semi arid climate
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
___ 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 kind of climates are designated as Group C climates using the Koppen climate classification system?
Temperate mid-latitude climates
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 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
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
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
stronger deflection to the right in the northern hemisphere farther from the equator
The farther away you get equator what happens to the deflection of wind due to coriolis effect?
plant succession
The first species to move back in are the pioneer species. A biome that has reached its maximum development will display climax vegetation. - after an area is disturbed greatly, plants will move back into the area in a particular order
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
there are less molecules the higher elevations because the pressure is low and the air gets thinner
The higher the altitude, what is the pressure like?
zonal flow
The subpolar jet stream moves west to east with few deviations
The future effects of climate change can be modeled in shifting climate type coverage. Which of the following trends can be observed in the gif above? (select all that apply)
There is a reduction in the amount of land with continental or polar climate types. Generally tropical and temperate climate types will extend to higher latitudes. Depending on human action on greenhouse gas emissions - the actual scenario we experience could be better or worse than that modeled here.
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
B
This climate temperature is desert - occur when evapotranspiration exceeds precipitation - unique that they are the only climates that are not based on temperature first - lack of rainfall but really hot temperatures
H
This climate temperature is highland - exist in higher mountain ranges
C
This climate temperature is mesothermal - moderate temperature changes throughout the year - near water - mid-latitude
D
This climate temperature is microthermal - large range in annual temperatures - more rain during the summer and large fluctuations in temperature
E
This climate temperature is polar - does not follow normal precipitation classifications so the cold air is very dry and cannot hold as much moisture as the warm air
A
This climate temperature is tropical - consistently warm temperatures the entire year - consistent insolation
perhelion
This is when the earth is the closest to the sun (January 3rd)
aphelion
This is when the earth is the farthest from the sun (July 4th)
lower albedo
This type of albedo has less reflectivity
parabolic
This type of sand dune has arms stabilized upwind by vegetation, so they face into the upwind
star
This type of sand dune has multidirectional winds, largest dune grows tall instead of moving
longitudinal
This type of sand dune has opposing winds flowing in similar directions that converge, two slip faces, aligned with the wind
dome
This type of sand dune has small oval dunes with no slip face
barchan
This type of sand dune has strong wind in one direction and a limited amount of sand. Wind pushes the arms downwind
transerve
This type of sand dune has weak wind one direction, large amounts of sand deposited perpendicular to wind - curvy lines of sand
blowouts
This type of sand dune localized deflated basins in partially vegetated landscapes
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
Certain agricultural crops do better in certain altitudinal zones. In which zones does corn grow well? (select all that apply)
Tierra Caliente Tierra Templada Tierra Fria
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
steppes
Transition areas between deserts and other (B climates)
Which of the following are proxy evidence used to measure climate change? (Choose all that apply)
Tree ring records and ice core analysis
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
6 kinds of climate classifications
Tropical Humid, Arid, Mesothermal, Microthermal, Polar, Highland
Unlike the rest of the continental United States, South Florida is mostly classified as Am or ________.
Tropical Monsoon
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
True or false: Vast areas of the ocean covered by ice act like continents and force temperatures to remain bitterly cold
True
Warmer sea and land temperatures with increased evaporation and release of latent heat due to a global warming period may affect atmospheric stability
True
When large amounts of concrete and glass replace open space vegetation, what is the resulting effect called
Urban heat island effect
Characteristics of rain shadow desert
VERY DRY! High elevation, ex: Atacama desert in the Andes
In the U.S., what is the primary source of air polluting nitrogen oxides?
Vehicle emissions
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
Mediterranean climates are located in the subtropics and receive abundant insolation that results in what kind of general temperatures?
Warm temepratures
What are the characteristics of Microthermal climate?
Warm, humid summers, cold winters. large seasonal temperature and daily variation. A lot of precipitation peaking in high summer season with mT air masses. low sun season dominated by cP and cA air masses
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
warm air
What air temperature holds more moisture?
marine west coast, Mediterranean, and humid subtropical
What are examples of C climates?
Humid Continental and subarctic
What are examples of D Climates?
tundra and ice cap
What are examples of E climates?
snow or cumulus cloud
What are examples of ground cover with higher albedos (values are closer to 1.0 or 100%)
the extremes of the year
What are solstices?
climate, organisms, relief, parent material, and time
What are the 5 soil forming factors?
tropical (hot), polar (cold), continental (dry), maritime (wet)
What are the air mass types?
latitude, seasonality, air mass circulation, maritime vs continental, and topography
What are the controls of climate?
latitude, topography, seasonality, air mass circulation, and maritime vs continental
What are the controls of climate?
latitude, topography, seasonality, air mass circulation, and maritime vs. continental location
What are the controls of climate?
dome, barchan, transverse, longitudinal, star, blowouts, and parabolic
What are the different types of sand dunes?
forest, grassland, desert, and tundra
What are the four basic types of biomes?
convergent, divergent, passive, and transform
What are the four different plate boundaries?
convectional, orographic, convergent, and frontal
What are the four main types of uplift that cause precipitation?
troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere
What are the layers of the atmosphere?
riparian zone, vertical zonation, slope and aspect, and succession stage
What are the local and regional affects on plants?
orographic uplift and the rainshadow effect
What are the main cause of mid-latitude deserts?
O, A, E, B, C, R
What are the soil horizons?
igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary
What are the three types of rock in the rock cycle?
subtropical high
What causes low latitude deserts?
rain shadow
What causes mid latitude deserts?
the excess air moving from the higher pressure area to the lower pressure area
What causes wind?
clockwise
What direction does a high pressure spin in the northern hemisphere?
counterclockwise
What direction does the low pressure system spin in the northern hemisphere?
warm water and no wind shear
What do tropical storms need in order to maintain their strength and grow stronger?
earth's tilt is canceled out during spring and summer resulting in 12 hours no matter the latitude
What happens during equinoxes?
tropical
What is a A climate?
deserts
What is a B climate?
mesothermal
What is a C climate?
microthermal
What is a D climate?
polar
What is a E climate?
highlands
What is a H climate?
blacktop, dark soil, and forest
What is an example of ground cover with a lower albedo? (values closer to 0.0 or 0%)
lots of sand
What is course textured soil?
lithosphere, asthenosphere, lower mantle, upper mantle, outer core, and inner core
What is earth's internal structure composed of?
lots of clay
What is fine textured sand?
oceanic crust and continental crust
What is the crust of earth composed of?
solid lithosphere
What is the crust the upper part of?
plateau, mesa, butte, pinnacle
What is the order from largest to smallest of arid landscapes in Utah?
less pressure
What is the pressure like the higher the elevation?
as more carbon dioxide is released, the more the temperatures warm
What is the relationship between carbon dioxide levels and global temperatures?
high, slow, high
What is the water holding capacity, water flow, and nutrient holding capacity fine textured soils?
low, fast, low
What is the water holding capacity, water flow, and nutrient holding capacity of course textured soils?
warm air
What type of air temperature is less dense and rises, decreasing pressure?
cold air
What type of air temperature is more dense and sinks, increasing pressure?
highlands
What type of climate classification is never the right answer in this class?
B climates
What type of climates are not based on temperature? lack of rainfall areas
lighter
What type of color has more reflectivity and a higher albedo?
spheres
What type of shape is less likely to weather?
steep slope
What type of slope means soils will drain faster and be thinner?
polar; cold and very cold all year long
What type of temperature are E climates?
large range in annual temperature
What type of temperatures do D climates have? (require large landmasses and south america doesn't have them)
high abstract shapes and objects with greater surface area
What types of objects are easiest to weather?
spring (march) and fall (september)
When are the equinoxes?
June (summer) and December (winter)
When are the solstices?
Evapotranspiration exceeds precipitation
When do B climates occur?
water melts
When does latent heat absorb?
water freezes
When does latent heat release?
north in summer and south in winter
Where does the ITCZ migrate to in the summer in the Northern Hemisphere and in the Winter?
insolation- more equator less at the poles
Why is latitude a control of climate?
axial tilt affects seasons in hemispheres
Why is seasonality a control of climate?
air going over mountain precipitation on windward vs leeward side
Why is topography a control of climate?
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
Interpret the Am climograph for Miami, FL. Which of the following best describe the expected climate?
Winters are modestly cooler (~10-15 degrees) than summers and precipitation is limited during the winter months.
Does the biosphere, containing living creatures, have the ability to stabilize the environment during climate change?
Yes, the biosphere has self-regulating processes
soil
a combination of minerals, air, water, and organic matter that covers a large portion of the earth - 50% water and air - 50% mineral and organic material
frontal
a moving air mass displacing an existing air mass forces parcels of air to rise
asthenosphere
a nearly solid layer that composes the very top of the upper mantle - liquid enough that the solid lithosphere can float on top of it
polar front
a semi-permanent, semi continuous boundary that separates tropical air masses (cT, mT) from polar air masses (cP, mP)
relative humidity
absolute humidity/maximum humidity x 100% - how full the air is with water (%)
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
orographic
air is forced to rise due to topography
saturated
air is this when the relative humidity is at 100% - when the air temperature is the same as the dew point
will determine the weather and consequently the climate -in middle latitudes, the contrast between cold and dry and warm and moist air masses will produce thunderstorms -in general, determine the temperature and humidity in a region
air masses
saturated
air temperature is the same as the dew point (100% relative humidity)
Snow and ice have high ____, or ability to reflect solar energy, which prevents insolation from warming polar and subpolar regions
albedo
high pressure system
also known as anticyclones marked as a blue H on weather maps clockwise in northern hemisphere cause of the coriolis effect air sinks at the center - associated with fair weather
low pressure system
also known as cyclones marked as a red L on weather maps counterclockwise in northern hemisphere cause of coriolis effect air rises at the center - associated with storminess
lag time
amount of time between peak precipitation and peak runoff - when it rains it takes time for water to reach a river and change discharge (the whole river does not rise at once) - farther downstream from precipitation, the longer the lag time - interested in this for flood mitigation
absolute humidity
amount of water vapor that the air is holding
unconfined aquifer
an aquifer that does not have an aquiclude above it
confined aquifer
an aquifer that is sandwiched in between two aquicludes (or the bedrock)
intertropical convergence zone
an area with constant low pressure systems (and rain) circling the planet near the equator
unsaturated
anything less than 100% rh means the air is this
Tundra climates
are found at both high latitudes and high altitudes.
cyclone
area of low pressure
What are climate zones
areas that are divided by precipitation and temperature
pause
at the top of each layer in the atmosphere there is a cut-off point between the layers (topopause, stratopause, mesopause)
precipitation regime
average precipitation over course of a year. latitude determines air mass influence and seasonality; elevation and topography important
Temperature regime
average temp over the course of a year. latitude determines insolation and seasonality; air mass influence, elevation and topography important
climate
average temperature and precipitation for a location based on records kept over decades
climate
average temperatures and precipitation for a location based on records kept over decades
What is climate?
average weather (temp and precipitation) of a region experienced over several decades
northeast and southeast tradewinds
because air flows into low pressure, what type of wind flows into the ITCZ?
It is predicted that atmospheric moisture will increase in the atmosphere if the planet ____
becomes warmer
R horizon
bedrock
suptropical jet stream
between the hadley and ferrel cells
H climates
big mountain ranges (highlands) - very cold all year long - very moist - lack of rainfall areas (windward/leeward/orographic lifting)
aquifer
body of underground water that has adequate water and is accessible for human use
how are cold fronts denoted?
by blue triangles that point in direction of movement, toward warmer air (the cold dense air usually plows through the warmer, less dense mT air lifting it rapidly)
stream discharge
can be quantified using the continuity equation Q=wdv d= depth v=velocity w= width
carbon sink
carbon can be stored in living things (forests and oceans) and create this, which has no impact on the atmosphere or warming
coriolis effect
caused by the force of Earth's rotation
differential weathering
causes some areas to weather faster than others (such as strength of various strata) -ex: limestone or sandstone is less likely to weather vs shale which is more likely to weather
eustatic changes
change in global sea levels, caused mainly by temperature changes
isostatic change
change in sea level based on rising or falling landmasses
adiabatic processes
changes in temperature that occur due to variations in air pressure cooling = air expands as it rises and air pressure decreases warming = air compresses as it falls and air pressure increases
dominant presence of dry, subsiding air in subtropical high-pressure systems -shifting subtropical high pressure systems, which produce semiarid steppes around the periphery of arid deserts -location along western continental margins with cool, stabilizing ocean currents -location in continental interiors, far from moisture-bearing air masses -location in the rain shadow of mountains, where dry air subsidies after moisture is intercepted on the windward slopes
characteristics of dry, arid and semiarid climates
Computer models used to analyze atmospheric conditions are called general ___ models
circulation
hadley cell
circulation between the STH and ITCZ creates this cell - this cell contains the whole area where air rises at the ITCZ and sinks at the STH - trade winds are associated with this cell - 0 to 30 degrees N/S
process of grouping data or phenomena in related categories
classification
B horizon
clay and soluble material is deposited in this zone of illuviation; color is lighter and clay content is increased
the long-term pattern of temperature, precipitation, and other elements that define weather
climate
the science that studies climate
climatology
Mesothermal Climates
coastal, subtropical to mid latitude.
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
occluded front
cold and warm fronts merge - a pocket of warm air above cold air surface - precipitation occurs
E climates
cold areas (polar) - tundra and ice/snow - don't follow normal precipitation classification systems
Colder location precipitation vs warmer
cold- less annual precipitation than warm, bc warm holds more moisture
cold fronts
colder mass of air pushing into a warmer mass of air forces warm air up causing precipitation - associated with severe storms - fast moving
palynology
collecting and interpreting pollen grains trapped in sediment
biomes
communities of plants and animals that are controlled and maintained by the climate - receive their name from the vegetation you would expect to be growing in a particular area
subtropical high
consistent high pressure and dry weather - main cause of low latitude deserts 25- 30 degrees N/S
intertropical convergence zone
constant low pressure circling the planet near the equator - most insolation causing air to rise (promotes storminess)
-increasing seasonality and greater temp ranges -effects of latitude: summers become cool moving northward,with winters becoming cold to very cold -upper-air westerly winds and undulating Rossby waves bring cyclonic activity and convectional thunderstorms from maritime tropical air masses in summer -continental interiors form intense continental polar air masses and high pressure dominate winter, blocking cyclonic storms; producing the Asian winter-dry pattern
continental (cold winters)
-humid continental hot-summer climates -humid continental mild-summer climates -subarctic climates (cool summers to very cold winters)
continental climate (cont)
continental temperatures ranges compared to coastal
continental has larger annual temperature ranges
Polar climate temperatures are bitterly cold and often experience continental climate patterns due to the ____
continentality of sea ice
Tropical rainforest climates are produced by
converging air near the equator.
under favorable conditions, a low pressure area will begin to form through a process called:
cyclongenesis
Mid latitudes affected by ___ weather patterns
cyclonic
O horizon
dead and decaying plants and animals - completely organic
occluded fronts
denoted by semicircles and triangles which point toward the direction of movement (and toward warmer air)
potential natural vegetation
describes the plant communities that would be present in an area if people never intervened and change which plants were growing there
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
Arid/ semi-arid climates: how much rainfall for deserts? for steppes?
deserts- <10 inches/ year steppe > 10 inches/ year
slope
determines the steepness of a surface, and often the rate of erosion
Polar Front Theory
developed in WWI by Norwegian scientists and characterizes the life cycle of mid-latitude cyclones in association with the polar front
aspect
direction the slope is facng
What defines a hot desert?
dominated by STH cells, v low precipitation, intense daytime heating under clear skies. ex: Nile valley
rain-green vegetation
dormant during dry season, productive during wet season. Tropical savanna
cold and saltier water
downward movement of thermohaline circulation means what?
south facing slope
drier because of its aspect faces the sun adret - facing the sun
desert
drier of the two types (B climate)
ice cores
drilled out of glaciers that have accumulated compressed layers of ice over long periods of time. air trapped in ice stores a record of past atmospheric conditions - can study the gas bubbles trapped in the ice because they contained a bit of atmosphere to predict past climates
-cover broad regions between 15° and 30° N and S latitudes -in these areas, subtropical high-pressure cells predominate, with subsiding, stable air and low relative humidity -orographic lifting intercepts moisture-bearing weather systems to create rain shadows along mountain ranges that extend these dry regions into higher latitudes -subdivided into deserts and steppes (both have permanent water shortages, but deserts have greater moisture deficits than steppes.
dry climates
subtropical high pressure cells characteristics
dry, descending air
milankovitch theory
earth's motion can change over time in three ways: eccentricity, tilt, and precession which is of the earth's rotational axis
polar cell
easterlies are the surface level winds caused by the upper wind pattern in this cell - 60 to 90 degrees N/S
The transition boundary between vegetation and climate types is gradual and is referred to as an
ecotone
-solar radiation -topography -air masses -ocean currents -pressure systems
elements of climate
What is the condition of outside air at a certain time and place?
elements of weather
a climate classification based on statistical data such as temperature and precipitation
empirical classification
saturated soil
enough water available for plants and is the groundwater zone - all pores are completely filled with water
Dynamic ___ is achieved when positive and negative feedbacks reach a point of being relatively balanced
equilibrium
dry, low, and mid latitudes
examples of B climates?
headlands
exposed areas of the coast that jut out into the ocean. they absorb most of the erosive action caused by waves. an erosional coastal feature.
Polar climates have limited precipitation because they are located ____ precipitation sources
far from
typical characteristics of cold fronts
fast movement, steep slopes, convective cloud sequence
cold front
fast moving and can create violent lines of thunderstorms and cause temperature to drop rapidly with their passage - they force existing air masses to rise quickly
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
The temperature curve on the climograph of a tropical rainforest climate will typically
fluctuate only slightly around 80 °F during the year.
pressure continues to fall, resulting in a closed counterclockwise circulation that advects warm air north and cold air south generating fronts through
frontogenesis
most mid-latitude cyclones have...
fronts extending from them
mid latitude cyclones
generally call "storms" - these low pressure areas drag their fronts along with them - form where cold and warm air compete - sub-polar jet stream guides mid-latitude cyclones from west to east across the country - also know as a low pressure system - the counterclockwise winds around these cyclones pulls warmer air from the south to the east of the low and colder air from the north on the west side of the low (only in the northern hemisphere)
a climate classification based on causative factors
genetic classification
movement is greatest in the top center of the glaciers like rivers and their is less drag and resistance
glacier movement
When observed atmospheric and oceanic temperatures increase compared to a mean global temperature, we call the process ___ warming
global
loam
good mix of all sizes of soil
Climograph
graphical representation of climate that shows average annual temperature (line) and precipitation (bar) by month
The ___ effect occurs when longwave radiation is retained between Earth's surface and the atmosphere and keeps the planet warm
greenhouse
air masses
have similar temperature and moisture characteristics Moisture: c = continental (dry) m = maritime (wet) Temperature: P= polar T = tropical
Tropical Monsoon characteristics
heavy precipitation, more prominent seasons, onshore flora of mT air, summer ITCZ overheadtrade wind coast climates. ex: belize
Equatorial regions precipitation characteristics
high convectional precipitation
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)
subpolar low (polar front)
higher latitude locations (60 degrees) are impacted by this - associated with the sub-polar jet stream and causes much of our weather in North america - 60 degrees N/S
Air masses descending on the poles from westerlies circumnavigating the globe are cold because they descend on the polar ____
highs
advection
horizontal air flow from high pressure system to low pressure system
What causes wind on top of hills and mountains
hot air raising while cool air sinks
humid continental
hot summers and cold winters (lawrence climate) reliable rainfall (D climate)
Mesothermal- humid subtropical
humid, abundant summer rainfall, occasional tropical cyclones, influenced by hurricanes, ocean air masses. ex: Charleston, SC and New Orleans
Higher global temperatures due to global warming would likely cause an increase in the melting of ____
ice
-earths two ice sheets cover the Antarctic continent and most of the island of Greenland -most of Antarctica and central Greenland plus the North Pole fall withing the ice-sheet climate -these regions are dominated by dry, frigid air masses, and temps are seldom above 0°C. -Antarctica receives less than eight cm of precipitation each year
ice-cap and ice-sheet climate
"Storm of the Century"
impacted the east coast during March 1993- record snowfall, record low pressures, severe thunderstorm and tornadoes
aquiclude
impermeable layer that prevents groundwater sinking further - aquifers sit on top of these
pocket beach
in between headlands, that are protected from the wave erosion and gather sediment instead
Locations with the greatest average annual temperature variability are usually
in the interior of continents in the mid-latitudes.
cumulus
individual, puffy clouds that have a flat horizontal base - formed through convection
Air circulation influene
influences flow of air and position of high and low pressure systems
Latitude influence on climate
influences sun angle and length of day
drainage basin
is a geographical area that contributes groundwater and runoff to any particular stream
once developed, these cyclones tend to move in a westerly direction, following the
jet stream
Marine/ Continental
large water bodies moderate temperature, influence air flow, supply water vapor
stratus
layer-like greyish sheets that cover most or all of the sky
front
leading edge of a moving air mass ex: cold, warm, occluded, and stationary
continental crust
less dense than oceanic crust and rich in granite
unsaturated
less than 100% relative humidity which means that the air temperature is not the same as the dew point
mid latitude cyclones (low pressure systems) typically:
life cycle lasts about a week. they all produce counterclockwise, converging circulation, resulting in rising motion resulting in clouds and precipitation
isobar
lines of equal pressure are measured by this type of isoline - closer together means a larger pressure gradient which means faster wind
outer core
liquid iron -- core
Microthermal subarctic
long bitterly cold winters, short cool summers, large temperature range, low annual precipitation
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
Polar regions affected by _____ ____ air masses
low humidity air masses
low latitude temperature compared to high latitude
low latitude- warmer temperatures and smaller annual temperature range than high latitude location
Tropical humid is the ____ latitude climate, symbols:
lowest, ITCZ
C climates
marine west coast, Mediterranean, and humid subtropical - mesothermal temperature characteristic
drainage divides
marks the boundaries between basins
illuviation
material is being added to a particular horizon
eluviation
material is being leached from a particular horizon
relative humidity
measures the amount of water vapor present in the air expressed as a percentage to show how much air pressure it is already holding vs. what it can hold
D climate
microthermal temperature characteristic - humid continental and subarctic - have a large range in annual temperature
Microthermal climates. characteristics? 3 kinds?
mid latitude, warm humid summers, cold winters 1. humid continental hot summer climate 2. humid continental mild summer climate 3. subarctic
subarctic
mid/warm summers and very cold winters rain/snow is reduced due to colder air low sun angle decreases evaporation(D Climate)
tropical savanna
migration of pressure systems brings the ITCZ over the area for the wet season and the STH over the area for the dry season
Mesothermal- Marine West Coast
mild temperatures, small temp range. moist climate, abundant precipitation, due to midlatitude cyclones. ex: Vancouver and Washington state.
weather
moment to moment observation of atmospheric conditions for a location
weather
moment-to-moment observations of atmospheric conditions for a given location
oceanic crust
more dense than the continental crust and rich in basalt
soil horizons
most soils don't have all of them - transition horizons are a combination of two horizons (AB or BC, etc.) - some soils have multiple horizons of the same type (Ex: B1, B2, B3..)
Topography
mountains affect precipitation on windward and leeward sides, influence air flow
vertical zonation
moving up a mountain results in a changing climate, and therefore a change in plant life. similar to moving north across the continent to the poles. from forests to colder biomes
leeward side
much of the moisture has been extracted on the windward side so this side is dry as a result of the rain shadow effect
Dry climates are most common
near areas of sub-tropical high pressure.
stationary front
neither the warm or cold air is advancing - two air masses reach an atmospheric stalemate
occluded front
occur when cold and warm fronts merge - result is a pocket of warmer air above the cold air at the surface
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
play in important role in transporting energy and subsequently affect regional climate -a cold current will stabilize the atmosphere and change the precipitation regime, while a warm current such as the Gulf Stream will moderate temperature in high latitudes
ocean currents
gyres
ocean water patterns often form large loops known as what? - these cells are important for oceanic life and help regulate the temperature of the water globally - the coriolis effet which impacts surface winds also is responsible for this - ocean currents are trapped and shaped by landmasses - clockwise in the northern hemisphere
A-type climates experience warm, consistent temperatures throughout the year because ____
of how the Sun interacts with Earth's spinning axis
formation:the clash of two air masses
often a "Wave" or "wink" ill form along a frontal boundary separating two air masses (typically cP and mT).
(WAR) wet adiabatic lapse rate
only used when condensation is reached (when saturation occurs)
Ocean ___ are temperature cycles in oceans that vary in length from few years to decades and show similar patterns to global temperatures
oscillations
basin and range landscape
otherwise known as the "great basin" - this area features block faulting and internally draining basins
Ns cloud produces light to moderate, continuous rain that is called:
overrunning precipitation
-low Sun altitude even during the long summer days, which is the principal climatic factor -extremes of daylength between winter and summer, which determine the amount of insolation received -extremely low humidity produces low precipitation amounts--these regions are Earth's frozen deserts -surface albedo impacts, as light-colored surfaces of ice and snow reflect substantial energy away from the ground, thus reducing net radiation
polar and alpine climates
"Cold and dry" temperature and precipitation patterns are characteristics of
polar climates.
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
seasonality
position of earth in orbit influences amount of radiation received
Warming of oceans due to climate change would evaporate more water, releasing more water vapor and beginning a ____ feedback cycle
positive
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
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
ahead of front
pressure falling, winds from se, clouds increase
behind front
pressure rising, winds from sw, no precipitation, skies clearing, T & Td higher
semi-permanent high-pressure system, where the constant air subsidence prevents cloud formation, and results in a dry region -an opposite effect happens under the ITCZ, where the warm and moist air is forced to rise, developing thunderstorms and producing heavy rain -the seasonal location of the ITCZ will affect the precipitation regime and consequently the climate
pressure systems
shift in pressure includes:
pressure will fall as a front approaches, pressure will be lowest as front approaches, pressure will rise as front departs
orographic uplift
prevailing winds are interrupted by a mountain range and the air mass on the windward side is forced over the mountain - the air mass reaches its dew point and drops a lot of moisture on the windward side of the mountain - a rain shadow is left on the leeward side of the mountain because much of the moisture has been extracted on the windward side
negative feedback loops
protect us from the worst of the warming, such as increased cloud cover for more moisture in the atmosphere increasing the albedo of the planet ex: carbon sequestration could mimic world's natural carbon sink to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
The process of desertification caused by climate change would mean less ____ and possibly warmer temperatures in an affected region
rain
Characteristics of of arid climates
rain shadow, cold and hot STH deserts. Northern africa, middle east, deserts in US
humid subtropical
rainfall patterns, hot summers and mild/cold winters (C climate)
Tropical Humid Climates include (kinds)
rainforest, monsoon, savanna. low latitude. low temperature range. warm and rainy all year. ex: den republic of congo
"Hot and wet" temperature and precipitation patterns are characteristics of
rainforests in the equatorial tropics.
tropical rain forests
rains all year, under the ITCZ (A climate)
tropical monsoon/savanna
rains part of the year migration of pressure systems bring ITCZ over area for wet season and STH for dry season (A climate)
how are warm fronts denoted?
red semicircles that point in direction of movement, toward colder air (the warm, less-dense mT air gently overruns the colder more-dense air cP or mP, slowly displacing it)
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
albedo
reflectivity of an object
fronts
relatively narrow boundaries characterized by low pressure that mark the transition zone between air masses of differing thermal properties (T), densities, and moisture properties (Td)
signature tree rings
rings of varying size right next to each other that make them easily identifiable in most cases - best for cross referencing
wet adiabatic lapse rate
saturated RH = 100% when condensation is reached on a mountain, which would be as you go up the mountain and almost reach the top
monsoons
seasonal shift of winds
monsoons
seasonal shifts in wind
Some pollutants in the atmosphere can react with sunlight, water, or additional contaminants to create ____ pollutants
secondary
A climograph
shows the monthly precipitation and temperature for a location.
characteristics of warm fronts
slow movement (15-20mph), gradual slopes (rise:run 1:200), stratiform cloud sequence (Ci --> Cs --> As --> Ns)
warm front
slow moving and their approach is marked by widespread clouds and light precipitation - more gradual air mass lifting
can be considered one of the most important climate factors -controls the planet temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, etc. -as a result of unequal distribution of solar energy, weather elements such as hurricanes are necessary to help redistribute energy. -a climate characteristic in a region is directly related to the solar radiation
solar radiation
lower mantle
solid -- part of the mantle
inner core
solid iron (and nickel) core - outer core circulates around this core
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
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
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
-latitudinal effects: summers transition from hot to warm to cool, moving poleward from the tropics -shifting maritime and continental air masses guided by upper-air westerly winds -migrating cyclonic and anticyclonic systems, bringing changeable weather conditions and air mass conflicts -effects sea-surface temps on air mass strength; cooler temps along west coasts weaken air masses, and warmer temps along east coast strengthen air masses
temperate (mild winters)
-humid subtropical hot-summer climates -mediterranean dry-summer climates (dry summers) -marine west coast climates (warm to cool summers)
temperate climate (cont)
Vladmir Koppen was a botanist who believed the distribution of vegetation types could be related to the ____ and precipitation of a particular region
temperature
dew point
temperature at which the vapor in the air will condense into water droplets - greater the relative humidity will be the closer this is to the actual temperature
convergent
the air converging on the center of low pressure rises near the center of low
maximum humidity
the air temperature determines the most water vapor an air mass can hold
how are stationary fronts denoted?
the alternating red semicircles and blue triangles, which point toward colder ir and blue triangles, which point toward colder air
air pressure
the amount of atmosphere at any given location or elevation
moho discontinuity
the boundary between the lithosphere and asthenosphere
absolute humidity
the dew point tells us how much water vapor an air mass is currently holding
Changes to precipitation patterns of rainfall or drought and ____ may result from changes to upper-level circulation patterns
the ease with which cyclones form
Climate is
the long-term atmospheric condition including extremes that may occur.
tributaries
the main stream is joined by smaller what that move down the basin
The subtropical location of desert climates means that ____, and insolation will dramatically heat the surface and create hot temperatures
the noon Sun is high
relative humidity
the saturation level of the air (in %) determined by the current vapor content divided by the maximum vapor content absolute humidity/maximum humidity x 100%
meridional flow
the subpolar jet stream moves N/S throughout much of its path along meridians
since cold fronts normally move faster than warm fronts..
they often catch up and overtake the warm front lifting then up off the surface
cirrus
thin and wispy clouds made of ice crystals instead of water droplets
coriolis effect
this force is created by earth's rotation and causes what? - causes deflection to the right in the northern hemisphere - also influences ocean currents
passive margin
this plate bounary is a transition between oceanic and continental lithosphere not on edge of plate - little to no movement is occurring - plates were once actively spreading in the past, but are currently stagnant
convergent margin
this plate boundary moves toward one another and collides - subducting of oceanic plate under continental plate
transform margin
this type of plate boundary is moving laterally - ex:strike-slip fault - may be the result of active tectonics and earthquakes - plates grind past each other which can make large fault zones
divergent margin
this type of plate boundary occurs when plates move away from each other because of convection cells moving opposite directions - causes a rift in the crust (gap) where magma will surge up in the gap and make a mid oceanic ridge in the water
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
orographic lifting can determine the precipitation pattern in a given region with more rain on the windward side and being very dry on the leeward side--the rainshadow -slope orientation which also will result in a great temp difference between the sun-facing slope versus the other side. -elevation is a temp control, since temp decreases with increasing altitude
topography
frictional force
topography of the land affects the wind direction because air has to go around large object that are in the way
A horizon
topsoil with organic matter and minerals; very fertile
maximum humidity
total amount of water vapor air can hold
ecotones
transitional areas between two biomes
positive feedback loop
triggered if the earth warms past a certain threshold - lowering albedo in the arctic - methane hydrates in the ocean are released as methane
Mediterranean climates are temperate due to their location between ____ climates near the equator and ____ climates in higher latitudes
tropical and polar
(megathermal) -consistent daylength and insolation, and consistently warm temperatures -warm ocean temperatures and unstable maritime air masses -the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) brings rains as it shifts seasonally with the high Sun
tropical climates
6-12 months rainy
tropical monsoon climates
rainy all year, hot and wet
tropical rain forest climates
less than 6 months rainy
tropical savanna climates
True or False: Very small drops of liquids in steam, such as those derived from sulfur dioxide, contribute to air pollution
true
-land is under continuous snow cover for eight to 10 months, and in the warmest month, air temp is greater than 0° and less than 10°C -strictly in northern hemisphere, except for elevated mountain locations in the southern hemisphere and a portion of the Arctic Peninsula
tundra climate
stationary front
two air masses sitting side by side - reach an atmospheric stalemate
C horizon
unconsolidated parent material, original sediment
marine west coast
under subpolar jet stream, mild summers and mild winters (C climate)
convectional
unequal heating causes parcels of air to rise relative to less heated areas
dry adiabatic lapse rate
unsaturated RH < 100%
ferrel cell
upper air wind cell in the middle latitudes - bottom of this cell creates the primary surface winds of the middle latitudes - the westerlies - 30 to 60 degrees N/S
warm and fresher water
upward movement of thermohaline circulation means what?
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
koppen climate classification sytem
uses a location average temperature and precipitation - the first letter is either A, B, C, D, E, or H (H is never the right answer) - three letter or two letter classification system of climate - each climate has a letter code and descriptive term
koppen classification system
uses a location average temperature and precipitation - three or two letter classification
dendrochronology
using tree rings to approximate climate conditions bigger= good smaller=bad (complacent rings make cross-referencing hard because they have little variation)
riparian zones
vegetation zones that rely on the raised water table caused by adjacent rivers and lakes - two sources of water: precipitation and groundwater
upper mantle
viscous nickel(not quite solid, not quite liquid) -- part of the mantle
air temperature
warm air holds more moisture, so more water can be evaporated into it
warm fronts
warm air moves up and over cold air - more gentle, light precipitation - widespread clouds
Tropical savanna
warm climate w/ low temp range. proximity to ITCZ brings heavy rain, during low sun season, subtropical high = dry. vegetation is rain-green. W africa and australia
4 major types of fronts
warm front, cold front, stationary front, occluded front
thermal expansion
warmer water is a large contributor to eustatic changes
Global warming predicts that most areas on the planet will get ____. whereas some other regions might get ____
warmer; cooler
troposphere
we live in this layer of the atmosphere - where weather happens - air cools as you move up - thicker at the equator and thinner at the poles
brief description of the atmospheric conditions in a given time
weather
Comparing weather and climate, a tropical typhoon is a ____ event, whereas increasing ocean temperatures over decades is ___ change
weather and climate
Mid-latitude Marine West Coast (Cfb and Cfc) and Humid Continental (Dfa and Dfb) climates receive their precipitation from the mid-latitude ____ (winds)
westerlies
north facing slope
wetter because of the direction the slope is facing ubac slope - facing away from the sun
when the dew point and actual temperature are the same number
when is air saturated?
windward side
where air mass reaches its dew point and drops a lot of moisture on this side of the mountain
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
flow of air from high to low pressure systems
why is air mass circulation a control of climate?
maritime is wet and oceans making a less variation in temperature changes (more resistance to temp. changes) continental is dry and surrounded by land causing more variation in temperature (less resistance to temp. change)
why is maritime vs continental a control of climate?
loess
wind blown silt deposited during the last major glaciation - northwesterly winds caused the most extensive deposition to occur on the east side of the north-south orientated river valleys
