climate

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how does latitude affect climate

Earth receives different amounts of solar radiation at different latitudes

what is the Koppen classification system

a classification system for climates that is based on the average monthly values of temperature and precipitation and takes into account the distinct vegetation found in different climates

what is a microclimate

a localized climate in a small area that differs from the main regional climate

what is a heat island

a microclimate of higher temperature caused by a large amount of asphalt and concrete buildings

how is climate for a particular area classified

according to average monthly values of temperature and precipitation relative to distinct types of natural vegetation

what do ice cores contain

air bubbles, distant pollen, volcanic ash, and other chemicals

name the consequences of global warming

altered weather patterns, greater extremes of weather, sea-level rise, disruptions to wildlife, and greater spread of infectious diseases

how long do sunspot cycles last

approximately 11 years

name three causes of increased greenhouse gases

burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and agricultural practices

how is climate for a region determined

by annual averages and variations of temperature, precipitation, wind and other weather variables

what gases are released from burning fossil fuels

carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide

what are the natural causes of climate change

changes in solar activity, Earth's orbit/tilt/wobble, and volcanic activity

what causes seasons

changes in the amount of solar radiation an area receives as Earth revolves around the sun

how do changes in the Earth's tilt affect climate

changes in the angle of the tilt affect the seasons

what is La Nina

colder water off the coast of South America

what type of data is used to describe an area's climate

daily high and low temperatures, amounts of rainfall, wind speed and direction, humidity and air pressure

what did Wladimir Koppen do

developed a system of climate classification in 1918

what are the primary causes that climate conditions vary from place to place

differences in latitude, topography, and air masses

what type of climate zone is the largest

dry climates; they cover over 30 percent of the Earth's land area

how do you determine the normals of climate for a location

find the average for a period of at least 30 years -- could be monthly or annual average

when was the Little Ice Age

from 1500 to 1850

what is the cause of the current period of global warming

human activities that increase the greenhouse effect

what type of climate in the southeastern US

humid subtropical (warm and muggy in summer and dry and cool in winter)

what are three types of mild climate

humid subtropical, marine west coast, Mediterranean

what long term events can change climate

ice ages, interglacial intervals

name some techniques for studying climate

ice cores, tree rings, fossils, and radioactive samples

where do you find highland climates

in high elevations on mountains

how does volcanic activity change the climate

major volcanic eruptions send large quantities of aerosols into the atmosphere that can block incoming solar radiation and lower global temperature

where do climatologists find the data to describe a region's climate

meteorological records from airport weather stations

do normals describe the usual weather conditi0ns for an area

no, normals are the average values over a long period of time

what short-term events can change climate

seasons, El Nino/La Nina

What are two types of dry climates

semi arid (more humid) and arid

how does the Earth's tilt change

the angle of incline of Earth's axis changes from 22.1 degrees to 24.5 degrees on a 41,000 year cycle

when did our current climate era begin

10,000 years ago

who was Louis Agassiz

the first person to scientifically propose that Earth had undergone an Ice Age in the past based on the presence of erratic rocks in the Jura Mountains (1837)

what was the Wisconsin Glacial Episode

the last major advance of continental glaciers in North America

what is climate

the long-term average of varieations in weather for a particular area

what is Precession

the slow wobble of Earth as it rotates on its axis on a 26,000 year cycle

what is eccentricity

the stretching of Earth's orbit on a 100,000 year cycle

what is climatology

the study of the Earth's climate and the factors that affect past, present and future climatic changes

how does the Earth's wobble affect climate

the wobble changes where the axis of the Earth points; when that direction changes, the timing of the seasons will change

how do air masses affect climate

through global wind patterns and ocean currents

what are three types of polar climate

tundra, ice cap and highland

what are three types of continental climate

warm summer, cool summer, and subarctic

what is El Nino

warmer water off the coast of South America

how does topography affect climate

water heats up and cools down more slowly than land so large bodies of water affect the climates of coastal areas; and mountains can alter the flow of air and affect precipitation patterns

how does the Earth's orbit cause climate change

when the Earth's orbit gets longer (more elliptical), Earth travels for part of the year in a path closer to the sun and the global temperatures increase; the opposite happens when Earth's orbit is more circular

what characterizes a tropical climate

year-round high temperatures; can also be wet


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