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
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
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
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
Higher global temperatures due to global warming would likely cause an increase in the melting of ____
ice
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
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 climates experience temperatures below freezing throughout the year or during most of the year and are located at high latitudes?
EF and ET
The ___ effect occurs when longwave radiation is retained between Earth's surface and the atmosphere and keeps the planet warm
greenhouse
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)
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 subtropical location of desert climates means that ____, and insolation will dramatically heat the surface and create hot temperatures
the noon Sun is high
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
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
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