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Earth Science > Climate > Flashcards

Climate Flashcards

1
Q

Current

A

Large mass of moving water that flows in the ocean

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2
Q

Climate

A

Average weather for a region

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3
Q

Tundra

A

Polar grasslands with the deeper layers of the soil permanently frozen

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4
Q

Taiga

A

Boreal (northern) forests of Alaska, Canada and Russia dominated by conifer trees

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5
Q

Steppe

A

Temperate grasslands found on the Northern Plains of North America and Central Asia

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6
Q

Desert

A

Areas with very low precipitation and if there is any vegetation, it is well adapted to the very dry conditions

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7
Q

Chaparral

A

Subtropical grasslands with shrubs and scrubby forest found in a Mediterranean Climate

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8
Q

Tropical grasslands with sparse patches of trees

A

Savanna

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9
Q

Windward

A

Wet side of mountain range

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10
Q

Leeward

A

Dry side of mountain range

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11
Q

Marine Climate

A

Climate with mild summers and winters in which the prevailing winds come from over a large landmass

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12
Q

Continental Climate

A

Climate with cold winters and hot summers in which the prevailing winds come from over the ocean

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13
Q

Rain Shadow Desert

A

Very dry area on leeward side of mountain range, opposite from prevailing wind direction

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14
Q

Monsoon

A

Seasonal reversal of wind direction associated with large continents

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15
Q

Permafrost

A

Soil on the tundra in which the lower layers are permanently frozen

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16
Q

Microclimate

A

Small area with a different climate than the surrounding areas

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17
Q

Carbon Cycle

A

Movement of carbon from one part of the earth system to another

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18
Q

Carbon Sink

A

Part of the earth system in which carbon is stored

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19
Q

Greenhouse Effect

A

Natural warming of the lower atmosphere and earths surface due to certain gases in the atmosphere absorbing heat energy radiated by earths surface

20
Q

Global Warming

A

The increase in the average temperature of earths atmosphere due to human activities adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere

21
Q

Upwelling

A

Rising of cold, nutrient rich water to the earths surface

22
Q

Ice Cap

A

Cold and exists over a continental glacier or large complex of alpine glaciers

23
Q

Arctic

A

Bitterly cold with long winters and smaller amounts of snow found along the coastline of the Arctic Ocean; has tundra with mosses, lichens, grasses and shrubs with no trees

24
Q

Subarctic

A

Short, mild to warm summer and long very cold winters, found in central Alaska, Canada and Siberia; has Boreal forests (taiga) with conifer trees

25
Q

Humid Continental

A

Moderate precipitation, high humidity, cool to cold winters and hot summers found on eastern costs of upper middle latitude continents; has broadleaf forests with some conifers

26
Q

Marine West-Coast

A

Higher precipitation and humidity, long hot summers and cool winters found on west coasts of middle latitude continents; has conifer trees with some broadleaf trees

27
Q

Humid Subtropical

A

High precipitation and humidity, long hot summers and mild winters found on eastern coasts of lower-middle latitude continents; has broadleaf forests with some conifers

28
Q

Mediterranean

A

Mild, moist winters and warm, dry summers found along southwest coast of California and in Southern Europe along the coast; has chaparral with grasslands, some shrubs and scrubby forest

29
Q

Semi-Arid

A

Smaller amounts of precipitation and lower humidity found on the Great Plains of North America and in Central Asia; has steppe with grasslands and some short bushes such as sagebrush

30
Q

Arid

A

Very little precipitation (less than 10 inches/year) and low humidity found along 30 degrees latitude and on the leeward side of large mountain ranges; has some desert biome with very well adapted vegetation or no vegetation at all

31
Q

Tropical Wet-Dry

A

Hot year round, rainy for part of the year and almost no rain for the other part of the year found in equatorial areas; has savanna with grasslands and patches of trees

32
Q

Tropical Wet

A

Hot and rainy year-round found in equatorial areas; includes rainforests

33
Q

Highlands

A

Found in areas of large mountains and varies from the surrounding climates

34
Q

Factors Affecting Climate

A
  1. Latitude
  2. Longitude
  3. Topography
  4. Proximity to the ocean or other bodies of water
  5. Ocean currents
  6. Global Winds
35
Q

The higher the elevation the the temperature

A

COLDER

36
Q

For every 1000m in elevation, temperature drops how many degrees?

A

6.5 degrees Celsius

37
Q

Proximity to the Ocean

A

Ocean water temperature doesn’t change as much as temperature between summer and winter

38
Q

Marine Climate

A

Prevailing winds come from over the ocean and there is mild winters and summers

39
Q

Ocean currents and climates

A

Warm water currents warm the temperature

Cold water currents cool the temperature

40
Q

Maritime VS. Continental

A

Land heat and cools faster than water

Water stores heat energy well, but it takes a lot to warm it

Middle of continents hottest in summer and coolest in winter

Coastal areas summer and winter temperatures are not as different

41
Q

Temperature Controls

Windward VS. Leeward

A

Prevailing winds from ocean moderate temperature- warmer winter and cooler summer

Prevailing winds from continent being more extreme temperatures- colder winter and hotter summer

42
Q

Climate Regions

A
  1. Tropical Wet
  2. Tropical Wet-Dry
  3. Humid Subtropical
  4. Humid Continental
  5. Marine West Coast
  6. Mediterranean (Dry Summer Subtropical)
  7. Semiarid (steppe)
  8. Arid (Desert)
  9. Subarctic
  10. Arctic (Tundra)
  11. Ice Cap
  12. Highlands
43
Q

Surface Currents

A
  1. Large movements of water along the surface caused by global wind patterns blowing over the surface
  2. Curve due to the spinning of the earth on its axis (Coriolis Effect)
  3. Currents also affected by shapes of coastlines
44
Q

More Surface Currents

A
  1. Towards the equator is COLD
  2. Away from the equator is WARM
  3. Warm currents warm the climate along the coast (east coast)
  4. Cold currents cool the climate along the coast (west coast)
45
Q

Density of Ocean Water

A
  1. Cold water is MORE dense than warm water
  2. Higher salinity (salty) water is MORE dense than lower salinity water
  3. Ocean water freezes and evaporates concentrating salt in remaining water
  4. Density can cause vertical movement if ocean water

Earth Science (3 decks)

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