Climographs And Climate Types Flashcards
(13 cards)
What does a climograph show?
Displays average monthly temperature (line) and precipitation (bars) for a location.
Used to analyze climate patterns and link them to biomes.
What does a climograph for Mesothermal climates look like, and what biome corresponds to it?
Climograph: Mild year-round temperatures, high precipitation in winter, dry summers.
Biome: Temperate rainforest (e.g., BC coastal forests).
Mnemonic: “Mild Marine Moist Winters.”
What does a climograph for Polar and Highland climates look like, and what biome corresponds to it?
Climograph: Cold year-round; low precipitation.
Biome: Tundra, alpine vegetation.
Mnemonic: “Polar Peaks are Perpetually Cold.”
What does a climograph for Midlatitude Steppe climates look like, and what biome corresponds to it?
Climograph: Hot summers, cold winters; low to moderate precipitation, mostly in summer.
Biome: Grasslands.
Mnemonic: “Steppe Summers, Snowy Winters.”
What does a climograph for Tropical Rainforest climates look like, and what biome corresponds to it?
Climograph: High temperatures year-round; very high, consistent precipitation.
Biome: Tropical rainforest.
Mnemonic: “Rainforest Rains Regularly.”
What does a climograph for Subtropical Desert climates look like, and what biome corresponds to it?
Climograph: Very high temperatures; very low and infrequent precipitation.
Biome: Desert.
Mnemonic: “Hot, Dry, and Deserted.”
What is the Greenhouse Effect?
Process where greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH₄, H₂O) trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere, warming the planet.
Mnemonic: “Greenhouse Gases Gather Heat.”
What is a positive feedback in the climate system?
Amplifies warming (e.g., ice melting reduces albedo, causing more heat absorption).
Mnemonic: “Positive Adds Problems.”
What is a negative feedback in the climate system?
Stabilizes the system (e.g., increased vegetation absorbs CO₂).
Mnemonic: “Negative Neutralizes the Problem.”
What are the main drivers of climate change?
Human Activity: Fossil fuel burning, deforestation, industrial emissions.
Natural Factors: Volcanic eruptions, solar cycles.
Mnemonic: “Fossils Fuel Fire.”
What is the Walker Circulation, and how does it function in normal conditions?
Normal Conditions:
Warm air rises over Australasia (west Pacific), causing low pressure and rain.
Cool air sinks near South America (east Pacific), causing high pressure and dryness.
Mnemonic: “Walker Walks West to Rain.”
What happens during El Niño?
Walker Circulation weakens or reverses.
Effects:
Australasia: Drought and high temperatures.
West Coast of South America: Warm oceans, heavy rainfall, flooding.
Mnemonic: “El Niño: Drought Down Under, Flood in the Andes.”
What are some global effects of El Niño?
Disruptions in weather patterns (e.g., hurricanes, heatwaves, droughts).
Impacts agriculture, fisheries, and ecosystems worldwide.
Mnemonic: “El Niño: Extreme Everywhere.”
