Exam 2 Flashcards by Jocie Reynolds

What drives photosynthesis

sunlight

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Biologically active means lots of nutrient

true

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How does the atmospheres move heat and water around

through evaporation and condensation

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evaporation absorbs or releases heat

absorb

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condensation absorbs or releases heat

releases

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Where does weather happen in the atmosphere? (which layer)

troposphere
contains 99% of water in the atmosphere
contains 90% of mass in the atmosphere
10km thick

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what are the main gases in the atmosphere?

nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor

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What happens to the pressure in the atmosphere when you go up in elevation

pressure decreases

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What happens to the density in the atmosphere when you go up in elevation

density decreases

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What happens to the temperature in the atmosphere when you go up in elevation

temperature decreases

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What happens to the light in the atmosphere when you go up in elevation

light increase

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What does the water in the atmosphere depend on?

The temperature
3% water = warm
2% water = cool
1% water = cold

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What is the difference between specific and relative humidity?

specific humidity is how much water is actually in the atmosphere where the relative humidity is how saturated the atmosphere is

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What is the specific humidity at the poles and the equator?

specific humidity is how much water the air can hold and the actual amount of water in the air
0% at the poles
20% at the equator

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How do you calculate relative humidity?

amount of water present/ max amount of water the air hold

the max that the air can hold depends on temperature

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What happens when the air is 100% saturated

air can’t hold any more water so you star to turn the water back into water vapor

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humidity = water present/ water max

1% / 3% water = 33% humidity = warm ** evaporation
1%/ 2% water = 50% humidity = cool
1% / 1% water = 100% = cold ** clouds and rain

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What happens to the humidity in the atmosphere when you go up in elevation

increase with height because temperature is decreasing

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What is the Coriolis effect?

The planet is spinning and the planet is round
At the poles the earth is moving hardly at all
At the equator the earth is moving really fast
the difference between the movement at the poles and equator is the Coriolis effect

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What direction is the Coriolis deflection in the northern hemisphere

right

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What direction is the Coriolis deflection in the southern hemisphere

left

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What are three global wind patterns

westerlies, easterlies, polar easterlies

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Describe the polar easterlies

seasonal weak winds that blow from east to west
located above 60 north and below 60 south
at 60 north and south it is cold and wet and above at the poles is cold and dry

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Describe the easterlies

weak to moderate winds that blow east to west
located between equator and 30 north and south
equator is warm wet
30 north and south is warm dry

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Describe the westerlies

strongest winds and they blow from west to east located between 30 and 60 north and south 30 north and south is warm dry and 60 north south is cold wet

Does rising air lead to rain

yes, rising air = increased humidity = rain | the equator always warm so you always have rising air and therefore lots of rain

Why is descending air dry

because of decreasing humidity

What are the 5 deserts

Sonora desert: located in AZ Sandra desert: located in northern africa Gobi desert: located in Russia Victoria Simpson: located in Australia Kalahan desert: located in southern africa Alacama desert: located in south America

What is the difference between climate and weather

climate is what you expect and weather is what you get

what is the difference between high and low pressure

high pressure is descending air: heat, dry, forest fires | low pressure is rising air; rainy

Do winds blow from high to low pressure or low to high pressure

high to low pressure

What drives the ocean

the wind

what are the five ocean gyres (surface current)

North pacific, south pacific, north Atlantic, south Atlantic, Indian there's no north Indian because India is in the way

how to winds move water around

winds push warm water to the west and cold water to the east surface currents cause east/ west coast climate differences: west side is cold water currents and east side is warm water currents

what are characteristics of cold water currents

low evaporation, low humidity and low rain fall

what are characteristics of warm water currents

high evaporation, high humidity and high rain fall

Do winds keep sea water well mixed

yes because there are no major differences in water salinity. Gyres are the saltiest because there is less rain

How do surface currents transport heat?

1. sun warms water 2. wind belts drive currents 3. currents run into continents and turn 4. warm water carried poleward and releases heat * helps with migration of plants and animas * transports 10% of heat

Name the 10 currents that line the five ocean gyres

``` North Atlantic: gulf stream - warm water current, east candry - cold, west South Atlantic: brazil warm east benguela west cold Indian agyinas warm east leewin cold west South Pacific east Australian east, warm Peru west cold North Pacific Kuroshio warm east California cold west ```

what drives wave formation

wind

wave speed vs wind speed

wave speed = 0.57 * wind speed

wind speed vs wave height

grows slowly at first but once it reaches a couple of feet high then it grows really fast

what is the fully developed sea curve

the maximum wave height that can be produced by a given wind speed only reached if blown over sufficient fetch for a sufficient duration

what are differences between west coast and east coast waves

west coast: inward prevailing wind , narrow shelf and steep slope east coast: outward prevailing winds, broader shelf, and gradual slope

How fast do wave sets move compared to an individual wave

sets move at half the speed of an individual wave

what is longshore transport

the net transport of sand and water as waves come in

What is the direction of longshore transport

toward the equator

East coast vs west coast beaches

East coast: large sloping shelf, no subduction zones, and therefore you have big wide gentle beaches west coast: steeper shelf, subduction zones, more erosion, and therefore rocky beaches

how do the westerlies blow wind onto the shore on each coast

East Coast: offshore winds | West Coast: on shore winds

What are some characteristics of upwelling

``` cold water at surface higher nutrients higher productivity good fishing offshore wind ```

What are some characteristics of downwelling

``` warm water low nutrients low productivity poor fishing onshore wind ```

What coast is upwelling on in the westerlies and easterlies

westerlies: east coast easterlies: east coast

What coast is downwelling on in the westerlies and easterlies

westerlies: west coast easterlies: west coast

equatorial upwelling is caused by what

the Coriolis effect | upwelling from 200 meters down

how deep is southern ocean upwelling

2000 meters

what are the three roles the southern ocean has on climate change?

1. accounts for 67 -98% of excess heat that goes into atmosphere 2. accounts for up to 50% of anthropologic carbon dioxide in atmosphere 3. vertical exchange is responsible for supplying nutrients for 3/4 all biological production in the ocean north of 30S

why is southern ocean so important

window in the deep ocean | direct upwelling from deep ocean

What is global warming really

ocean warming energy excess is mostly in the ocean deep ocean and surface ocean have accumulated 93% of the energy balance from the top of the ocean

what is the NADW

north Atlantic deep waters forms in the north and on top of the AABW

what is the AABW

Antarctic bottom water forms in the south and is below the NADW

what does ocean density depend on

temperature and salinity

under what conditions does water sink at

cold or salty

under what conditions does water floats at

warm and fresh

is sea ice salty

in the winter is the water saltier or fresher

saltier because ice is growing and the ice has not salt in it

in the summer is the water saltier or fresher

fresher because ice is melting

what is the el nino

coupled phenomenon of the tropical pacific... needs the atmosphere and the ocean

what are normal conditions (no an el nino or la nina)

``` moderate easterlies warm ocean in west cool ocean in the east rain in west (indo/Australia ) dry in the east (peru) ```

what are conditions of an el nino

*** occurs when the easterlies fail *** occurs every 3 t o7 years weak easterlies warm ocean in the east rain follows heat dry in the west (indo/ australia) wet in the east (peru)

what are conditions of a la nina

``` stronger easterlies colder ocean in the east rain follows heat iextra wet in the west (indo/ Australia) extra dry in the east ( Peru) ```

Is Tuscon wet or dry during an el nino winter

wet

are ocean temperatures higher or lower during an el nino and a la nina

el nino: warmer than normal | la nina: colder than normal

are hurricanes high or low pressure systems

low pressure

what is needed to form a hurricane ( water temp, wind speed, location, pressure)

warm water (> 79 F) wind speed (> 74 mph) low pressure system form right off the equator so they can spin (spin is based on Coriolis effect)

where are the fastest winds in a hurricane

eye wall

hurricane are formed over what body of water

Atlantic

typhoon are formed over what body of water

pacific

cyclone are formed over what body of water

Indian

how do hurricanes weaken

over land or cold water

The fastest mean surface winds on earth are in the: Question options: A) northern hemisphere westerlies B) polar easterlies C) tropical easterlies D) southern hemisphere westerlies

southern hemisphere westerlies

There are rain forests on Earth at the Equator because Question options: a) The coriolis force is zero there b) Air is rising there c) There is indirect heating there d) Air is sinking there

b) Air is rising there

There are deserts on earth at 30N and 30S due to: ``` Question options: A) sinking air masses B) the strong westerly winds there C) rising air masses D) the coriolis force ```

A) sinking air masses

As a parcel of air moves upward, the relative humidity will: Question options: A) decrease because the temperature decreases B) decrease because the temperature increases C) increase because the temperature decreases D) increase because the temperature increases

A) decrease because the temperature decreases

``` Wind-drive surface currents are import for: Question options: A) mixing the ocean B) heat transport C) east/west climate difference D) all of these ```

D) all of these

``` Ocean surface currents generally flow: Question options: a) In a random direction relative to the wind b) In the same direction as the wind c) In the opposite direction as the wind ```

b) In the same direction as the wind

``` High pressure (H) on a weather map generally indicates: Question options: A) rising air B) rain C) clear skies D) a hurricane ```

C) clear skies

``` When water evaporates: Question options: Winds increase speed Humidity decreases Heat is absorbed Heat is released ```

Heat is absorbed

Deserts occur on the west sides of continents due to: Question options: A) The temperature of nearby ocean currents B) The Coriolis force C)The salinity of nearby ocean current D) Rising air there

A) The temperature of nearby ocean currents

Waves travel across the ocean in sets - how fast does a set of waves move? Question options: a) At the same speed as an individual wave b) At exactly 1.63 m/s c) Twice as fast as an individual wave d) Half as fast as an individual wave

d) Half as fast as an individual wave

All of the following are true about waves above the FDS curve, except: Question options: A) These waves were generated elsewhere B) These waves are growing rapidly C) The waves are big and the wind is small D) These conditions are good for surfing

B) These waves are growing rapidly

Fetch is defined as: Question options: A) The amount of time the winds are blowing B) The area over which the winds are blowing C) The speed at which the winds blow D) The distance between successive waves

B) The area over which the winds are blowing

``` Compared to the wind speed, the waves generated by those winds travel Question options: A) About half as fast B) The same speed C) About twice as fast D) There is no simple relations ```

A) About half as fast

50-foot waves are rare because: Question options: A) 50-foot waves are actually very common B) There are few locations with enough fetch C) Waves decay too rapidly D) The wind rarely blows hard enough

B) There are few locations with enough fetch

Longshore transport generally moves sand: Question options: A)Toward the equator B) Toward the pole C) Up the beach face D) In the same direction as the wind-driven current

A)Toward the equator

Over time, a curved coastline will become: Question options: A) More curved as sediment is transported from the bays to the points B) Rockier as all the sand is removed C) Sandier as sand is brought up from deep water D) Straighter as headlands are eroded and bays are filled in with sand

D) Straighter as headlands are eroded and bays are filled in with sand

``` When waves come onshore, they: Question options: A) Slow down B) Turn to the right in the Northern Hemisphere C) Stay the same speed D) Speed up ```

A) Slow down

Longshore Transport is an important part of the Sediment Cycle Question options: a) True b) False

a) True

A wind that blows from west to east is called a ____________. Question options: A) Trade Wind B) Depends on which hemisphere you are in due to the Coriolis Force C) Easterly D) Westerly

D) Westerly

``` Southern Ocean upwelling is most active: Question options When the westerlies fail During the summer All year long - the winds are strong and never fail During the winter ```

All year long - the winds are strong and never fail

``` Coastal Upwelling is associated with: Question options: A) Offshore winds and high productivity B) Offshore winds and low productivity C) Onshore winds and low productivity D) Onshore winds and high productivity ```

A) Offshore winds and high productivity

``` An onshore wind leads to which conditions on the coast? Question options: A) Warm water and low nutrients B) Warm water and high nutrients C) Cold water and high nutrients D) Cold water and low nutrients ```

A) Warm water and low nutrients

Higher productivity is generally associated with ___________. Question options: A) Downwelling B) There is no clear relation between high productivity and upwelling or downwelling - it depends on where you are C) Upwelling

C) Upwelling

Equatorial upwelling occurs Question options: A) Due to the westerlies and the coriolis force B) Due to the easterlies and the coriolis force C) Only during winter D) down to the ocean bottom

B) Due to the easterlies and the coriolis force

``` Sea ice formation makes the ocean: Question options: A) Saltier B) Colder C) Less dense D) Fresher ```

A) Saltier

``` Offshore winds lead to _____ along the coast. Question options: A) Low productivity B) Cold water C) Low Nutrients D) High salinity ```

B) Cold water

``` Southern Ocean upwelling brings up water from: Question options: A) The bottom B) 2000m C) 200m D) 100m ```

B) 2000m

``` How much of the anthropogenic heat does the Southern Ocean take up? Question options: a) 67-98% b) 30-43% c) 8-12% d) < 3% ```

a) 67-98%

``` El Nino events occur every: Question options: A) Winter B) 20 years C) 10 years D) 3-7 years ```

D) 3-7 years

``` Hurricanes form over water that is very ______? Question options: A) Cold B) Fresh C)Warm D) Salty ```

C)Warm

Which of the following is NOT associated with El Nino conditions: Question options: A) Warm water off the coast of Peru B) Stronger than normal easterlies in the tropics C) Rainy conditions in Peru D) Drought over Indonesia

B) Stronger than normal easterlies in the tropics

``` During El Niño years, winters in Tucson are: Question options: a) Colder b) Warmer c) Wetter d) Drier ```

c) Wetter

Which of these is NOT true about hurricanes? Question options: A) The have wind speeds in excess of 74 mph B) They get stronger over land C) They spin counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere D) They are called TYPHOONs in the Pacific

B) They get stronger over land

Tsunami are different from wind waves because: Question options: A) In wind waves, the energy moves through the water, but the water itself only moves in circles. In a tsunami, all of the water is moving in the direction of the wave B) Tsunami always flow into the wind C) Tsnuami slow down when they reach the coast D) Tsunami waves travel more slowly

A) In wind waves, the energy moves through the water, but the water itself only moves in circles. In a tsunami, all of the water is moving in the direction of the wave

``` All of these can cause a tsunami, but most tsunami are caused by: Question options: A) Undersea landslides B) Meteorite impacts C) Large subduction zone earthquakes D) Underwater volcanoes ```

C) Large subduction zone earthquakes

The biggeest tidal range each month: Question options: A) Are called tidal waves B) Are called neap tides C) Happens when the sun and moon are at right angles to the earth D) Happens when the sun, earth and moon are in a line

D) Happens when the sun, earth and moon are in a line

Tides are caused by: Question options: A) The gravitational pull of both the moon and the sun B) The fact that the earth is spinning C) The gravitational pull of the sun only D) The gravitational pull of the moon only

A) The gravitational pull of both the moon and the sun

``` Most tsunami occur in the: Question options: Pacific Ocean Atlantic Ocean Southern Ocean Arctic Ocean ```

Pacific Ocean

``` Which is NOT true in the ocean? Question options: a) Light decreases with depth b) Pressure increases with depth c) Productivity decreases with depth d) Temperature increases with depth ```

d) Temperature increases with depth

``` The layer of the atmosphere closest to the ground is called the: Question options: A) Troposphere B) Hydrosphere C) Stratosphere D) Groundosphere ```

A) Troposphere

``` Deserts are on the west sides of continents due to: Question options: A) Cold ocean currents nearby B) Warm ocean currents nearby C) Air masses rising D) Salty ocean currents nearby ```

A) Cold ocean currents nearby

``` Ocean gyres are important for: Question options: a) mixing oceans b) heat transport c) east/west climate differences d) all of these ```

d) all of these

``` As air moves up a mountain: Question options: a) the temperature increases b) the pressure increases c) the humidity increases d) all of these are true ```

c) the humidity increases

``` The ozone layer is in the: Question options: a) Photic Zone b) Troposphere c) Dark Zone d) Stratosphere ```

b) Troposphere

``` An offshore wind leads to: Question options: a) longshore current b) warm water along the coast c) upwelling d) downwelling ```

c) upwelling

``` Which always makes seawater less salty? Question options: a) Forming sea ice b) Evaporation c) Downwelling d) Melting sea ice ```

d) Melting sea ice

As the wind speed increases, the wave height: Question options: A) Grows instantly to its maximum height B) Increases smoothly and evenly C) Increases slowly at first and then more rapidly

C) Increases slowly at first and then more rapidly

Exam 2 Flashcards

(126 cards)