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Define Climate
The long term weather patterns of an area.
List the 3 main factors that influences
climate.
1. latitude
2. Topographic Effects
3. Air Masses
How does Latitude influence climate?
The higher the latitude the colder the
average temperatures are.
How do coastal areas compare in climate to inland
areas?
Coastal areas have smaller temperature
ranges (cooler summers and warmer winters)
than inland areas.
How does a higher elevation influence
climate?
The higher the elevation the colder the
average temperatures are.
Describe the windward and leeward sides of a
mountain in terms of precipitation?
The windward side of the mountain is wet
and the leeward side of the mountain is dry
(rain shadow).
Where are the tropics?
Area of latitude between 23.5 degrees north
and South latitude.
Where are the temperate zones?
•Between 23.5 and 66.5 North and South
• Where are the polar zones?
•Between 66.5 and 90 North and South Latitude.
What is weather?
The current atmospheric conditions such as but not
limited to temperature and humidity.
What are the two characteristics of an air mass?
Temperature and humidity
What is a front?
The leading edge of an air mass.
Where does precipitation frequently occur?
At fronts (where air masses collide)
And/or
On the Windward side of the mountain
What is the name of the classification
system for climates?
Koeppen Classification system
List 4 out of the 6 climates types.
Tropical
Mild
Dry
Continental
Polar
High elevation
Name two factors that will determine
the type of climate it is.
Temperature and humidity
What is the name of a localized climate?
Micro Climate
What are the periods of extensive
glacial coverage called?
Ice age
What is an example of short term climatic
change?
The seasons
What is a heat Island?
The presence of many concrete buildings and
large expanses of asphalt can create an area of
higher temperatures. ex NYC is often 10 degrees
warmer than it’s surrounding suburbs.
What is El Nino?
Warm ocean current that occasionally develops
off the western coast of South America. This
can alter the normal storm track and bring
storms to Southern North America.
What is an ice age?
Period of extensive Glacial coverage
What 2 factors causes the seasons?
The Earth’s tilt
The revolution (Earth going around the Sun)
List 4 of the ways in which long term
climate change is natural?
Solar activity changes (many or few Sun spots)
Change in Earth’s orbit (circular vs eccentric)
Change in Earth’s tilt (direction and degree)
Large Meteorite impact
Large Volcanic eruption
How can the Sun’s activity influence
climate?
The more Sun Spots there are the warmer it is.
How can a change in Earth’s orbit influence
climate?
The more circular the orbit the cooler it is
(100,000 year cycle).
How can a change in Earth’s tilt in degrees
effect climate?
The higher the degree of the tilt,(up to 45) the
warmer the summers and colder the winters
will be.
How can a change in Earth’s tilt direction
(Earth’s wobble or precession) effect
climate?
If the direction of the tilt changes, the season
will change.
Sunlight turns into this after hitting the
Earth’s surface
Infrared
This is the term for the temperature
raising all over the world
Global warming or Climate change
Some scientists theorize that if this
warming continues, our atmosphere will be
like which planet?
Venus
The period in time between 1645-1716 had
very few Sunspots is known as the?
The Maunder Minimum or the Little Ice Age
Name of the warm ocean current that
develops around Christmas on the west
coast of South America
El nino
In about 14,000 years this star will replace
Polaris as the North star.
Vega
Describe Global warming.
The Sun’s UV rays (short wave) travel through the
atmosphere, hits the Earth’s surface, reflects back as
infrared (long wave) and gets trapped by the green
house gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapor,
methane, nitrous oxide and ozone.
List three of the five green house gases?
Carbon dioxide
Water vapor
Methane
Nitrous Oxide