Download Fluid Circulation Review Vocabulary Absorption

Fluid Circulation Review
Vocabulary
Absorption
- taking in energy as in radiation. For example, the ground will absorb the
sun’s radiation faster than the ocean water.
- Dark colored surfaces absorb more energy.
Air pressure
- The pressure caused by the weight of a column of air pushing down on an
area.
-Air pressure is greater at the surface and decreases as the altitude
increases.
-Air pressure also affects the density of air. Air at the surface has a greater
density than air at higher altitudes in the Troposphere.
- At sea level, air exerts 1kg/square centimeter (14.7 lbs./square inch) of
pressure.
Albedo
- The amount of electromagnetic radiation that is reflected by a surface.
- Lighter colored surfaces have a higher albedo or reflectivity.
- Darker colored surfaces have less albedo and more absorption.
Angle of incoming solar radiation
- The tilt of the Earth (23.5 degrees) affects a location’s daily amount of
solar insolation.
Atmosphere
-The envelope or layers of gases that surround the surface of Earth. We live
in the lowest layer called the Troposphere; where all of our weather occurs.
Biosphere
-Where life exists on Earth.
-Life exists on Earth in the Lithosphere (ground), the hydrosphere (water
covering the ground) and the atmosphere.
Bottom Current
-Ocean currents that are defined and driven by temperature and density.
-Bottom ocean currents are cold and salty which increases the density of
the water.
-Bottom ocean currents are identified as “Thermohaline Circulation.”
Circulation
-The movement and direction of a fluid (liquid, gas)
Cloud Coverage
-An amount or coverage of the dense concentration of suspended water
drops that can form into three types (Cirrus, Stratus, and Cumulus) of
clouds and affect the insolation amount for a location.
Conduction
-The transfer of heat through matter by molecular matter.
-Energy is transferred through collisions from one molecule to another.
-The direct transfer of thermal energy from one substance to another that
is touching.
Convection
-The transfer of heat by the movement of a mass or substance.
-It can take place mostly in fluids (gases, liquids)
- Thermal energy transfer by the movement of a fluid.
Coriolis Effect
-The change that Earth’s rotation causes in the motion of objects and a
major factor for the direction of wind and ocean surface currents.
-Deflection is clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counter- clockwise
in the Southern Hemisphere.
Density Driven Currents
-The term relates to deep ocean currents.
- Review “Bottom Current” term.
El Nino
-A cyclical climate event in the Pacific Ocean during which winds shift and
push warm water toward the coast of South America.
-The climate warms in areas causing floods in some regions and drought in
others.
Energy Budget
-The amount of solar energy that interacts with the atmosphere and
surface of Earth.
-About 50% is either reflected back or absorbed by the atmosphere while
the other half is absorbed by the ground and ocean water.
Energy Transfer
-The transfer of energy on Earth occurs by Radiation, Conduction and
Convection.
Equator
-A “0 “degree line of latitude that mimics Earth’s “circumference” and
separates the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
- Very little seasonal change occurs along the equator.
-The range of temperatures is small along the equator.
Equinox
-The two days of the year when the vertical rays of the sun at Solar Noon
strike the equator.
- The length of daylight and darkness is equal at all latitudes at equinox.
-Autumnal Equinox (Fall) - Sept. 21/22
-Vernal Equinox (Spring) - March 21/22
High Pressure (Anticyclones)
- The center of a dry air mass where winds spiral outward from the center
towards areas of lower pressure.
-The air circulation around the center of a High pressure is clockwise.
-As the cooler air falls at the center it warms and humidity drops.
- High Pressure is usually cause dry, clear weather.
Hydrosphere
-
Infrared
-A type of electromagnetic radiation whose wavelengths are longer
(slower) than red light.
-Infrared radiation is not visible but can be felt as heat.
- Heat radiating from a fireplace is an example of IR radiation.
La Nina
-A cyclical climate event in the eastern Pacific.
-Surface waters become colder than normal.
Latitude
-Horizontal, parallel lines, North and South of the Equator that are placed
on a map or globe.
-There are 90 degree lines North and 90 degree lines South of the Equator.
Low Pressure (Cyclone)
-The center of an air mass where the warm air rises up and the pressure
decreases.
-Winds spiral counter clockwise toward the center of the Low Pressure air
mass.
-Low pressures are associated with clouds, wind and precipitation.
Monsoon
-A cyclical weather pattern caused by geography.
- One example is in India where during the summer months, Prevailing
Winds off the ocean produce heavy rainfall amounts over the continent.
During the winter season, Prevailing Winds move across the land toward
the Indian Ocean and produce drier conditions over the land.
Northern Hemisphere
-The area of Earth North of the Equator.
Prevailing Winds
-The most frequent direction that wind blows for a geographic location.
Radiation
-The direct transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves.
-Most of the energy from the sun that we receive is visible light, IR
radiation and a small amount of UV radiation.
Reflection
-To bend or throw back waves of light, sound or heat.
-Natural surfaces that are lighter in color (white snow, white clouds) reflect
solar energy.
Revolution
-The time it takes for one astronomical body to move around another body
one time.
-The Earth takes 365 days and 6 hours to revolve one time around our star,
the Sun.
-The Moon takes 27.3 days to revolve around the Earth.
Rotation
-The time it takes for an astronomical body to spin once around its axis.
-The Earth’s rotation period is 24 hours.
-The Moon’s rotation period is 27.3 days.
Seasons
-Cyclical changes in weather caused by the Earth’s tilt.
- The seasons that we experience at Loiederman are Fall, Winter, Spring
and Summer.
Solstice
-The day of the year when the vertical rays of the sun at solar noon are
striking either the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn.
-Northern Hemisphere Winter Solstice (Dec. 22/23)
-Northern Hemisphere Summer Solstice (June 21/22)
Surface Current
-Ocean current that is warmer than deep thermohaline current.
-Driven by wind.
Southern Hemisphere
-The area of the Earth south of the Equator.
Water Cycle
-The cyclical motion of water through Earth’s surface and atmosphere.
1. Sun’s radiant energy heats water.
2. Water changes from a liquid to a gas called water vapor (evaporation).
3. Water vapor cools at a higher altitude and changes back to a liquid
(condensation). Suspended water drops form clouds.
4. Clouds precipitate liquid rain, sleet, hail, snow)
5. Runoff and absorption occurs on the surface
6. Sun’s radiant energy heats water.
Wind Driven Currents
-Ocean Surface currents