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What is specific humidity?
The mass of water vapor in a given mass of air.
What is relative humidity?
A percentage that compares the current amount of water vapor in the air to the maximum amount the air can hold at a given temperature.
What happens when relative humidity reaches 100%?
The air is saturated.
What does water-vapor capacity refer to?
The amount of water vapor air can hold at a given temperature.
How do stable air conditions manifest?
Stable air resists vertical motion, resulting in clouds forming only in certain conditions.
What characterizes unstable air?
Unstable air rises easily, leading to more vertical development of clouds and storms.
Define the adiabatic lapse rate.
The rate at which the temperature of an air parcel changes as it rises or sinks.
What is the environmental lapse rate?
The actual rate at which the temperature of the surrounding air decreases with altitude.
What is dewpoint temperature?
The temperature at which air becomes saturated with water vapor and condensation begins to form.
Explain the rain shadow effect.
Mountains block the movement of moist air, leading to a wet windward side and a dry leeward side.
Windward
The side of the mountain range that faces the wind, where air rises and cools, leading to precipitation.
Leeward
The opposite side where the air descends and warms, resulting in dry conditions.
How is the rain shadow effect linked to the adiabatic lapse rates
because air cools as it rises on the windward side and warms as it descends on the leeward side.
What types of precipitation are mentioned?
Rain, snow, sleet, hail, and drizzle.
Where are the wettest climates generally located?
Around the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and coastal regions like tropical rainforests.
Where are the driest climates found?
Deserts and areas in the rain shadow or far from moisture sources.
What is drought?
A prolonged period of below-average precipitation leading to water shortages.
What is a return interval?
The average period between events of a certain intensity, such as a 100-year flood.
What do the A, B, C, D, E climate types refer to in Köppen classification?
A classification system based on temperature, precipitation, and seasonality.
What is the A Climate?
Tropical
What is the B Climate?
Arid
What is the C Climate?
Temperate
What is the D Climate?
Continental
What is the E Climate?
Polar
Describe a Tropical Climate
hot and wet year round
Describe a Arid Climate
desert or semi-desert
Describe a Temperate Climate
mild, with seasonal changes
Describe a Continental Climate
cold winters, warm summers
Describe a Polar Climate
cold all year
Describe the maritime climate.
Climates influenced by nearby oceans, resulting in milder winters and cooler summers.
Key Maritime word:
Moderated
What characterizes a continental climate?
More extreme temperature differences between summer and winter due to distance from oceans.
What type of climate is affected by the ITCZ, characterized by warm temperatures and high rainfall year-round?
Tropical rainforest.
Tropical Monsoon
Similar to rainforests but with a distinct dry season
Tropical Savanna
Also near the equator, but with a distinct wet and dry season (ITCZ migration)
Mediterranean Climate
Found in areas around 30° latitude, influenced by the subtropical high, characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
Humid Subtropical Climate
Found on the southeastern sides of continents, influenced by warm ocean currents and latitude.
Hot Desert Climate
Characterized by low precipitation, extreme temperature ranges, and dry conditions. Found near 30° latitude (subtropical highs)
Polar Climates
Polar climates are extremely cold year-round. Some are moderated by ocean currents (e.g., coastal areas)
What is the primary effect of the greenhouse effect?
It traps heat in Earth's atmosphere, keeping the planet warm enough to support life.
Proxy Data
Indirect evidence (e.g., tree rings, ice cores) used to infer past climate conditions
Dendrochronology
The study of tree rings to understand past climates
Positive Feedback
Processes that amplify climate change (e.g., melting ice reduces reflectivity, causing more warming)
Negative Feedback
Processes that counteract change (e.g., more clouds reflecting sunlight)
What is NPP (Net Primary Productivity)?
The rate at which plants produce useful energy for ecosystems.
What does biodiversity refer to?
The variety of life forms in an area.
Richness
The number of species in a given area
Invasive species
Non-native species that can harm ecosystems
Disturbance
Any event that disrupts an ecosystem (e.g., fire)
Succession
The process by which ecosystems change over time after a disturbance
What is the climax community in ecological succession?
The final, stable community in an area after succession.
Forest
Types include tropical rainforests and temperate deciduous forests. Fires play a role in many forests
Grasslands
Characterized by low precipitation, often result from climatic factors like seasonal drought
Deserts
Defined by low precipitation, temperature extremes, and vegetation adapted to dry conditions
Where is NPP the highest?
Tropical Rainforests
Where is the lowest NPP located?
Deserts and tundras
Heat Waves
extended periods of excessive heat
Wet Bulb Temperature
a measure of humidity and temperature used to gauge heat stress
Define the tundra biome.
Cold, treeless areas with short growing seasons, influenced by latitude and ocean temperatures.
What are the characteristics of a hot desert climate?
Low precipitation, extreme temperature ranges, and dry conditions.
How can proxy data be described?
Indirect evidence used to infer past climate conditions.
What are invasive species?
Non-native species that can harm ecosystems.
