Science 10 - Unit D: Energy Flow in Global Systems (Climate)

Vocabulary flashcards for concepts related to energy flow, climate, and biomes.

Systems

A set of interacting or interdependent components forming a complex whole.

Open system

Exchanges both matter and energy with surroundings.

Closed System

Exchanges energy but not matter with its surroundings.

Isolated System

Does not exchange matter or energy with surroundings.

Biosphere

The narrow layer of air, water, and soil where all organic life exists.

Atmosphere

Gaseous layers surrounding the Earth.

Lithosphere

Earth's crust.

Hydrosphere

Oceans, lakes, rivers, etc.

Weather

Conditions of temperature, air pressure, cloud cover, precipitation and humidity at a particular time and place.

Climate

Average weather conditions that occur in a region over a long period of time (years).

Solar Energy

Energy from the sun.

Radiant Energy

Electromagnetic waves of different sizes carrying different amounts of energy to Earth.

Natural Greenhouse Effect

Some of the radiant energy absorbed by the Earth’s surface is re-emitted into the atmosphere as infrared radiation which helps keep the temperature of Earth in a range that supports life.

Albedo

The fraction of solar radiation that a surface reflects.

Thermal Energy Transfer

The movement of energy from an area of high temperature to an area of low temperature.

Conduction

Molecules colliding with other molecules and transferring energy (heat) through direct contact.

Convection

Circulation of molecules (gases or liquids) distributing energy (heat) through movement.

Radiation

Electromagnetic radiation is absorbed and then released as long wave inferred waves.

Atmospheric Pressure

Pressure exerted by the mass of air over a point on the Earth’s surface.

Wind

The movement of cool air from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.

Coriolis Effect

Deflection of any object from a straight line by rotation of the earth.

Jet Streams

Currents of extremely fast moving air about 10km above the Earth's Surface.

Specific Heat Capacity

The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1.0 gram of a substance by 1.0°C.

Phase Change

A physical change from one state to another, with no change in the chemical composition.

Heat of Fusion

The amount of energy required to melt one mole of a substance.

Heat of Vaporization

The amount of energy it takes to convert one mole of a substance from a liquid to a gas.

Biomes

Major climate zones with similar environmental conditions.

Physiological Adaptation

Occurs within an organism.

Structural Adaptation

A physical feature on organisms that helps it to survive.

Behavioral Adaptation

Things that animals do to survive in their environment.

Climatograph

A graphical representation of climate data for a specific region and time period.

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

A measure of the ability of a greenhouse gas to trap thermal energy in the atmosphere.

Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

Change in Earth’s net radiation budget caused by the increase in human-caused greenhouse gases.

Carbon Sinks

Processes which remove carbon from the atmosphere.

Carbon Sources

Processes that release carbon into the atmosphere.

Climate Change Legislation

A set of laws agreed upon and implemented by countries that govern activities relating to the impact of climate change.

IPCC

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; founded under the UN, brings together experts from every field from many countries.

COP

Conference of the Parties; where main global climate change decisions, goals, and agreements are discussed.

angle of inclination

refers to the tilt of the Earth's axis in relation to its orbital plane, significantly affecting climate and seasons.

angle of incidence

is the angle between incoming solar radiation and a perpendicular to the surface of the Earth, affecting the intensity of sunlight and therefore climate.

net radiation budget

is the balance between incoming solar radiation absorbed by the Earth and outgoing infrared radiation emitted back to space, which influences Earth's energy balance and climate.

solstice

is an astronomical event that occurs twice a year, marking the points when the sun is at its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon, resulting in the longest and shortest days of the year.

cloud cover

refers to the fraction of the sky obscured by clouds, impacting sunlight reaching the Earth's surface and influencing weather and climate conditions.

low pressure

A region where the atmospheric pressure is lower than its surroundings, often associated with cloudy weather and precipitation.

atmospheric high pressure

High pressure is a meteorological condition characterized by the dominance of high atmospheric pressure, typically leading to clear skies and stable weather patterns.

altitude

The height of an object or point in relation to sea level or ground level, affecting temperature and pressure in the atmosphere.

latitude

The geographical coordinate that specifies the north-south position of a point on the Earth's surface, influencing climate and weather patterns.