Weather, Climate, and Currents

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to weather, climate, atmospheric processes, ocean currents, and ecological impacts, helping to understand the concepts for better exam preparation.

Weather

A short-term condition of the atmosphere in a local area, encompassing temperature, humidity, clouds, precipitation, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure.

Climate

The average weather that occurs in a given region over a long period of time, typically decades; describes the long-term patterns and conditions.

Albedo

The reflection of solar energy; it determines how much solar energy is absorbed or reflected by different surfaces.

Atmospheric Convection Currents

Global patterns of air movement initiated by unequally heated surfaces of the Earth that drive weather patterns and climate.

Air Pressure

The force exerted onto a surface by the weight of the air above it, commonly measured in atmospheres (atm), Pascals (Pa), or millibars (mb).

High Pressure System

Associated with clear, calm weather; characterized by descending, warm, and compressed air.

Low Pressure System

Associated with cloudy, stormy weather; characterized by rising, cooler air that condenses and forms clouds.

Front

The boundary where air masses of different temperatures meet; storms typically occur along these boundaries.

Upwelling

The process where deeper waters rise to replace surface currents, bringing nutrients from the deep ocean to the surface.

Thermohaline Circulation

Oceanic circulation driven by differences in water temperature and salinity, crucial for heat and nutrient transport globally.

El Niño

A climatic event characterized by the warming of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific, affecting global weather patterns.

Coriolis Effect

The deflection of moving objects, such as wind, due to the Earth's rotation, influencing weather patterns across the globe.

Microclimates

Localized climate conditions that differ from larger surrounding areas, often influenced by geography or human activities.

Zonation

Describes the changes in ecosystems along environmental gradients, such as temperature and precipitation; often altered by human activity.

Climate Change

Long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns in a place, driven by natural and anthropogenic factors.

Biomes

Large geographic biotic communities, defined by their climate, vegetation, and wildlife, classified into categories like tropical rainforests, deserts, and tundras.

23.5

Earths axis of rotation is tilted how many degrees

Troposphere

The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, where most weather events occur and temperature decreases with altitude.

reflect

light colors ______ heat

absorb

dark colors ________ heat

Density, Water Vapor Capacity, Adiabatic heating/cooling, and Latent heat release

Four properties that determine how air circulates

Winds

_____ due to difference in pressure

Temperature, moisture, Altitude, Weather Systems

Factors affecting air pressure

Warm front

Where a warm air mass is replacing a cool air mass. Brings cloudy skies and light rain

Cold front

Where a cold air mass is replacing a warm air mass. Often brings stormy weather and a drop in temperature.

Atmospheric convection currents

global patterns of air movement that are initiated by the unequal heating of the earth

Hadley Cells

convention currents that cycle between the equator and 30 degrees north and south

inter-tropical convergence

area of the earth that receives the most intense sunlight and where the ascending branches of the Hadley cells converge

Polar cell

convection currents that are formed by air that rises 60 degrees north and south at the poles

Ocean currents

driven by a combination of temperature, gravity, prevailing winds, and the Coriolis effect

Gyres

large scale patterns of water circulation that redistribute heat and nutrients