APES Vocab 4.5

Adiabatic heating

The heating effect of increased pressure on air as it sinks toward the surface of earth and decreases in volume

Adiabatic cooling

The cooling effect of reduced pressure on air as it rises higher in the atmosphere and expands

Albedo

Ability of a surface to reflect light

Atmospheric convection

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

Coriolis effect

The effect of earth’s rotation on the direction of winds and currents

El Niño/ southern oscillation

The periodic changes in winds and ocean currents, causing cooler and wetter conditions in the southeastern United States and unusually dry weather in Southern Africa and Southeast Asia

Ferrell cell

A convection current in the atmosphere that lies between Hadley cells and polar cells

Floodplain

An area of low-lying ground adjacent to a river, formed mainly of river sediments and subject to flooding

Gyre

A circular motion of water in each of the major ocean basins

Hadley cell

A system of vertical and horizontal air circulation predominating in tropical and subtropical regions and creating major weather patterns

Insolation

The incoming heat from the sun

Latent heat release

The release of energy when water vapor in the atmosphere condensed into liquid water

Polar cell

Cells of air circulation occurring between 60 degrees north and south and each poll

Rain shadow

A region with dry conditions found on the leeward side of a mountain range as a result of humid winds from the ocean causing precipitation on the windward side

Thermohaline circulation

An oceanic circulation pattern that drives the mixing of surface water and deep water

Upwelling

The movement of deep, cold, and nutrient-rich water to the surface

Watershed

An ecosystem where all water runoff drains into a single body of water

High-pressure zone

An area where air is sinking, increasing pressure at the surface. Associated with dry, stable weather

Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)

A band near the equator where trade winds from both hemispheres meet, causing moist air and heavy rainfall. Moves slightly north and south with seasons

Low-pressure zone

An area where air is rising, leaving less air near the surface. Associated with clouds and precipitation