Physical Geography Exam 2 pt.2

When do hurricanes occur

late summer / early fall

Where do hurricanes occur

10°-20° latitude (N or S) over warm ocean waters, where the Coriolis effect is strong enough to create rotation

Hurricanes need what to form

latent heat vaporization

what is latent heat vaporization

Warm ocean water evaporates, and when the vapor condenses, it releases heat, intensifying the storm. this fuels strong winds, heavy rain, and rapid storm development

Steps in formation for hurricanes

distribution (winds <39 mph), depression (low pressure cell), storm, and hurricane

when do tropical storms become hurricanes

once it hits 74 mph

What pressure does hurricanes have and pressure gradient

low pressure / steep pressure gradient

Hurricanes die out from

colder water, over land

What is the most violent type of storm

tornadoes

do tornadoes have a small or big diameter

small

Where do tornadoes occur

majority in the US

when do tornadoes occur

clash of unlike air masses cP + mT, need coriolis effect - cyclonic circulation

what time of year do tornados happen

spring and summer

Thunderstorms come from what front

Cold fronts (mid-lat)

What does it take to create a thunder storm

convection

what is convection

vertical mixing of air

Thunderstorms are from what type of cloud

Cumulonimbus clouds

Thunderstorms have what kind of weather

strong winds, heavy percip., hail, thunder

lightning travel at

186,000 mi/sec

Thunder travels at

.2 mi/sec

What is a climograph

It is a graphical representation of a places average temperature and precipitation over 12 months

What are the 8 climate controls

latitude, air masses, mountain barriers, elevation, continental/maritime, ocean currents, wind/pressure belts, storm types

Latitude (LAME COWS)

the sun angle affects the temperature - hotter near equator - cooler near poles (pressure + windbelt location)

Air masses (LAME COWS)

Affect the region bringing different weather : hot warm cool cold, maritime or continental

Mountain barriers (LAME COWS)

windward or leeward

windward =

wet

leeward =

warm and dry

Elevation (LAME COWS)

cooler and wetter at higher elevations

Continentality / Maritime influence (LAME COWS)

land v water, land heats / cools quickly, water modifies temp.

Ocean currents (LAME COWS)

Sub tropical highs, anticyclonic, East coast = warm current, West coast = cold current / keeps air from rising

East Coast =

warm currents

West Coast =

cold currents (lana)

Wind + Pressure Belts (LAME COWS)

westerlies, subtropical high, equatorial low

Westerlies =

wet

Subtropical high =

dry

equatorial low =

wet

Storm Types (LAME COWS)

Frontal, convectional, and orographic

Ocean currents do what?

Transport heat and moisture, influencing coastal climates, esp. in the mid-latitudes (30°-45° latitude).

Warm ocean currents =

Carry warm water from the tropics toward higher latitudes, increase temp., bring more moisture

Cold ocean currents =

Carry cold water from polar regions toward the equator, decrease temp., makes them drier, supresses clouds

What is potential evapotranspiration (PET)

the theoretical amount of evaporated and transpired water

humid climates have what PET

extra water, Percip. > PET, more rain

arid climates have what PET

water deficit, P < PET

What is Aridity (B)

a long term water deficiency

Characteristics of an arid climate

low annual percip., high temp., sparse/ specialized plants

How many low latitude climates are there

4 climates

How many mid latitude climates are there

6 climates

How many high latitude climates are there

3 climates

What are the low latitude climates?

Wet equatorial, Tropical monsoon, Tropical wet and dry, Tropical dry

What are the mid latitude climates

Subtropical dry, Mediterranean, Marine west coast, Humid subtropical, Humid continental, Mid latitude dry

what are the high latitude climates

Boreal forest, Tundra, Ice sheet

Wet equatorial

hot all year, wet all year, smallest annual temp range, convectional thunderstorms, amazon basin

Tropical monsoon

hot all year, huge summer precipitation, convectional thunderstorms, continentality, NE South America

Tropical wet and dry

hot all year, summer precipitation (equatorial low) : winter drought (subtropical high), storms, N and S of wet equatorial

Tropical dry

hot all year, low precipitation, subtropical high, continentality, sahara

Subtropical dry

hot summer, mild winter, low precipitation, subtropical high, frontal storms, continentality, coastal arid africa

Mediterranean

warm-hot summer, mild winter, wet winter, summer drought, lower mid latitude, winter: westerlies, frontal storms, summer: subtropical high, Mediterranean

Marine West Coast

cool-warm summer, mild winter, wet all year, upper mid latitude, marine influence, westerlies, frontal storms, SE Australia

Humid Subtropical

hot summer, mild winter, wet all year, low mid latitude, winter: westerlies, frontal storms, summer: subtropical high, convectional storms, SE US

Humid Continental

warm-hot summer, cold winter, wet all year, upper mid latitude, westerlies, frontal storms, continentality, SE canada

Mid latitude dry

warm-hot summer, cold winter, dry, upper mid latitude, westerlies, frontal storms, continentality, great plains

Boreal forest

(Northern), subarctic, cool summer, cold-very cold winter, wet all year, lower high latitude, continentality, summer: westerlies, frontal storms, winter: easterlies, polar high, interior canada

Tundra

cold all year, low precipitation, high latitude, coastal, summer: subpolar low, frontal storms, winter: polar high, artic coast

Ice sheet

cold all year, low precipitation, high latitude = cold, polar high, easterlies, continentality, greenland

what is a highland climate

its an area with mountains/high elevation

higher elevation =

cooler temps., no trees