Earth Science Test 13

Climate

Climate

The general weather conditions in an area over a long period of time

What factors determine climate?

1. Air, water, temperature, precipitation, and humidity are the largest factors determine climate

2. Latitude

3. Bodies of Water

4. Height in Atmosphere

5. Mountains

   1. Rain shadow

6. Vegetation

7. Human Development

   1. Heat Islands

Latitude

Latitudes closer to the equators receive more direct sunlight concentrating the Sun’s energy. Latitudes closer to the poles receive less direct, less concentrated sunlight

Bodies of Water

Lakes and oceans moderate nearby land warming it in winter and cooling in summer

Height in Atmosphere

The air temperature decreases 3.6 for every 1000 ft above sea level

If heat rises, why is the atmosphere colder higher up?

Air that is less dense can hold less heat, and air that is further from Earth’s surface is heated less by Earth’s surface.

Mountains

Mountain ranges can act as barriers to both precipitation and cold air

Rain Shadow

A desert area formed when mountain ranges block precipitation

Vegetation

Plants found in a particular area or habitat

Human Development

The concrete and lack of plants in some cities raises their temps.

Heat Islands

Increases in city temperatures due to heat absorbing concrete and lack of vegetation

Arid

And area with less than 500 mm of precipitation a year

Semi Arid

An area with 500 mm to 750 mm of precipitation a year

Subarid

An area with 750 mm to 1000 mm of precipitation a year

Humid

Area with more than 1000 mm of precipitation a year

Polar

An area that is covered with ice most of the year

Subpolar

An area with cold freezing winters, and short, cool summers

Subtropical

An area with hot, humid summers, and mild winters

Tropical

An area with hot temperatures all year - round

Desert

Land dominated by rocky or sandy surfaces with shrubs, cacti and rarely trees

Grassland

Land dominated by grasses rather than large shrubs or trees

Deciduous Forest

Land dominated by trees that lose their leaves annually

Coniferous Forest

Land dominated by trees with needle leaves and cones

Rain Forest

Land dominated by a canopy of large trees with plant layers underneath

Ice Age or Glacier

Any geologic period during which thick ice sheets cover vast areas of land

Interglacial

A period milder, warmer climate that occurs between two glacial periods

How do we know about ice ages?

Because we have studied the ice cores, fossils, and landforms.

Ice Core

Cylinders of ice drilled from ice sheet and glaciers used to study Earth’s air and water in the past

Milankovitch Cycle

Natural changes in Earth’s climate that repeat around every 100,000 years as a result of changes in geometry between the Sun and Earth

What can cause an ice age?

When the distance between the Sun and Earth reaches its maximum occurs at the same time Earth is tilted farther away from the Sun so it received less direct sunlight and it causes an ice age

Feedback Loop

Any situation where the results of a process increase or decrease the process in the future

How does the Milankovitch cycle involve feedback loop that warms Earth?

The Milankovitch cycle doesn’t warm or cool the Earth, but it triggers several consequences that will increase / decrease the Earth’s warming or cooling

What are the consequences of the Milankovitch cycle?

1. Melted glacier, sea ice and snow - reduced sunlight reflect by Earth - causing the Earth to warm

2. Warming on Earth increases the humidity - which warms Earth even further - Greenhouse Effect

3. Permafrost melting releases methane and CO2 - which warms the Earth more - Greenhouse Effect

   1. Warm ocean water releases stored CO2 - warms the Earth - Greenhouse Effect

Climatograph

A display of the temp and prec over 1 year for a specific location

What are the parts of the climatograph:

1. Bottom or horizontal - letters of each of the 12 months

2. Vertical sides - temp and prec

3. Line graph - average monthly temp

4. Bar graph - average monthly prec

Koppen Climate Classification

A system classifying Earth’s climates into 6 categories based on prec and temp

El Nino

A climate pattern involving the usual warming of surface waters in Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean

La Nina

A climate pattern involving the unusual cooling of surface water in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean

Global Warming

The rise in global temp due mainly to the increasing concentrations of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere

Climate Change

Long - term shifts in temps and weather patterns on Earth overtime that can happen naturally and through the effects of human activities

Anthropogenic Climate Change

Changes in Earth’s climate as a result of human activities