Natural enviroment Exam 2

What 2 variables determine climate?

Temperature and precipitation

What does Köppen classify climates based on?

Temperature and precipitation patterns

What does “A” climate mean?

Tropical (hot year-round)

What does “B” climate mean?

Dry (desert/steppe)

What does “C” climate mean?

Temperate (mild winters)

What does “D” climate mean?

Continental (cold winters, large temp range)

What does “E” climate mean?

Polar (very cold year-round)

What does “f” mean?

Wet all year

What does “w” mean?

Dry winter

What does “s” mean?

Dry summer

What does “a” mean?

Hot summer

What does “b” mean?

Warm summer

Flat temperature + high rain all year = ?

Tropical rainforest (Af)

Flat temperature + short dry season = ?

Tropical monsoon (Am)

Flat temperature + strong dry season = ?

Tropical savanna (Aw)

Almost no precipitation year-round = ?

Desert (BW)

Low but consistent precipitation = ?

Steppe (BS)

Hot summers + rain all year = ?

Humid subtropical (Cfa)

Large temperature range (cold winter, warm summer) = ?

Continental (D)

Temperature always below 10°C = ?

Polar (E)

What is the water budget equation?

P – POTET = water balance

What does P stand for?

Precipitation

What does POTET stand for?

Potential evapotranspiration

What does positive water balance mean?

Surplus (wet conditions)

What does negative water balance mean?

Deficit (dry conditions)

What is the dry adiabatic lapse rate?

10°C per 1000 m

What is the moist adiabatic lapse rate?

6°C per 1000 m

What happens to rising air?

It cools

What happens when air cools?

Condensation → clouds

Stable air results in what weather?

Clear skies

Unstable air results in what weather?

Clouds and storms

Wind moves from where to where?

High pressure → low pressure

What are proxy records?

Indirect evidence of past climate

Examples of proxies?

Ice cores, tree rings, sediments

Evidence of climate change today?

Rising temps, melting ice, extreme events

What is mitigation?

Reducing greenhouse gases

What is adaptation?

Adjusting to climate impacts

What % of Earth’s water is in oceans?

~97%

What % is freshwater?

~2.8%

What is the hydrologic cycle?

Movement of water through Earth systems

What is groundwater?

Water stored below surface

What is an aquifer?

Underground water storage layer

What is energy?

Ability to do work

What is heat?

Transfer of energy

What are 4 heat transfer types?

Radiation, conduction, convection, advection