APES Climate Unit

weather

an area’s short term atmospheric conditions

climate

a region’s long term atmospheric conditions

front

the boundary between two different air masses

warm front

boundary between advancing warm air mass and cool air mass

warm air rises over cool air mass

condenses = clouds/precipitation

cold front

leading edge of an advancing cold air mass

pushes warm air up

condenses = clouds/precipitation/thunderheads

high pressure

cool, dense air descends toward Earth’s surface and becomes warmer = usually sunny weather

low pressure

warm air rises, condenses = clouds and rain

different densities

warm, moist air rises then cools and condenses

orographic lifting

wind encounters mountains - the air has nowhere to go but up

rain shadow effect

windward side of a mountain range is rainy/moist while the leeward side is dry/arid

climate

latitude, altitude, and ocean currents determine average temp and precipitation, while average temp and precipitation are the two main factors of climate

creation of wind

uneven heating of Earth’s surface

seasonal changes

rotation of earth (Coriolis effect)

properties of air, water, and land 

creation of ocean currents

surface currents - driven by wind and Earth’s rotation

subsurface currents - different densities (driven by temp and salinity)

urban heat islands

cities having higher temperatures due to asphalt, concrete, and bricks

blocks wind flow

vehicles, heating, and AC release large quantities of heat 

El Nino

trade winds weaken or reverse

warmer water stays off the coast of C. and S. America = more precipitation

less rain/drought in SE Asia and Australia

upwelling is suppressed - fish migrate or die

La Nina

trade winds pick up - stronger than normal

colder than normal waters off coast of S. America

Australia = increased humidity and rainfall

increased upwelling in S. America

tropical rain forest

high biodiversity with warm/wet climate

low nutrient levels

68 F - 77 F w/ lots of rain

savanna

dry grass with scattered trees

sand, silt, soil with low nutrients

68 F - 86 F and 10-30in rain yearly

desert

dry w/ low humidity

rocky and high salt content

<10 in rainfall and temp can go >120 F

chaparral

Mediterranean climate - hot, dry summer w/ mild, wet winters

shallow, rocky, low fertility but rich in nutrients

10-17in and 30 F - 120 F

temperate grassland

moderate rainfall 20-35in annually

treeless plains and semi-arid

very nutrient rich and perfect for agriculture

hot summers w/ cold winters

forest temperate deciduous

broadleaf trees w/ rich biodiversity

nutrient dense, organic layer from leaves

-22 F in winter to 86 F in summer

30-59in rain

forest temperate rain

bodies of water and large trees

coniferous trees

acidic, nutrient rich

60-200in rain w/ fog

39 F - 54 F

taiga

largest land biome and long winters

pines and spruces w/ withstanding to snow

acidic and nutrient poor, slow decomposition because of cold temps

-42 F - 30 F

12-33in yearly

tundra

extremely cold

lack of precipitation and trees

stony and holds carbon, infertile

-18F to -10F

6-10in rain

multiple use

national forests

resource lands

wildlife refuges

restricted use

national parks

most restricted use

wilderness preservation

National Wild and Scenic Rivers

old growth

has not been cut/disturbed by human activity for hundreds of years

ex. redwood

second growth

forest that has grown back after it had been cut/removed by human activities

ex. most forests

tree plantation

monoculture tree farms

ex. apple orchard or christmas tree farms

even aged

maintaining trees at about the same age and size 

uneven aged

maintaining a variety of trees at many ages and sizes

selective cutting

medium or mature trees in uneven aged stand cut singly or in small groups

clear cutting

removes all trees in a single area

most devastating to an ecosystem

causes massive erosion and nitrate runoff

alternatives

kenaf

hemp

neem tree

bamboo tree

edge effect

area adjacent to a forest

naturally = more biodiversity

however artificial forest fragmentation decreases biodiversity 

biodiversity of habitat corridor

strip connecting habitat which allows wildlife to pass safely

surface burning

usually only burns leaf litter on forest floor

beneficial to get rid of possible things that could start wildfires

adds nutrients to soil

crown burning

may start on ground but eventually burn up whole tree and leap tree-top

most dangerous

prescribed burning

controlled burning of flammable materials to prevent build up

Healthy Forests Initiative (HFI)

timber companies are allowed to cut down economically valuable trees in return for clearing away fire-prone underbrush

Neutral

tropical easterlies/trade winds blowing across equatorial pacific

pulls warm surface water from S. America to Aus/Pacific Islands = rainfall

this pulls cold/nutrient rich water up off coast of S. America = upwelling