Weather, Climate and Abiotic Factors

Environment Definition

Biotic, Abiotic organisms and factors that make up a place

Evolution definition

change overtime to biotic or abiotic organisms or factors that are caused or reliant on each other.

What factors allow for seasons to occur

the tilt/ positioning of the earth and the angle of the suns rays

definition of weather

Current conditions in a localized area.

Climate definition

long term description of weather, based on averages and variation measured over decades; includes and seasonal cycles, as well as yearly and decadal cycles.

pattern of annual temperatures getting cooler further away from the poles is altered by

ocean currents, continental topography and distribution of land and water masses

in the tropics, seasonal changes in precipitation result from movement of the

Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)

Intertropical Convergence Zone definition

the zone of maximum solar radiation and atmospheric uplift

transpiration definition

Evaporation of water off of plants

Conduction

kinetic energy is transferred by molecules in direct contact with one another

Convection

Energy transfer by movements of air/ water currents

Latent heat flux

heat loss due to evaporation

albedo

amount of solar radiation a surface reflects; light colored-surfaces have highest.

Evapotranspiration

Water loss through transpiration by plants, plus evaporation from the soil. The transfer of energy as latent heat and water into the atmosphere impacts air temperature and moisture.

Warm air is __ dense than cool air

less

Atmospheric pressure

decreases with altitude, so rising air expands and cools.

Condensation is a __ process.

warming

thunderclouds reach the boundary between the ___________ where temperatures are warmer.

troposphere and stratosphere

subsidence

air descends when it cools and forms a high pressure zone at 30*N and 30*S.

Hadley Cells

large scale circulation patterns resulting from uplift in the tropics.

Ferrell Cells

result in major climatic zones in each hemisphere.

Major climatic zones in each hemisphere

tropical, temperate, and polar

Polar cells

cold air descends, creating high pressure zones with little precipitation (polar deserts)

prevailing winds

wind flow from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure, resulting in consistent patterns of air movements

Coriolis Effect

winds appear to be deflected due to the rotation of the earth

Water has a _____ heat capacity than land.

higher

water can absorb and store ___ energy without changing temperature.

more

what does the air do during summer

air over oceans is cooler and denser, so air subsides and high pressure develops over the oceans.

what does the air do during winter

air over continents is cooler and denser; high pressure develops over continents

Semipermanent high and low pressure cells

seasonal shifts in pressure cells influence the direction of the prevailing winds

effect of currents on weather patterns

mediate coastal climates, driven by surface winds.

Ocean currents distribute heat ___ consistently and evenly than wind, which leads to a ___ shift in temperature

more; smaller

salinity

concentration of dissolved salts in water

vertical ocean circulation

surface waters are warmer and less saline than deep waters, so the two layers don’t usually mix.

downwelling of ocean waters

where warm surface currents reach polar areas, water cools and ice forms, water becomes more saline and dense causing it to sink. Moves towards equator.

Upwelling of ocean waters

occurs where deep ocean waters rise to surface where prevailing winds blow parallel to coastline. Surface water flows away from coast and deeper, colder water rises to replace it.

____welling (up/down) influences coastal climates

Upwelling

upwellings bring nutrients from ____ to photic zone, which provides food for zooplankton.

deep