Plate Techtonics, Atmosphere, and Global Climate Patterns

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering plate tectonics, atmospheric layers, global wind patterns, ocean phenomena like El Nino, and geographical climate effects.

Divergent Plate Boundary

A boundary where plates move away from each other, resulting in mid-oceanic ridges, volcanoes, seafloor spreading, and rift valleys on land.

Convergent Plate Boundary

A boundary where plates move towards each other, resulting in mountains, island arcs, earthquakes, and volcanoes.

Transform Fault Plate Boundary

A boundary where plates slide past each other, primarily resulting in earthquakes.

Thermosphere

The hottest layer of the atmosphere that absorbs harmful X-rays and UV radiation, where photodissociation creates ions and charged gas molecules produce northern lights (aurora borealis).

Mesosphere

The middle layer of the atmosphere located between $60-80\,\text{km}$, characterized by being even less dense than layers below.

Stratosphere

The second layer of the atmosphere ($16-60\,\text{km}$) which contains the thickest $O_3$ layer that absorbs UV-B and UV-C rays.

Troposphere

The atmospheric layer from $0-16\,\text{km}$ where weather occurs; it is the most dense layer and contains most of the atmosphere's gas molecules.

Tropospheric Ozone ($O_3$)

A substance that is harmful to humans as a respiratory irritant, damages plant stomata, and contributes to the formation of smog.

Convection Currents

Global patterns of air movement driven by the unequal heating of Earth by the sun.

High Pressure

Atmospheric conditions characterized by dry and cool air.

Low Pressure

Atmospheric conditions characterized by wet and warm air.

Convection Process

Warm air rises, cools, and expands leading to $H_2O$ vapor condensation into rain; eventually, cool dry air sinks back to Earth at $30^\circ\,N\,\text{\&}\,S$.

Gyres

Massive circular systems of wind-driven surface currents in the ocean.

Upwellings

The rising of colder, denser, and nutrient-rich water from the deep ocean which increases productivity.

El Nino

A climate pattern characterized by warmer and rainier conditions that oppose the normal state.

La Nina

A climate pattern characterized by cooler and dryer conditions that represent an extreme version of the normal state.

June & December Solstices

Times when the N or S hemisphere is maximally tilted toward the sun, resulting in summer (longer days/increased radiation) or winter (shorter days/decreased radiation).

March & Sept. Equinox

Times when the N and S hemispheres are equally facing the sun.

Tropic of Cancer

The latitudinal line representing the North.

Tropic of Capricorn

The latitudinal line representing the South.

Albedo

The proportion of light that is reflected by a surface.

Low Albedo

Characterized by dark surfaces that reflect less light.

High Albedo

Characterized by light surfaces that reflect more light.

Rain shadow Effect

A process where warm moist air hits the windward side of a mountain, rises and cools to cause rain, while dry air descends the leeward side causing arid conditions.

Windward

The side of a mountain facing the ocean that receives moist air and rain, resulting in lush green vegetation.

Leeward

The side of a mountain where dry air descends and warms, leading to arid desert conditions.