Air-Sea Interaction

These flashcards cover key concepts and definitions related to air-sea interaction and atmospheric processes.

What is weather defined as?

Conditions of the atmosphere at a particular time and place.

What is climate?

The long-term average of weather.

What are the main components of dry air?

78% nitrogen (N2) and 21% oxygen (O2).

What is the percentage of water vapor in the atmosphere at ground level?

~1%.

How long does water vapor typically stay in the atmosphere compared to water in the ocean?

Water vapor stays for approximately 10 days while ocean water stays for about 1,000 years.

Why does warm air hold more moisture than cold air?

Warm air has a higher capacity to hold moisture due to its lower density.

What happens when warm, moisture-laden air cools?

Precipitation commonly occurs when it cools down and water condenses.

What causes the temperature to drop as air expands?

The expansion of air causes cooling.

Why can't cold air hold much water vapor?

Cold air is more dense, leading to condensation forming droplets and clouds.

What is the main source of energy that heats the Earth's atmosphere?

The Sun.

How is solar energy distributed around the globe?

Unevenly, with variations depending on geographic location.

What does the angle of the sun rays affect?

The amount of solar energy deposited on the Earth.

What happens to solar radiation at high latitudes?

It becomes more diffuse due to a low angle of incidence.

What occurs at low latitudes regarding solar radiation?

Solar radiation is concentrated due to a high angle of incidence.

What factors affect the absorption and reflection of solar energy?

Color of the surface and heat capacity of the material.

What is the relationship between latitude and heat gained or lost?

High latitudes lose more heat than gained; low latitudes gain more heat than lost.

What is the albedo effect?

The reflectivity of a surface; snow and ice-covered areas have high albedo.

How does the atmosphere differ in thickness with latitude?

It varies, impacting how much radiation is absorbed.

What characterizes low pressure zones in the atmosphere?

They are associated with rising air and overcast skies.

What characterizes high pressure zones in the atmosphere?

They are associated with descending air and clear skies.

What is a convection cell?

A system of rising and sinking air, causing air movement.

What determines wind movement in the atmosphere?

Air always flows from high to low pressure.

What happens to air at the equator in a hypothetical non-spinning Earth?

Air rises, creating low pressure.

How does the Coriolis effect influence air movement?

It deflects the path of moving objects to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

Where is the Coriolis effect greatest?

At the poles.

What is a Hadley cell?

A circulation cell from 0–30 degrees latitude.

What creates the Ferrel cell?

Air movement from 30–60 degrees latitude.

How does the Polar cell operate?

It is a circulation cell from 60–90 degrees latitude.

What occurs due to rising air from circulation cells?

It generates low-pressure zones.

What happens when air descends from circulation cells?

It creates high-pressure zones.

What are subtropical highs?

High-pressure areas at 30 degrees latitude.

What do polar highs indicate?

High-pressure zones at 90 degrees latitude.

What are trade winds?

Winds that blow from subtropical highs to the equator.

What are prevailing westerly wind belts?

Winds from 30–60 degrees latitude.

What is the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)?

A boundary at the equator where trade winds converge.

What happens at horse latitudes?

Light, variable winds and high pressure at 30 degrees latitude.

What winds are found at 60 degrees latitude?

Polar easterlies.

What distinguishes cyclonic flow in the Northern Hemisphere?

Counterclockwise movement around a low pressure.

What is the characteristic of anticyclonic flow in the Northern Hemisphere?

Clockwise movement around a low pressure.

How are atmospheric pressures and wind belts represented in January?

They are mirror images in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

What affects atmospheric pressures and wind belt patterns?

The tilt of Earth's axis and uneven heat capacities of land and water.

Why is the three-cell model of circulation sometimes idealized?

It does not account for real complexities such as continents and oceans.

What shows the pattern of wind flow relative to high and low pressure regions?

Weather maps.

What happens at the polar front?

There is a boundary of low pressure at 60 degrees latitude.

What type of weather occurs at the doldrums?

Light winds, abundant cloudiness, and precipitation.