Unit 1 Climate Detectives Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards covering the concepts from the Unit 1 Climate Detectives Study Guide, including weather vs. climate, fronts, climate factors, and greenhouse gases.

Weather

The short-term, day-to-day atmospheric changes influenced by interactions between different air masses.

Climate

The long-term average temperature and precipitation patterns and predictable trends in an area.

Weather forecast factors

Key atmospheric elements analyzed by scientists, including air pressure, humidity, cloud cover, and temperature, which drive daily changes.

Cold front

A front that forms quickly, resulting in thunderstorms and cold conditions followed by clear skies.

Warm front

A front that forms slowly as warm air slowly climbs over cold air, bringing warm, rainy weather followed by clear skies.

Stationary front

A front that stalls when warm and cold air masses stay still, keeping conditions cloudy and unchanged for days.

Relationship between air pressure and clouds

As air pressure decreases, the amount of clouds increases.

Coriolis Effect

The apparent curving of storms, winds, and ocean currents due to the rotation of the Earth.

Thermal energy input and ocean output

Thermal energy from the sun acts as the input, producing hot and cold ocean currents as the resulting output.

Water cycle controls

The two primary drivers controlling the water cycle: gravity and solar energy.

Latitude (climate factor)

A factor influencing temperature where locations near the equator are hot and locations near the poles are cold.

Altitude (climate factor)

A factor influencing temperature where higher elevations are colder.

Mountain ranges (climate factor)

A factor influencing humidity, creating wet conditions on the windward side and dry conditions on the leeward side.

Ocean currents (climate factor)

A factor where warm currents bring warmer temperatures and more humidity, while cold currents bring colder temperatures.

Nearness to water (climate factor)

A factor that moderates temperature to keep it stable, producing humid conditions close to water and dry conditions far from water.

Winds (climate factor)

A factor influencing humidity, where winds blowing off the water bring humid conditions and winds blowing from land bring dry conditions.

Greenhouse gas trend and impact

The increase in the amount of greenhouse gases over the years has caused a rise in global temperatures.

Human causes of increased greenhouse gases

Human activities including burning fossil fuels, operating factories and machinery, and cutting down trees.

$0^\text{o}$ latitude (equator) climate

A hot, humid rainforest climate caused by low air pressure.

$30^\text{o}$ latitude climate

A dry desert climate caused by high air pressure.