APES Weather, Climate, and Biomes Review

Plants

Determine the type of biome in an area.

Weather

Current and short-term atmospheric conditions. Ex: it is raining today.

Climate

Long-term atmospheric conditions over a long period of time in a certain area. Ex: The average temperature in Townsville on October 13th is 78 degrees.

Nitrogen

The 1st most prevalent gas in the dry sea level troposphere. 78%.

Oxygen

The 2nd most prevalent gas in the dry sea level troposphere. 21%.

Argon

The 3rd most prevalent gas in the dry sea level troposphere. 1% (0.934%).

Carbon dioxide

The 4th most prevalent gas in the dry sea level troposphere. 0.04%.

Troposphere

The layer of the atmosphere that life takes place in. Weather and the greenhouse effect (CO₂, H₂O, N₂O, CH₄, CFCs) take place here. Temperature decreases with higher altitude. The tropopause is its boundary.

Stratosphere

The 2nd layer of the atmosphere (going up). The ozone layer (earth’s sunscreen) is found here. Temperature increases with higher altitude. The stratopause is its boundary.

Mesosphere

The 3rd layer of the atmosphere (going up). Temperature decreases with higher altitude. The mesopause is its boundary.

Thermosphere

The 4th layer of the atmosphere (going up). Temperature increases with higher altitude.

Exosphere

The 5th layer of the atmosphere (going up). Temperature decreases with higher altitude.

How cold fronts cause rain

Cold air is dense, so as it advances, it pushes air ahead of it upward. This rising air expands and cools, causing water to condense, leading to rain.

Low pressure

Vertical air movement: Rising

Horizontal air movement: Counterclockwise

General weather: Clouds, rain, storms, hurricanes

High pressure

Vertical air movement: Sinking (descending)

Horizontal air movement: Clockwise

General weather: Sunny to fair (few clouds)

Affects evaporation of sweat

How humidity affects human comfort.

How curvature of the earth leads to uneven heat distribution

The sun shines directly on the equator, but its energy is dispersed as you move poleward.

The hemisphere that is tilted toward the sun is experiencing the most heat.

How the tilt of the earth on its axis causes the seasons.

Circulation cells

Develop due to Earth’s rotation and uneven solar heating across Earth’s surface. They transport excess heat away from the tropics and give the heat to the poles. They create tropical rainforests with rising air, create deserts with sinking air.

The sun is on varying cycles of intensity

How the sun influences global climate.

Ocean currents

Winds off South America blow offshore (westward), pushing surface water westward and bringing up cold, nutrient rich water.

Upwelling

The process where cold, nutrient-rich water is brought to the surface.

El Nino

Every 2-7 years, this occurs. Interactions between the oceans and the atmosphere cause the normal winds to slacken or reverse.

It causes pooling of warm water to the South American coast, suppression of upwelling, and reduced fishing success.

La Nina

An enhanced version of the normal ocean currents (Winds off South America blow westward and cause warmer waters on the Pacific coast of Asia)

Rainshadow effect

Urban heat island

Mountain climate

How bodies of water can have an influence on weather and climate.

Biomes

Latitude variations

Altitude variations

Tropics

Temperate zone

Polar

Polar easterlies

Located higher than 60° N and lower than 60° S.

60°N: Wind direction is northeast.

60°S: Wind direction is southeast.

Westerlies

Located between 30°N and 60°N, as well as between 30°S and 60°S

30°N-60°N: Wind direction is southwest.

30°S-60°S: Wind direction is northwest.

Northeast tradewinds

Located between the equator and 30°N. Wind direction is northeast.

Southeast tradewinds

Located between the equator and 30°S. Wind direction is southeast.