Comprehensive Ocean Currents, Climate Systems, and Weather Phenomena

What primarily drives surface ocean currents?

Global wind patterns

What direction do trade winds generally move clouds at the equator?

From east to west

What are gyres?

Generalized ocean circulation patterns that push ocean water in circular motions

How do ocean currents generally move in the southern hemisphere?

In a counterclockwise motion

How do ocean currents generally move in the northern hemisphere?

In a clockwise motion

What effect do ocean currents have on weather, temperature, and humidity?

They influence these factors significantly

What is the Gulf Stream known for?

Carrying trade ships across the ocean and its historical role in the slave trade

What is the North Atlantic Drift?

An extension of the Gulf Stream that keeps northern waters warmer than expected

What is the California Current's effect on the region?

Keeps California waters cool and prevents hurricanes

What is a sea breeze?

Wind coming off the ocean and blowing onshore during the day

What is a land breeze?

Wind coming off the land onto the ocean during the night

What is the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)?

A region located at the equator where trade winds converge, shifting seasonally

How does the ITCZ shift throughout the year?

It moves up to 23.5 degrees north and south, impacting weather patterns

What are monsoons?

Seasonal reversals of winds and precipitation patterns

What happens during the summer monsoon season?

Low pressure builds in the continent, creating a sea breeze that brings moisture

What occurs during the winter monsoon season?

High pressure builds in the continent, sending dry air into the ocean

What are Rossby waves?

Waves in the jet stream that can cause rapid temperature changes

What is El Niño?

An episodic warming of the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean affecting global weather patterns

How often does El Niño typically occur?

Every 3 to 7 years, lasting about 18 months

What is La Niña?

The opposite of El Niño, characterized by cooler ocean temperatures and high pressure

What is the significance of sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies?

They indicate the current oceanic and atmospheric patterns

What is relative humidity?

A measure of how much water vapor is in the air compared to the maximum it can hold

What happens to an air parcel as it rises in the troposphere?

It cools and can hold less water vapor, leading to cloud formation

What occurs when an air parcel reaches saturation?

A cloud forms as water vapor condenses into liquid

What are the three states of water?

Solid (ice), liquid (water), and vapor (gas).

Why is water's liquid form crucial for Earth?

It allows Earth to be habitable for animals across a wide range of temperatures.

What type of bond allows water molecules to hold together?

Hydrogen bonds, which are weak bonds formed due to the polar nature of water molecules.

What is surface tension in water related to?

It is related to the hydrogen bonds that hold water molecules together.

What happens to water's density as it cools?

Water becomes denser until it reaches near freezing point, after which it expands upon freezing.

Define latent heat.

Latent heat is the energy required to break hydrogen bonds during a phase change without changing temperature.

What is sensible heat?

Sensible heat causes a change in temperature, unlike latent heat which does not.

What is the freezing point of water in Fahrenheit?

32 degrees Fahrenheit.

What are air masses?

Discrete units of air used to study atmospheric phenomena, characterized by their moisture content and temperature.

What is adiabatic heating and cooling?

It occurs when a parcel of air rises or descends, causing temperature changes due to pressure variations.

What is saturation in the context of air?

Saturation occurs when air is completely full of water vapor and cannot hold any more.

What are the two measures of humidity?

Absolute humidity (mass of water per volume of air) and relative humidity (ratio of current water vapor to maximum capacity at a given temperature).

What is condensation?

Condensation occurs when air reaches its dew point and cools, causing water to be pushed out of the air.

What is the lifting condensation level?

The altitude at which an air mass reaches saturation and begins to condense into clouds.

What are the three factors required for precipitation?

Moist air, uplift (such as convection or frontal lifting), and cooling of air.

What is cyclonic precipitation?

Precipitation that occurs when air is forced upward in a rising column of warm air, common in low-pressure systems.

What is frontal precipitation?

Precipitation that occurs when a cold air mass pushes up a warm air mass, causing it to cool and condense.

What is orographic lifting?

It occurs when an air mass is pushed up a mountain range, cooling and causing precipitation on one side (wet side) and creating a rain shadow on the other (dry side).

What are condensation nuclei?

Small particles that provide a surface for water droplets to condense upon, forming precipitation.

How does humidity change during the day?

Humidity typically rises at night when the air cools and drops during the day due to warming by the sun.

What is the significance of Arkansas in terms of air masses?

Arkansas is an area where various air masses and fronts collide, leading to severe weather events like tornadoes.

What happens to air pressure and temperature as air rises?

As air rises, pressure decreases, causing expansion and a loss in temperature.

What is the role of water vapor in the atmosphere?

Water vapor holds energy and can release it during phase changes, powering storms and weather systems.

What is a stationary front?

A boundary where cold and warm air collide without making headway.

What characterizes an occluded front?

It occurs when a cold front catches up with a warm front, mixing two cold air masses with warm air on top.

What are mid-latitude cyclones?

Low pressure systems that move with jet streams, involve converging rising air, and bring precipitation.

What is the role of high pressure systems (anticyclones)?

They involve sinking and diverging air, associated with dry weather and clear conditions.

How does the Coriolis force affect high and low pressure systems?

High pressure systems push air out in a clockwise motion, while low pressure systems pull air in and deflect slightly to the left.

What initiates the life cycle of a mid-latitude cyclone?

A stationary front along the polar front where cold and warm air are at a standoff.

What is a rain shadow?

A dry area on the leeward side of mountains where most precipitation is blocked by the mountains.

What are the characteristics of marine tropical storms?

They bring warm and wet conditions after forming over the ocean.

What happens during a cold front?

A cold air mass moves into a warm air mass, causing intense precipitation and thunderstorms.

How do warm fronts differ from cold fronts?

Warm fronts involve warm air rising over cold air and typically lead to lighter precipitation.

What is adiabatic cooling?

The process where air cools as it rises, reducing its capacity to hold water vapor.

What is the cumulus stage of a thunderstorm?

The initial stage where warm air rises, cools, and condenses to form clouds.

What occurs during the mature stage of a thunderstorm?

Precipitation begins, with updrafts and downdrafts creating electrical charges leading to lightning.

What happens in the dissipating stage of a thunderstorm?

The storm loses its energy as warm air is cooled, resulting in light rain and eventual dissipation.

What is lightning?

An intense discharge of electricity caused by the difference in charge between a cloud and the surface.

What defines a tornado?

A small, intense cyclonic storm of low pressure with violent winds and converging air.

What is wind shear and its role in tornado formation?

Wind shear refers to winds moving in different directions and speeds, necessary for creating rotation in a tornado.

What is the enhanced Fujita scale?

A classification system for tornadoes based on the damage they cause.

How do thunderstorms connect to the process of latent heat?

Thunderstorms release latent heat as water vapor condenses, which fuels further storm development.

What is the primary source of moisture for weather systems?

Moisture can come from continental or maritime sources, affecting precipitation patterns.

What is the effect of orographic precipitation?

It leads to increased precipitation on the windward side of mountains and creates rain shadows on the leeward side.

What is the significance of the saturation curve in relation to relative humidity?

It shows the maximum capacity of air to hold water vapor at different temperatures.

What is the relationship between temperature and the capacity of air to hold moisture?

As air temperature increases, its capacity to hold water vapor also increases.

What is the difference between weather and climate?

Weather refers to current atmospheric conditions, while climate is the average conditions of an area over a long period.

What are climate normals?

Climate normals are three-decade averages of climate variables that help determine the global distribution of ecosystems and agricultural production.

What is a climograph?

A climograph is a graphical representation of a region's climate, showing mean monthly temperature, annual temperature range, mean monthly precipitation, and annual total precipitation.

What are the six climate zones in the Koppen climate system?

The six climate zones are A (tropical humid), B (arid), C (mid-latitude), D (severe mid-latitude), E (polar), and H (highland).

What characterizes a tropical rainforest climate (Af)?

A tropical rainforest climate has a seasonal wet summer and dry winter.

What conditions lead to the formation of hurricanes?

Hurricanes form over warm ocean waters greater than 77°F, with a center of low pressure that draws in humid air.

What is the eye of a hurricane?

The eye of a hurricane is the center of low pressure where calm weather occurs, surrounded by the most intense and dangerous winds.

What are the classifications of hurricanes based on wind speed?

Hurricanes are classified from Category 1 to Category 5, with Category 5 indicating catastrophic damage.

What is Doppler radar used for in weather forecasting?

Doppler radar sends sound waves that bounce off precipitation, helping to detect rotation and the formation of tornadoes.

What is the significance of tornado alley?

Tornado alley is a region in the central United States known for a high frequency of tornadoes.

What does the EF scale measure?

The EF scale measures tornado intensity based on damage, ranging from EF0 (minimal damage) to EF5 (catastrophic damage).

What are the main factors that determine a region's climate?

Air masses, temperature, maritime vs continental influences, pressure systems, solar insolation, and topographic obstacles.

How does the Coriolis force affect storm systems?

The Coriolis force causes storm systems to rotate, influencing their direction and intensity.

What is the role of latent heat in storm development?

Latent heat is released during condensation, powering storms by increasing the energy available for further evaporation.

What is a tropical depression?

A tropical depression is a weather system with characteristics of a hurricane but with slower winds.

What is the impact of climate change on global temperatures?

In the last 100 years, global temperatures have been rising, affecting climate patterns and ecosystems.

What evidence do scientists use to measure past climates?

Scientists use dendrochronology (tree ring analysis), ice cores, ocean sediments, and pollen analysis to study past climates.

What was the Little Ice Age?

The Little Ice Age was a period of cooler temperatures marked by the expansion of glaciers and significant climate variability.

What are the effects of glaciations on sea levels?

During glaciations, sea levels drop as water is trapped in ice sheets, exposing continental shelves and forming land bridges.

What is the Holocene maximum?

The Holocene maximum refers to a period of warmer temperatures that were higher than current temperatures.

What is the significance of orographic precipitation?

Orographic precipitation occurs when moist air rises over mountains, leading to increased rainfall on the windward side and drier conditions on the leeward side.

What are positive and negative feedbacks in climate systems?

Positive feedbacks push systems in one direction (e.g., ice melting), while negative feedbacks help maintain equilibrium.

What is the role of continental drift in climate change?

Continental drift affects ocean currents and the distribution of landmasses, influencing global temperatures and climate patterns.

How does agriculture impact atmospheric carbon levels?

Agriculture and land clearing add carbon to the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.

What effect do plagues have on atmospheric carbon levels?

Plagues lead to population decreases, resulting in abandoned fields that regrow as forests, reducing atmospheric carbon.

What is the greenhouse effect?

The greenhouse effect is the process by which greenhouse gases trap long wave radiation, making the Earth livable by retaining heat.

What are the primary sources of carbon in the atmosphere?

Carbon comes from respiration, fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), and agricultural practices.

What is the role of methane as a greenhouse gas?

Methane retains long wave radiation but has a shorter life cycle compared to carbon dioxide.

What are the expected impacts of climate change?

Impacts include extreme global weather, rising temperatures, unpredictable precipitation, sea level rise, and species extinction.

What is net primary productivity?

Net primary productivity is the amount of stored chemical energy generated by an ecosystem after accounting for energy used in respiration.