Reading Check 2 Mod 22-23

insolation

Incoming solar radiation, which is the main source of energy on Earth

earth cant heat the earth unevenly bc of what 3 reasons

1) angle of sunrays hitting earth

2) variation in surface area where rays r distributed

3) some areas reflect more than others

albedo

The percentage of incoming sunlight reflected from a surface

earth’s rotation on its axis causes what

changes in season, temp, precipitation

equinox vs solstice

equal hours of day/night vs long days/nights

order the layers of the atmosphere bottom to top (4-5)

troposphere

stratosphere

mesosphere

thermosphere

exosphere

describe troposphere (3)

• layer of the atmosphere closest to the surface of Earth

• densest

• most circulation

describe stratosphere (3)

• The layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere

• upper strato absorbs most UV → heat up there than lower

• contains ozone

ozone

pale blue gas composed of molecules made up of three oxygen atoms

describe mesosphere (2)

• layer of the atmosphere above the stratosphere, most meteors burn here

describe thermosphere (3)

• layer of the atmosphere above the mesosphere

  • blocks x ray and some UV rays

  • if solar energy hits charged gas → glows

  • super hot

describe exosphere (3)

• outermost layer of the atmosphere

  • satellites orbit, temp varies

4 properties of air that determine patterns of air circulation

density

water vapor capacity

adiabatic heating/cooling

latent heat release

how does temperature affect water vapor capacity

warmer air can hold more vapor

saturation point

• maximum amount of water vapor in the air at a given temperature

adiabatic cooling

• cooling effect of reduced pressure on air as it rises higher in the atmosphere and expands

adiabating heating

• heating effect of increased pressure on air as it sinks toward the surface of Earth and decreases in volume

latent heat release

• release of energy when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into liquid water → warmer and rises

atmospheric convection currents

Global patterns of air movement that are initiated by the unequal heating of Earth

Hadley Cells

A convection current in the atmosphere that cycles between the equator and 30° N and 30° S

polar cells

convection current in the atmosphere, formed by air that rises at 60° N and 60° S and sinks at the poles, 90° N and 90° S

Ferrel cells

convection current in the atmosphere that lies between Hadley cells and polar cells

Coriolis effect

The deflection of an object’s path due to the rotation of Earth

2 effects of coriolis effect

• no rotation → convection cycles would js move north and south

• determines prevailing wind directions at diff latitudes

how does ocean circulation relate to unequal heating and gravity

tropics receive most sunlight → most warm water → expands and rises in height a bit → gravity forces ocean away from equator

gyres

large-scale pattern of water circulation that moves clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere

how do prevailing winds determine direction of surface waters

• northern hemisphere → trade winds push northeast to southwest

• coriolis deflects it so it’s just east to west

how do gyres redistribute ocean heat

• cold water from polar moves to west coast → cool air brings cool temps to adjacent land

• warm water from equator moves to east coast

upwelling

upward movement of ocean water toward the surface as a result of diverging currents

• west coast → deep cold water w nutrients → fish → fisheries

thermohaline circulation

oceanic circulation pattern that drives the mixing of surface water and deep water

why does anything matter

• driven by surface waters w LOTS of salt

• evaporation and freezing increase salt concentration

• sinking of dense salty water in north atlantic drives a deep cold current around the world

how does global warming affect thermohaline circulation

• more melting glaciers → less salty dense waters → no transport warm water to europe → cold

describe rain process on a mountain range (5)

windward side → rises, adiabatic cooling → condensation, precipitation → latent heat release → upward movement of air

rain shadow

region with dry conditions found on the leeward side of a mountain range as a result of humid winds from the ocean causing precipitation on the windward side

El Nino

reversal of wind and water currents in the South Pacific every 3-7 years

describe 3 steps of el nino

1. trade winds normally blow from south america to west weaken or reverse

2. warm equatorial water from west pacific → west coast of south america

3. movement of warm air + water suppresses upwelling b/c the water isn’t getting pushed away anymore

how does ENSO affect global climates 3

• less South American upwelling → less productivity and fish

• cool, wet Southeast + dry north USA, Canada, north Africa, Southeast Asia

• huge impacts on crop production

La Nina

Following an El Niño event, trade winds in the South Pacific reverse strongly, causing regions that were hot and dry to become cooler and wetter