Unit 5 - Earth Science

Climate

long term weather changes

latitude

as latitude increases, temperature decreases due to shorter duration and lower angle of insolation

Elevation

as elevation increases, temperatures decreases due to rising air expanding and cooling

Proximity of water

close to a body of water - cooler summers, warmer winters

far from body of water - warmer summers, cooler winters

El nino vs La nina

El nino - warming event (flooding, droughts, fires, erosions)

La nina - cooling event (greater precipitation, colder winters and hurricanes)

Wet vs dry latitudes

Wet - air rises causing low pressure

Dry - air sinks causing high pressure

Windward side

wind pushes air up, air cools to dew point, condensation and precipitation (WET)

Leeward side

air sinks and compresses, air warms up and dries out (DRY)

Eccentricity

high eccentricity - more extreme seasons

low eccentricity - less extreme seasons

Axial tilt

When Earth’s tilt is greater, seasons are more severe

Precession

the alteration of directions of earth axis due to the gravitational pull of the sun and moon

carbon cycle

moves carbon between the atmosphere, living things, oceans and the Earth’s surface

photosynthesis:

plants take in carbon dioxide, sunlight and water to produce oxygen and glucose and this stores carbon in plants

respiration

animals and plants release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere when they breathe and break down food for energy

decomposition

when plants and animals die, decomposers break them down and release carbon in the soil and atmosphere

ocean absorption

ocean absorbs a lot of co2 from the atmosphere and store it in the water and marine life

mitigation

stops or reduces the problem

adaption

adjusts to the problem

runoff

water runs over the surface

infiltration

water sinks into the Earth

groundwater

water that infiltrates is stored in or moves in around

smaller sediments =

smaller pore spaces and more upward movement

Infiltration

- water is able to pass through different sediments

Gentle slope, big particles, more permeable, unsaturated soil and more vegetation)

Runoff

Steep slope, small particles, less permeable, saturated soil, less vegetation

High Porosity

more infiltration, less runoff

rounder particles

sorted

poorly packed

Less porosity

Less infiltration, more runoff

more angular

poorly-sorted

well packed

SIZE DOES NOT AFFECT PORE SPACE IF…

SAME SHAPE, SORTING AND PACKING