Unit 3: Atmospheric Systems & Ocean Currents

What is solar insolation and why does it vary from place to place?

the amount of electromagnetic energy (solar radiation) incident on the surface of the earth

it varies from place to place primarily due to the Earth's tilt on its axis

What is the relationship between latitude and solar insolation?

as latitude increases (moving further away from the equator), the amount of solar insolation received in that area decreases

What is the latitudinal diversity gradient?

The pattern of having lots of species at the equator with diversity dwindling off towards the poles as latitude increases

How is latitudinal diversity gradient connected to solar insolation?

the amount of solar radiation received at different latitudes directly impacts the climate and productivity of an area, leading to a higher concentration of species diversity near the equator where solar insolation is highest, and a decline in diversity as you move towards the poles where solar insolation is lower

coriolis effect

Because the Earth rotates on its axis, circulating air is deflected toward the right in the Northern Hemisphere and toward the left in the Southern Hemisphere. This deflection is called the ……

What is the cause of the Coriolis Effect?

Because the Earth rotates on its axis, circulating air is deflected toward the right in the Northern Hemisphere and toward the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

How does the Coriolis Effect affect plane travel?

makes things (like planes or currents of air) traveling long distances around the Earth appear to move at a curve as opposed to a straight line.

How does air temperature affect air pressure?

As air temperature increases, air pressure decreases: because warm air is less dense than cold air, causing the air molecules to spread further apart and exert less pressure on their surroundings; essentially, warm air rises, leading to lower pressure at the surface, while cold air sinks, creating higher pressure.

What is convection?

the process of transferring heat through air or liquid currents

How can wind be explained in terms of pressure?

The speed of the wind is directly proportional to the pressure gradient meaning that as the change in pressure increases (i.e. pressure gradient increases) the speed of the wind also increases at that location.

What is the three-cell model of global winds?

There are three circulation cells: the Hadley cell nearest the equator, the Ferrel cell in the mid-latitudes, and the polar cell which influence weather patterns and ocean currents globally.

There are three prevailing wind belts associated with these cells: the trade winds, the prevailing westerlies, and the polar easterlies

How do global wind patterns influence the distribution of rainforests and deserts?

Rainforests form near the equator due to converging trade winds that supply moisture and the ITCZ, which generates heavy rainfall. In contrast, large deserts form in subtropical regions around 30 degrees latitude, where dry air descends from the Hadley Cells, resulting in clear skies and little precipitation.

What is specific heat

Specific heat is defined by the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance 1 degree Celsius (°C)

How can specific heat explain differences in land and water temperatures?

Water absorbs and releases heat more slowly than land

Land absorbs heat more quickly than water, but also releases heat more quickly

How does the specific heat of water moderate coastal climates?

by allowing large bodies of water like oceans to absorb and release heat slowly, resulting in smaller temperature fluctuations between day and night, and between seasons, creating milder temperatures in coastal regions compared to inland areas