APES chapter 4 (heat and water)

Where is heat the most concentrated?

around the equator

What are the 3 main causes of unequal warming of the earth?

1) Angle

2) Surface Area

3) Albedo

How does the angle impact the heating of the earth?

The angle causes heat to directly hits the equator constantly

What is albedo?

the fraction of light a surface reflects (reflectivity)

what is the tilt of the earth (in degrees)?

23.5 degrees

What is saturation point?

the air cools and its saturation drops, water vapor condenses into liquid water that forms from clouds. The saturation point is basically how much water clouds can hold, causing rain.

Clouds are made of __________

liquid water droplets

Adiabatic cooling

pressure decreases which results in a decrease in temperature

Adiabatic heating

pressure increases which results in higher temperature

Is warm air more or less dense than cooler air?

less dense

troposphere

• closest to the Earth’s surface

• the densest layer of the atmosphere

• the layer where earths weather occurs

• most of the atmosphere nitrogen, oxygen, and water vapor occur

• atmospheric pressure is highest here

stratosphere

• contains the ozone layer

• absorbs most UV radiation

mesosphere

• most meteors burn here before they can hit the earth

that’s it…. this layer is boring

what is the molecular formula for ozone

O₃

thermosphere

• aurora borealis (northern lights) occurs here

• atmospheric temperatures are highest and lowest here

exosphere

• atmospheric pressure is lowest here

• the outermost layer of the atmosphere

why is ozone important

it stops harmful UV rays from reaching earth

what holds the layers of the earth together and how does mass and density play a part in the layers order?

gravity holds everything together and the layers closer to the earth have greater mass and vice versa

what are the 4 properties of air that determine how it circulates the atmosphere?

1) density

2) adiabatic heating and cooling

3) water vapor capacity

4) latent heat release

less dense air….

rises

more dense air….

sinks

cold air is _____ dense than warm air

more

warm air is _______ dense than cool air

less

hot air ______ and cold air _____

hot air RISES and cold air SINKS

warm air has a ________ capacity to hold water vapor

higher

when temperature rises, its saturation point….

increases

How are clouds formed?

When the air temperature falls, its saturation point decreases leading to condensation, cloud formation, and precipitation.

when air pressure increases the temperature….

increases

what causes the seasons?

earth spins on its axis and it tilts, this tilt causes the sun to hit certain himospheres which causes seasons

prevailing winds

winds that blow consistently in a given direction over a particular region on Earth ex) most weather blows west

water changing from liquid to gas is called ___________ and ________ heat energy

water changing from liquid to gas is called evaporation and requires heat energy

water changing from gas to liquid is called ___________ and ________ heat energy

water changing from gas to liquid is called condensation and releases heat energy

inter-tropical conversion zone (ITCZ)

sun heats the moist tropical air causing it to rise

Coriolis effect

why the weather patterns spin

What is latent heat release?

the release of energy when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into liquid water

what is an atmospheric convection current?

Global patterns of air movement that are caused by the unequal heating of the earth

what causes the Coriolis effect?

the earth’s rotation on its axis

What is the Hadley Cell?

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

Why does earth move faster at is equator?

The earth is wider at the equator than at the poles

what 6 things drive ocean currents?

Temperature

Gravity

Prevailing winds

The Coriolis effect

Salinity

Location of continents

Gyres

Moves warm water up and cold water down, the circulation of water

(Clockwise N. Hemisphere / Counterclockwise S. Hemisphere)

Upwelling

where currents separate deep waters rise up towards the surface- leads to high primary productivity

Thermohaline Circulation

warmer and cooler waters pulling each other around, it is important because it supplies heat to polar regions - it takes hundreds to happen

what is a rain shadow?

causes mountains to be dry on one side ex) the Sierra Nevada mountains

How is climate different from weather?

Climate is the average of weather, weather is short term atmospheric conditions

what are the 5 conditions associated with weather?

temperature, humidity, clouds, precipitation, and wind speed.

What 3 factors affect how climate differences arise around the world?

1)unequal heating of Earth

2)air currents

3)ocean currents.

what are trade winds?

winds that blow towards the equator

What is El Nino?

• happens every 3/7 years

• trade winds reverse/ stop

• normal conditions essentially reversed

• No Upwelling

What is the issue with El Nino?

• bad fishing conditions

• Hurricane damage in areas that are not used to wet conditions

• drought conditions affects crops

What is La Nina?

EXTREME normal

What are the consequences with La Nina?

• flooding out west

• crops struggle

• The northeast is very dry

• very good fishing conditions

we live in the….

troposphere!

What is the order of the trade wind cells?

Polar cell

Ferrel cell

Hadley cell

Hadley cell

Ferrel cell

Polar cell

(PFHHFP)

Why is there so much CO₂ variability in seasons?

because plants grow and die with the seasons so the CO₂ levels fluctuate with the plants

Which Biome is found at 30 degrees north and 30 decrease south?

Deserts