Unit 2: The Physical Environment

2 ways we move energy

conduction, convection

conduction

The direct transfer of heat from one substance to another

convection

The transfer of heat by the movement of a fluid

sensible heat flux

Energy transfer from warm air immediately above the surface to the cooler atmosphere by convection and conduction

Examples of greenhouse gases

CO2, methane, water vapor, nitrous oxide

water vapor

spends little time as a green house gas due to the water cycle

Solar energy is ___ toward the poles and ___ near the equator

spread out, more concentrated

How clouds are formed

-warm air rises above warm surface

-warm air expands and cools

-water vapor condenses and forms clouds

Hadley Cell

air rises at the equator and sinks at medium latitudes

Pressure and precipitation have an ____ relationship

Inverse; ex. higher pressure = less precipitation

air currents

air moving from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

Air circulation is influenced by

the rotation of the earth

Coriolis Effect

Causes moving air and water to turn left in the southern hemisphere and turn right in the northern hemisphere due to Earth's hemisphere.

Upwelling effect

blowing wind parallel to the coast creates surface current flowing away from the coast

maritime influence

heat is absorbed by the water and keeps temperature of the land relatively constant

continental effect

land areas have greater range of temperatures

Heat and pressure have a ____ relationship

direct; ex. high pressure = high heat

Rain Shadow Effect

Precipitation falls on the windward side of a mountain range, resulting in lush vegetation & a warm, moist climate on one side, but a desert area on the leeward side.

Albedo

Ability of a surface to reflect light

As albedo goes down ____ energy is absorbed

more

Removing trees ____ the albedo of the land, _____ its absorption of solar radiation

increases; decreasing

Evapotranspiration

The evaporation of water from soil plus the transpiration of water from plants

What effects the seasons

Earth's 23.5° rotation

El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

recurring changes in the temperature and air pressure of tropical pacific ocean

El Nino

Warming Phase

La Nina

Cooling phase

ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone)

Band of clouds + low pressure that encircles the Earths near the equator