Chapter 2 - Global Climates

Climate

atmospheric conditions throughout the years

Weather

vary in temperature throughout days or hours

Greenhouse Effect

Sunlight heats up the Earth, when heat tries to go out, Greenhouse gases trap some heat

Greenhouses gases are a large or small fraction of the atmosphere?

small

The two most prevalent greenhouse gases

H2O and CO2

Atmospheric currents

the movement of air around Earth

Two important factors of atmospheric currents:

1. shape of earth

2. properties of air

Solar equator

The place one Earth getting the most direct sunlight at the time

Albedo

The amount of sunlight an object reflects

High Albedo

the poles, reflect more sunlight

Low Albedo

the rainforest, absorbs more sunlight

Saturation

When air is holding as much water vapor as it can

Adiabatic cooling

When air rises and expands, it gets colder

Adiabatic Heating

When air sinks and gets squeezed, it becomes warmer.