Unit 1 Climate Detectives Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards covering weather vs. climate, atmospheric fronts, climate factors, the Coriolis effect, and greenhouse gases from the Unit 1 Climate Detectives Study Guide.

Weather

The short-term, day-to-day atmospheric conditions and changes driven by the interaction of different air masses.

Climate

The long-term average of temperature and precipitation in an area, represented by averages and predictable trends.

Weather Forecast Factors

Variables that scientists monitor to predict daily changes, including air pressure, humidity, cloud cover, and temperature.

Cold Front

A quickly forming front that typically produces thunderstorms and cold temperatures, followed by clear conditions.

Warm Front

A slowly forming front where warm air gradually climbs over cold air, resulting in warm, rainy weather that eventually clears.

Stationary Front

A front that stalls when warm and cold air masses remain still, resulting in cloudy weather that stays the same for days.

Air Pressure and Cloud Relationship

The atmospheric relationship where a decrease in air pressure causes an increase in cloud formation.

Coriolis Effect

The apparent curving of storms, winds, and ocean currents caused by Earth's rotation.

Controls of the Water Cycle

The two primary drivers of the water cycle: gravity and solar energy.

Solar Thermal Energy and Ocean Currents

A cause-and-effect relationship where thermal energy from the sun serves as the input, producing hot and cold ocean currents as the output.

Latitude

A climate factor determining temperature based on distance from the equator: regions near the equator are hot, while regions near the poles are cold.

Altitude

A climate factor related to elevation where higher elevations result in colder temperatures.

Mountain Ranges (Climate Factor)

A geographic factor influencing moisture, causing the windward side to be wet and humid and the leeward side to be dry.

Ocean Currents (Climate Factor)

A climate factor where warm ocean currents produce warm, humid conditions and cold ocean currents produce cooler, drier conditions.

Nearness to Water

A climate factor that stabilizes air temperatures and increases humidity in adjacent coastal regions compared to inland areas.

Winds (Climate Factor)

Air movements that bring humid conditions when blowing off water and dry conditions when blowing off land.

Greenhouse Gas Increase

The accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere over the years, leading directly to a rise in global temperatures.

Human Activities Increasing Greenhouse Gases

Human actions such as burning fossil fuels, cutting down trees, operating factories, and using machinery.

$0^\circ$ Latitude (Equator)

A climate region characterized by hot, humid conditions, low pressure, and tropical rainforests.

$30^\circ$ Latitude

A climate region characterized by dry conditions, high pressure, and deserts.