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Weather vs Climate

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Weather is the short term day to day weather. Where as Climate is the long term aggregation of day to day weather.

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Greenhouse Effect

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The absorption of shortwave energy and the trapping and recycling of longwave radiation.

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Isotherm vs. Isobar

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Isotherms are lines joining points of equal temperature. Temperature maps are based on monthly averages, which are based on daily averages. Isobars are isolines of equal pressure.

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Albedo

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The radiation that is bounced back into space is called Earths albedo

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Temperature vs. Heat

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Temperature is the description of the average kinetic energy of the molecules. The molecules are constantly moving which is making the temperature higher. Whereas heat refers to an energy that transfers from one object to another because of the difference in temperature. The hotter objects will increase the internal energy of the cooler object.

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Latent vs. Sensible heat

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The physical state of water can change; ice changes to liquid water, liquid water changes to water vapor and so forth. The energy that it takes to make this change is known as latent heat. Sensible heat refers to the process of adding heat to an object to make it hotter, the increase in heat is called sensible heat. Removing the heat which would cool the object is also known as sensible heat.

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Temperature Inversion

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Temperature Inversion is when a a layer of colder area is over a warmer layer of air. Temperature inversion is a situation in which temperature in the troposphere increases, rather than decreases, with increasing altitude.

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Adiabatic temperature changes

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Adiabatic temperature changes are caused by air rising or air descending, this process causes the air to change temperature even though there is no heat lost or added. When the air rises it expands so the molecules have more room to spread, as the molecules spread they do not collide as often, this is called adiabatic cooling. Adiabatic heating is the opposite when the air descends the air compresses leaving less room for the molecules which mean they collide more often.

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Insolation

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Is incoming solar radiation. The total insolation received at the top of the atmosphere over a year is believed to be constant when averaged over a year.

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Earth's Heat Budget

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The Earth receives almost all of its energy from the Sun. Some of the radiation from the Sun is not absorbed by the atmosphere and is reflected or scattered back into space. Some of the insolation passes on through the atmosphere to the Earth's surface, some of this insolation heats the atmosphere directly, while a small amount heats the ozone layer and the other amount heats the rest of the atmosphere. Some of the shortwave radiation from the sun is turned into terrestrial longwave radiation which helps heat the lower atmosphere.

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Terrestrial Radiation

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Terrestrial radiation is the radiation given off by Earth. It is in the thermal infrared portion of the spectrum and is referred to as longwave radiation.

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Temperature Inversion

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Is when a layer of colder air is over a warmer layer of air.

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Specific Heat - Land vs Water

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Water has a higher specific heat than land. Which means it takes more energy to heat water than it does to heat land.Which means that water can absorb much more solar energy without its temperature increasing.

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Carbon Dioxide vs. Water Vapor

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Carbon Dioxide and Water Vapor are both variable gases. They are both very important to climate and weather. Water Vapor is the source for all clouds and water precipitation in the atmosphere. Carbon Dioxide helps warm the lower atmosphere by absorbing infrared radiation from the sun.

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Ozone Layer

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The ozone layer of the atmosphere is very important because it protects humans and other living things from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

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Adiabatic Cooling & Heating

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Adiabatic Cooling and Heating is the process of air warming or cooling without adding or removing heat. Adiabatic cooling happens when air rises which means it expands. When this happens the molecules separate and do not collide as often which makes the air cooler. Adiabatic heating happens when the air descends and compresses which causes the molecules to be closer which means they collide more often.

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Latent Heat vs Specific Heat

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Latent heat is the energy it takes to convert water to water vapor or water to ice. Whereas specific heat is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1 degree C.

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Heat vs Temperature

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Temperature is the description of the average kinetic energy of the molecules. The molecules are constantly moving which is making the temperature higher. Whereas heat refers to an energy that transfers from one object to another because of the difference in temperature. The hotter objects will increase the internal energy of the cooler object.

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Santa Ana Winds

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High pressure inland that brings warm, desiccating winds from the northeast.

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Which best describes pressure gradient force?

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The movement of air from areas of high to low pressure.

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What best describes a cyclone?

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Upper atmosphere convergence, descending air, surface divergence.

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What best describes an anti-cyclone?

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Surface convergence, ascending air, upper atmosphere divergence.

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Northern Hemispher anticyclone

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High pressure and the arrows point clockwise and out

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Southern Hemisphere anticyclone

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Low pressure and the arrows point counterclockwise and in

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Southern Hemisphere cyclone

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Low pressure and the arrows point clockwise and in

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Wind Speed

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Where isobars are close together, the pressure gradient is steep and wind speed is high; where isobars are far apart, the pressure gradient is gentle and wind speed is low.

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What pressure condition would result in a sea breeze?

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Low pressure over land and high pressure over water.

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Isobar

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A line of equal atmospheric pressure.

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Thermal Infrared

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To show temperature differences between land and water.

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Color Infrared Sensing

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To show dead or withering vegetation.

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Barometer

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Atmospheric pressure is measured with instruments called barometers.

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Millibar

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Millibar is one of the most common units of measure for atmospheric pressure. The millibar (mb) is an expression of force per surface area.

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Coriolis Effect

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The force created by the Earth's rotation that causes winds to be deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere

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Cyclone vs Anticyclone

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Cyclone is a low pressure center where as an anticyclone is a high pressure center. With the cyclone the air moves up where as with the anticyclone the air moves down and out. Cyclone tends to have cloudy weather whereas the anticyclone tends to have sunnier weather.

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Horse Latitudes vs Doldrums

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Horse Latitudes - Diverging air near the margins of the region, absence of wind, high atmospheric pressure. Doldurms - Low, atmospheric pressure; rising air; weak, feeble winds; not low amounts of precipitation.

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Sea vs. Land Breezes

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Sea breezes blow from the sea to land during the day. Whereas land breezes blow from the land to the sea, during the night.

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Monsoon Winds

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Onshore flow in summer and offshore flow in winter. In the summer a low pressure cell is generated over the continent which causes the air to flow onshore from the ocean, which brings rain. Whereas in the winter the high pressure cell is generated this causes an offshore wind that brings dry air.

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Santa Ana Winds

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High pressure inland that brings warm, desiccating winds from the northeast.

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ITC(Z) Region

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The ITC(Z) region is where the air in the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere meet.

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Jet Streams

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Is a high fast river of air. Usually about 30,000 - 40,000 feet.

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Bergeron Precipitation

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Precipitation by means of ice-crystal formation in clouds is the Bergeron process. (snow)

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Cirriform cloud

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A cirriform cloud is a cloud that is thin and wispy, composed of ice crystal rather than water particles, and found at high elevations.

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Cirrus Clouds

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High cirriform clouds of feathery appearance.

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Dew Point

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Dew Point Is the temperature at which dew will start. The temperature at which saturation is reached.

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Evapotranspiration

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Plants give off water called evapotranspiration.

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Fog Types

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1. Radiation fog results when the ground loses heat through radiation, usually at night. 2. Advection fog develops when warm, moist air moves horizontally over a cold surface. 3. Upslope fog, or orographic fog is created by adiabatic cooling when humid air climbs a topographic slope. 4. Evaporation fog results when water vapor is added to cold air that is already near saturation.

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Humidity

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Humidity Is water vapor in the air.

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Hydrologic Cycle

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The hydrologic cycle is the cycle water goes through. Water evaporates -> changes back into water droplets (condensation) -> transportation by clouds -> precipitation (snow, rain, hail) -> run off (strikes the land, flows to rivers, creeks. Flows back to ocean)

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Hygroscopic Particles

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Hygroscopic particles are particles that are in the air that serve as a collection center for water molecules during condensation

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Relative Humidity

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Relative humidity means how much moisture is in the air compared to the temperature. Relative humidity describes how close the air is to saturation with water vapor.

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Water Vapor

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The gaseous state of moisture.

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1. Explain how the terms - rotation, revolution, solstices, and equinoxes - are related to the Earth.

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Rotation is the process of the earth rotating on its axis. It takes the Earth 24 hours to do a complete rotation. Revolution is the process of the Earth revolving around the Sun, which takes 365.25 days to complete. Solstices - Solstices are in June around the 21st and in December around the 21st. June 21st is the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere and is the shortest day in the Southern Hemisphere. On December 21st this is reversed, whereas the Northern Hemisphere has its shortest day of the year and the Southern Hemisphere has its longest day. Equinoxes - The equinoxes are on March 21st and September 21st. On these days both the day and night are equal on Earth. During the equinoxes the Sun's vertical rays shine directly on the Earth's equator.

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2. List 5 or more ways the Earth's atmosphere both benefits and/or protects life on Earth.

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1. The atmosphere protects the Earth from extreme temperatures. 2. The atmosphere protects humans, other life forms, and vegetation from deadly UV radiation. 3. Without the atmosphere humans and animals would not be able to survive because the atmosphere provides the air needed to breath and maintain life. 4. The atmosphere contains carbon dioxide which is needed by plants. 5. The atmosphere also helps maintain the water supply.

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3. Explain why & how the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere affects climate.

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The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere effects climate because it absorbs infrared radiation. By absorbing the infrared radiation it helps keep the lower atmosphere warm. The more carbon dioxide there is in the atmosphere the warmer the lower atmosphere will be.

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4. Explain how the Earth's heat budget operates, including incoming and outgoing energy.

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The Earth receives almost all of its energy from the Sun. Some of the radiation from the Sun is not absorbed by the atmosphere and is reflected or scattered back into space. Some of the insolation passes on through the atmosphere to the Earth's surface, some of this insolation heats the atmosphere directly, while a small amount heats the ozone layer and the other amount heats the rest of the atmosphere. Some of the shortwave radiation from the sun is turned into terrestrial longwave radiation which helps heat the lower atmosphere.

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5. Name, locate and describe the major locations of the world's pressure systems and wind systems.

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1. Polar High - North Pole and south pole - both located at 90 degrees in their hemispheres - The Polar High air movement is typically anticyclonic. 2. Polar Easterlies - about 60 degrees N - Winds move generally from east to west. 3. Polar Front (Subpolar low) - low pressure about 50 to 60 degrees of latitude in both Northern and Southern hemispheres. 4. Westerlies - Located between 30 and 60 degrees in both hemispheres. - 5. Subtropical highs - high pressure cell. Centered at about 30 degrees latitude 6. Trade Winds - Cover most of the earth between 25 degrees North and 25 degrees south. - Generally flow from east to west. 7. Intertropical convergence zone - This is the area where the air from the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere meet. Low pressure. Also known as doldrums. Located around the equator. Wind Pressures Polar High Sub Polar low Subpolar high Equator (low) Subpolar High Subplar low Polar high

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6. Describe and explain the causes of both winter and summer monsoon wind systems and what type of weather changes occur. Give examples of where in the world monsoons occur.

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In the summer a strong thermal low pressure cell generates over the continent which attracts ocean air on shore, this is called the onshore flow. Whereas in winter a thermal high pressure cell generates over a continent which produces an offshore circulation. In the summer the onshore wind brings much needed rain. In the winter the offshore wind brings dry air. There are two areas where major monsoons occur every year; South Asia and East Asia. Minor monsoons also occur in Australia and West Africa.

Physical Geography Chapters 1 – 6 – Flashcards

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