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39 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What are gases such as CO2 and water vapour in the atmosphere? |
They are greenhouse gases |
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How does CO2 and water vapour act as a greenhouse and what effect does this have on the atmosphere? |
They act as a greenhouse since they absorb long wave radiation. This keeps the temperature moderate for human survival (would be 15 degrees higher!) |
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What does a high concentration of pollutants cause? |
They cause a rise in temperature in the atmosphere |
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What does deforestation result in? |
Deforestation also means that temperatures on earth will be higher because there are less trees to absorb CO2 |
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Why is the heat at the equator very intense? |
It is intense because the sun directly concentrates on this area |
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Give the name for intense heat at the eqautor |
HEAT EQUATOR (0 degrees latitude) |
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What is the name for: - the day that summer is experienced - the day that winter is experienced |
1. Summer solstice 2. Winter solstice |
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What gives the earth its seasons? |
It has seasons due to the tilt of 23.5 degrees |
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What is the name given to the earths placement when we experience autumn and spring? |
The earth would be situated in the equinox position |
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On what date and where does the sun's rays strike when the northern hemisphere experiences summer? |
The northern hemisphere experiences summer on the 21 June & the sun hits the tropic of cancer |
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On what date and where does the sun's rays strike when the southern hemisphere experiences summer? |
The southern hemisphere experiences summer on 22 Dec and it hits the tropic of capricorn |
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Where are the sun's rays and what are the dates when we experience spring and autumn? |
The sun hits the equator. 21 March: Northern experiences spring, Southern experiences autumn 23 Sep: Northern experiences autumn and Southern experiences spring |
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Why does the temp decrease with height in the troposphere? |
It decreases since the highest concentration of water vapour and CO2 occurs closest to the surface |
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What is the rate at which cooling occurs? |
It occurs at: - the environmental lapse rate - positive lapse rate |
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Why does temp decrease with latitude? |
The further away from the surface, the thinner the air gets so less heat is absorbed; and rather, radiated back into space. This is also because there is less CO2 and water vapour at higher altitiudes |
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What is temperature inversion and where and why does it occur? |
Temperature inversion is when temperature increases with height. It occurs in high polluted areas since the pollutants trap the rising heat |
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What is and why does a trigger action/lift off occur? |
A trigger action is the lifting of warm air from the surface. It is due to convection currents, mountain or cold front |
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Define DALR |
DALR is the cooling or rising air at 1 degree for every 100m |
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Define WALR |
WALR is the slowing of further cooling from DALR. It cools at 0.5 degrees every 100m |
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What provides balance between extreme heat and cold? |
Ocean currents |
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How does equatorial currents act on climate? |
They bring warmer conditions and rainfall to eastern sides of continents |
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What do: - western currents bring - EQUATORIAL (eastern) currents bring |
Western currents: cold conditions Equatorial (EAST) currents: warm conditions |
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What is the determining factor of heat on continent sides? |
Ocean currents |
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Define maritime climates |
They are coastal climates (moderate temps) due to oceans |
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Define continental climates |
They are climates that cause extreme heat and cold due to great distances from the ocean |
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Define Aspect |
The aspect is the direction in which the slope is facing |
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Where does the suns rays hit the aspect in the hemispheres? |
The rays hit directly north of the southern hemisphere and south in the northern hemisphere |
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The eastern side-facing slope receives this earlier in the day |
Radiant energy. This is because the sun rises in east and sets in west |
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What are three other factors that influence temperature? |
1. Winds (wind from cold region reduces temp) 2. Direction of mountains (shields regions of polar winds) 3. Cloud Cover (is like a blanket and can trap radiation and moderate temps) |
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Define climate change |
Any change in global temperatures and precipitation due to nature or human activity |
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What type of shift is climate change? |
It is a long term shift in weather patterns |
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What can fossils and pollen tell us about climate? |
Analysis of the fossils and pollen determines previous climates; thus showing that climate change has been present since the beginning |
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Describe the two theories of climate change |
1. Global Cooling due to cycles in suns radiation 2. Global Warming due to increase of temps |
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What are 6 ways of reducing climate change? |
1. Don't drive when there are alternatives 2. Don't waste food 3. Small cars to reduce mileage 4. Energy efficient homes 5. Buy locally produced food 6. Recycle
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How can climate change cause water and food scarcity? |
Food: Higher temps so less water for growing food Water: More evaporation causes less clouds so less rain and water in lakes |
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What are 4 ecological threats of climate change? |
- less water - drier soil - ecosystem changes from loss of biodiversity and collapsing food chains (extinction) |
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What are 4 livelihood threats of climate change? |
- fewer crops - less to sell - less industry - less jobs; more poverty and higher crime |
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How does a greenhouse work? |
Short wave radiation moves through glass and the glass then traps heat as long wave radiation |
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Describe the greenhouse effect |
1. Atmosphere allows short wave radiation to heat the surface 2. Absorbs long wave radiation and terrestrial radiation. This traps heat in the lower layers of atmosphere! |
