Ecology Lec 2

Front 1

Define Climate

Back 1

most fundamental characteristic of physical environment characterized by its variability over time, as well as average conditions

Front 2

Define Weather

Back 2

current conditions of physical environment such as temperature, precipitation, humidity, cloud cover.
day to day conditions

Front 3

What drives global climate?

Back 3

the sun is the ultimate source of energy that drives global climate

Front 4

What is a result from differences in solar radiation across the surface of the earth?

Back 4

winds and ocean currents

Front 5

describe the process of subsidence

Back 5

1. Sunlight hits and warms up air
2. warm air rises
3. moisture condenses and forms clouds
4. warm air has less capacity to contain moisture (rain)
5. warm air cools down and is pushed out of the way by warmer air rising causing it to subside

Front 6

describe the difference between low pressure and high pressure

Back 6

low pressure: areas of uplift, thus lots of storms
high pressure: areas of subsidence

Front 7

Where is the Hadley cell?

Back 7

in the tropic zone at 30 degrees

Front 8

Where is the Ferrell cell?

Back 8

in the temperate zone at 60 degrees

Front 9

Where is the Polar cell?

Back 9

in the Polar zone around 90 degrees

Front 10

Describe the air pressure in winter

Back 10

air over continents is cooler and denser, high pressure develops over continents

Front 11

Describe the air pressure in summer

Back 11

air over oceans is cooler and denser, so air subsides and high pressure develops over oceans

Front 12

Where are maritime climates found? describe a maritime climate

Back 12

found in coastal areas.
Maritime climates are more stable with less intense fluctuations in temperature than continental climates. Have more precipitation

Front 13

describe the rain shadow effect

Back 13

1. moving air mass picks up moisture over the ocean
2. on the windward slope, air rises and cools, releasing most of its moisture as precipitation
3. on the leeward sloope the dry air descends and warms, and there is little precipitation

Front 14

What type of climatic variation are associated with changes in earth's position relative to the sun?

Back 14

seasonal and long-term climatic variation

Front 15

What is ENSO? What is it's frequency? How long does it last?

Back 15

El Nino Southern Oscillation.
frequency of 3-8 years
lasts about 18 months

Front 16

Describe what El Nino is and what it results in.

Back 16

oscillation in positions of high and low-pressure systems over equatorial pacific.
Trade winds that normally push surface water towards south east asia are weakened, or shift direction.
upwelling of deep ocean water off the coast of south america ceases, resulting in much lower fish harvests

Front 17

What is a glacial maxima?

Back 17

cool phases of earth characterized by formation and advance of glaciers

Front 18

What is a glacial maxima followed by?

Back 18

periods with glacial melting and decline known as interglacial periods

Front 19

What is a Milankovitch cycle?

Back 19

regular changes in the shape of earth's orbit and tilt of its axis. The more intense the tilt the more different seasonality is. Changes 100,000 years

Front 20

What do low oxygen levels promote?

Back 20

formation of chemicals that may be toxic to many organisms

Front 21

what do oxygen levels determine?

Back 21

the amount of nutrients