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32 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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describe Continental polar
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cool, dry air
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Describe Maritime polar
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cool, moist air
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Describe Continental tropical
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warm, dry air
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Describe Maritime tropical
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warm, moist air
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What causes seasons?
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Tilt of the earth on its axis and earth’s revolution around the sun
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Summer Solstice
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June 21
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Autumnal Equinox
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September 21,22
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Winter Solstice
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December 21
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Vernal Equinox
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March 21
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What happens to the temperature as altitude increases?
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It decreases
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What type of precipitation occurs at low pressure belts?
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heavy
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At what latitudes are low pressure belts located?
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0o,60oN and 60oS
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What type of precipitation occurs at high pressure belts?
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dry climate
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At what latitudes are high pressure belts located?
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30oN, 30oS and 90oN, 90oS
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Describe the temperature and precipitation near the center of a large landmass.
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Temperature – wide range in temperatures between day and night and seasonally.
Precipitation – dry climate |
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Describe the temperature and precipitation on the windward side of a mountain.
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Temperature – cool; precipitation ‐ heavy
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Describe the temperature and precipitation on the leeward side of a mountain.
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Temperature – warm; precipitation – dry
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What is the temperature and precipation of cities located near large bodies of water?
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a low range in temperatures
and higher than average precipitation. |
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Between which two latitudes do the sun’s rays strike perpendicular to the earth
and why? |
23 ½ oN and 23 ½ oS; because the earth is tilted on its axis 23 ½ o
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How do scientists classify climates?
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Temperature and precipitation (two atmospheric properties)
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Describe a cold front.
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Cold air mass moves into a warm air mass. The warm air mass is forced upward
causing it to cool and condenses quickly. This produces violent storms with heavy rainfall, but lasts only briefly. |
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Describe a warm front.
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Warm air moves into a cold air mass. The warm air gently glides over the cold air.
The warm air rises, cools and condenses forming nimbostratus clouds. The rain from this front last for 1‐2 days and is light precipitation. |
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How are winds named?
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Winds are named according to the direction in which they originate.
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Which direction do fronts normally move in the United States?
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West to east
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Explain the concept of condensation.
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Condensation occurs when warm water vapor meets cold air. The water vapor
changes into a liquid. These liquid water droplets combine with dust, and soot particles in the air forming clouds. |
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Describe El Nino .
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El Nino – winds weaken and sometimes reverse, warm tropical waters flow back east to South America, ocean temperatures in the Pacific increase, alters the position and strength of the jet stream, cause drought in Australia and Africa, affects monsoon rains in Indonesia, causes storms in California
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Explain why there are high and low pressure belts.
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High pressure – air is heavy (sinks) because it is more dense; therefore, putting more pressure on the earth’s surface.
Low pressure – air is lighter (rises) because it is less dense; therefore, putting less pressure on the earth’s surface. |
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What happens on the windward side of a mountain?
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Windward – Air rises, cools, and drops it moisture, allowing a lot of vegetation to grow on this side of the mountain.
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What happens on the leeward side of a mountain?
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Leeward – air descends, heats up, and dries up, and dries the land, resulting in desert like conditions.
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How do winds circulate?
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Winds circulate from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure
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Which heats faster, sand or water? Why?
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Sand heats faster that water, because sand has a low specific heat which means it takes less energy to cause a change in temperature. Sand also cools faster.
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what is el nina
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La Nino – winds blowing east to west over the Pacific strengthen, warm water accumulates in the western Pacific, colder waters along the eastern Pacific near Peru, causes droughts in southern U.S., excess rainfall in the northwestern U.S.
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