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66 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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How is the earths atmosphere heated? |
By the transfer of energy from the sun. |
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Name the two primary sources of heat in the atmosphere |
Absorption of sun's rays by gases and ocean+land surfaces absorb solar energy. |
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What happens to solar energy that reaches earths surface? |
The surface either absorbs or reflects the energy. |
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Solar radiation that is not reflected is what? |
Absorbed |
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What is one human activity that may have caused the average temperature if the atmosphere to increase in recent years? |
The burning of more fossil fuels. |
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What is the primary factor that affects how much solar energy reaches any point on the earths surface ? |
Latitude |
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Near the equator, the rays of the sun strike the ground at an angle of about.... |
90 degrees |
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Why are temperatures higher at the equator? |
Solar energy is concentrated in a small area. |
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Seasonal variations in temperature occur why? |
The tilt of Earth's axis |
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Why does the amount of water in the air affect the temperature of a region? |
Water vapor stores heat. |
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Which regions will generally have more moderate temperatures? |
Regions receiving ocean winds |
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Why are the warmest hours of the day usually mid to late afternoon? |
Earth's surface must absorb energy for a time before enough heat has been absorbed and radiated from the ground to change the temperature of the atmosphere. |
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Why are the average temperatures higher at the equator than near the poles? |
The sunlight strikes the ground at a much smaller angle than at the poles it is a much bigger angle. |
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Why does the northern hemisphere have higher temperatures for one part of the year and lower temperatures the rest? |
For part of the year the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun for a part of the year and away from the sun for the other part of the year. |
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Why does the amount of water in the air affect the temperature of a region? |
Because water vapor stores heat. |
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Why are land areas close to large bodies of water generally cooler during The day and warmer at night than smaller inland areas? |
Water heats up and cools down slower than land does, so the temperature of water changes less than the temperature of land does. |
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What are the two major categories of ocean currents |
Surface and deep currents |
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Currents that are driven by winds and move horizontally on or near the oceans surface are called |
Surface currents |
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Which of the following factors do not control surface currents Floating debris Air currents Location of the continents Low pressure areas |
Floating debris |
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All surface currents are affected by what? |
Winds |
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Two types of global wind belts that affect the flow of ocean surface water are called what? |
Trade winds Westerlies |
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Wind belts located just north and south of the equator are called what? |
Trade winds. |
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In the northern hemisphere, trade winds blow from where? |
North east |
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In the southern hemisphere, trade winds blow from where? |
The south east |
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In both hemispheres, trade winds push currents where? |
Westward |
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In the northern hemisphere, Westerlies blow from where? |
Southwest |
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In the southern hemisphere, Westerlies blow from where? |
North West |
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The curving of the path of oceans and winds due to earths rotation is called what? |
The coriolis effect. |
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What does water in the ocean contain? |
Contains many dissolved solids. |
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Scientist do not describe ocean water by using properties such as.... Presence of dissolved gases and the presence of dissolved solids Salinity and temperature Presence of dissolved vitamins and dissolved minerals Density and color |
Presence of dissolved vitamins and dissolved minerals. |
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What are the 2 principle gases in the atmosphere? |
Nitrogen and oxygen |
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Ocean water contains a large amount of what? |
Carbon dioxide |
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Most oxygen in the ocean... Enters at the surface of the ocean from the atmosphere Enters as dissolved gases from streams and rivers Is released as carbon dioxide dissolves Is made by plants in the ocean through photosynthesis
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Enters at the surface of the ocean from the atmosphere |
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Gases dissolve most readily in what kind of water? |
Cold water |
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Because gaseous carbon dioxide affects the atmosphere ability to trap thermal energy from the sun what happens? |
Oceans are important in the regulation of temperature. |
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How do dissolved salts and other dissolved solids enter the ocean? |
Rivers carry dissolved solids into the oceans. |
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A measure of the amount of dissolved salts and other solids in a given amount of liquid is what? |
Salinity |
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Ocean temperature varies depending on what? |
Depth of water and location on the surface of the oceans. |
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Whoa happens to the temperature of surface water as latitude increases? |
The temperature decreases |
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Where does the greatest amount of solar energy reach the surface of the ocean? |
At the equator |
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How does the amount of dissolved gases in cold deep ocean water compare to the amount of dissolved gases in warm shallow ocean water? |
The cold deep ocean water holds more dissolved gasses than warm shallow ocean water does. |
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The ratio of the mass of a substance to the volume of the substance, commonly expressed as grams per cubic centimeter for solids and liquid and as grams for gases is called what? |
Density |
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What 2 factors affect the density of ocean water? |
Salinity and the temperature of the water. |
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Which is more dense, ocean water or fresh water why? |
Ocean water because of the large amounts of dissolved solids. |
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How do scientist determine the presence of phytoplankton in the ocean? |
By studying variations in the color of the ocean. |
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The average weather conditions for an area over a long period of time as referred to as what? |
Climate |
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The condition of the atmosphere at a particular time, such as temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation is called what? |
Weather |
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Climates are chiefly determined by using what? |
Average temperature and precipitation |
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The factors that have the greatest influence on both temperature and precipitation are heat absorbition and release and what 2 other things? |
Latitude and topography |
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One of the most important factors that determines a regions climate is what? |
Latitude |
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Temperature and wind patterns are determined by what? |
Solar energy |
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The higher the blank of an area is the smaller the amount of solar energy received by the area is |
Latitude |
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The sun's rays hit the earth at a 90 degree angle where? |
Equator |
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The sun's rays hit earth at a smaller angle where? |
The poles |
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During winter in the northern hemisphere is the earth tilted towards or away from the sun |
Away from the sun |
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In the northern hemisphere how does the tilt of Earth's axis and the way the sun's rays hit an area while earth orbits the sun affect climate? |
Because during winters areas of the earth at higher latitudes directly face the sun for less time than in the summer months. |
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Differences in air pressure create what? |
Wind |
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In the equatorial belt of low pressure called what, air rises and cools, and water vapor condenses, creating precipitation |
Doldrums |
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What does the temperature of the land or water influence? |
The amount of heat that the air above the land or ocean absorbs or releases |
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What does the temperature of the air affect? |
The climate of an area |
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What influences the amount of heat absorbed or released by the air? |
The temperature of ocean currents that come in contact with the air. |
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What's El Nino |
The warm water phase of ENSO, a periodic occurrence in the eastern pacific ocean in which the surface water temperature becomes unusually warm |
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What's la Nina |
A cool weather phase of ENSO that affects weather patterns |
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What's topography |
The surface features of the land |
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What's a rain shadow? |
A process that affects climate on both sides of a mountain |
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How does elevation affect temperature? |
As elevation increase temperature decreases |
