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49 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What causes the changing seasons?
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The earth's revolution and its tilt cause the changing seasons.
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What are solstices
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The day on which the direct rays of the sun are at their farthest north and south latitudes.
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When do solstices occur?
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At the beginning of summer (June 21 or 22)
and at the beginning of winter (December 22 or 23) |
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What is the significance of the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn?
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These are the two lines of latitude that mark the points farthest north and south that the sun's rays shine directly overhead at noon.
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What is the equinox?
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Twice a year the days and nights all over the world are equal in length.
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When do exquinoxes occur?
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At the beginning of spring (March 21) and the beginning of Autumn (September 23).
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What is the significance of the equator in terms of equinoxes?
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On the equinoxes, the direct rays of the sun fall along the equator.
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What is the difference between weather and climate?
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Weather: the condition of the atmosphere at a particular location and time.
Climate: Weather conditions over a long period of time. |
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Water vapor and cloud cover affect weather because they carry moisture which may fall to the ground in the form of precipitation. How do the following affect weather?
A. Landforms and bodies of water? B. Elevation? C. Air Movement? |
A. Landforms and Bodies of Water: Water heats and cools more slowly than landmasses.
B. Elevation: As elevation increases, air becomes thinner and loses its ability to hold water. C. Air Movement: Winds move air and solar energy so weather can change quickly. |
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Provide a brief description of each of the following types of precipitation and indicate where it would be found.
A. Convectional B. Orographic C. Frontal |
A. Convectional: hot climates. Air rises during the day, clouds form in the afternoon and rain falls.
B. Orographic: More rain is dropped on the windward side of a mountain / rain on the leeward side. C. Frontal: Cold dense air masses push lighter warm air masses upward causing precipitation to form. |
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How are hurricanes formed?
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Air flowing over an ocean with a water temperature of 80 degrees or higher picks up huge amounts of moisture and heat energy. As these waterladen winds flow into a low pressure core, they tighten to form and "eye".
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Where is "Tornado Alley" located and why is it located there?
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Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska (plains). Cold dry air from Canada rushes south and collides with warm moist air.
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Why do you think the eastern and southern shores of the Great Lakes are especially vulnerable to blizzards?
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The water provides moisture and there are winds associated with the heating and colling of the lake.
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What is the human cost of drought?
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Farms are ruined and families are forced to leave their land to find work elsewhere.
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What is a floodplain?
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The area into which floodwaters flow.
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How is the sun's heat distributed from one part of the world to another?
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The process of convection. As hot air flows toward the poles, cold air moves toward the equator.
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What is the Coriolis Effect and why is it important to the study of weather and climate?
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Bending of winds (to the right in the northern hemisphere and towards the left in the southern hemisphere) as a result of the earth's rotation on its axis.
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The northeasterly trade winds blow from __________ to _________?
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NE to SW
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How have ocean currents affected climate in:
A. Europe? B. West coastal areas of South America and Africa? |
A. Europe: The warmth of the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Drift help to keep the climate of Europe moderate.
B. West coastal areas of South America and Africa: Cold ocean currents flowing along the coastal regions of South America and Africa prevent warm air and the moisture it holds from falling to the earth. |
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What is the effect of latitude on climate?
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Tropical (low) latitude zones are hot all year. High latitude (polar) zones are cold all year. Temerate zones are found in the middle latitudes.
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How does elevation affect climate?
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Air temperature drops about 3.5 degrees F for every 100 feet.
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How do landforms affect climate?
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The windward side of mountains get more moisture.
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What is El Nino?
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The warming of the waters off the west coat of S. America. Prevailing easterly winds that blow over the central Pacific Ocean slow or reverse direction. Warm water and heavy rains are pushed toward the Americas.
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What controversy surrounds the issue of global warming?
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Some scientists believe that this warming is part of the earth's natural warming and colling cycles.
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How have human activities contributed to the greenhouse effect?
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Green house gases are released by the burning of coal and petroleum. Greenhouse gases trap some solar energy.
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What are the two most significant factors that are used to define climate types?
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Temperature and precipitation
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Provide a brief description of each of the following climate types and indicate where each is found:
F. Marine West Coast G. Humid Subtropical H. Humid Continental I. Subartic J. Tundra K. Ice Cap L. Highlands: |
F. Marine West Coast: Located close to the ocean; West Coast of U.S. and Canada. Western Europe frequently cloudy, foggy, and damp.
G. Humid Subtropical: Lond periods of summer heat and humidity found on the east coast of continents often suject to hurricanes in late summer and autumn. SE parts of U.S. Large areas of China. H. Humid Continental: A great variety in temperature and precipitation found in mid-latitude interiors of N. Hemisphere continents. I. Subartic: Huge temperature variations between summer and winter. Summers are short and cool, winters are always very cold. J. Tundra: Very little precipitation (usually less than 15 inches a year). N. Hemisphere has permafrost. K. Ice Cap: Snow, ice, permanently freezing temperatures so cold it rarely snows. (sometimes called polar deserts) L. Highlands: Varies with _________ elevation... other topography, and continental location _______ of south. |
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Why are soil regions important in determining the types of human activities that take place in particular areas?
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the type of soil determines the type of vegetation that will be supported, which in turn determines the human activities that may take place there.
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What is an exosystem or biome?
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An interdependent community of plants and animals.
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Describe the categories into which forestlands are divided.
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Broadleaf - deciduous (rain forest)
Needleleaf - aka coniferous - N. Regions of North America, Asia, and Europe. |
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What is difference between a savanna and a steppe
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Savana: Flat, grassy, mostly treeless plains - tropical.
Steppe: Term used in N. Hemisphere to refer to temperate grasslands. |
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What are some other names for steppe?
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Prairie
Pampas |
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How have plants adapted to conditions in...
A. The tundra B. The desert |
A. Tundra: Plants hug the ground.
B. Plants that can conserve water and withstand heat (cacti, sagebrush, etc.) |
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What are some of the ways that humans have adapted to the land or altered it to meet their needs?
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Building dams & irrigation systems, planting food & crops, slashing & burning vegetation.
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Tropical Wet
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Tropical Wet: Always hot. Afternoon rain almost daily. Central and South America / Africa and SW Asia
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Tropical Wet and Dry
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Rainy warmer season in summer and cooler dry season in winter. Found next to tropical wet climates in Africa, South and Central America, and parts of Asia.
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Semiarid
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Semiarid: Not very much precipitation (about 16" per year). Hot summers. Mild to cold winters - found in interior of continents or a zone around deserts contains productive farmlands.
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Desert
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Desert: Less than 10" of rain/year can be hot or cool / cold.
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Mediterranean
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Mediterranean: Dry hot summers, cool and rainy winters (dense populations and rich agricultural activity).
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Marine West Coast
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Marine West Coast: Located close to the ocean; West Coast of U.S. and Canada. Western Europe frequently cloudy, foggy, and damp.
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Marine West Coast
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Marine West Coast: Located close to the ocean; West Coast of U.S. and Canada. Western Europe frequently cloudy, foggy, and damp.
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Humid Subtropical
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Humid Subtropical: Long periods of summer heat and humidity found on the east coast of continents often suject to hurricanes in late summer and autumn. SE parts of U.S. Large areas of China.
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Humid Continental
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Humid Continental: A great variety in temperature and precipitation found in mid-latitude interiors of N. Hemisphere continents.
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Subartic
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Huge temperature variations between summer and winter. Summers are short and cool, winters are always very cold.
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Tundra
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Very little precipitation (usually less than 15 inches a year). N. Hemisphere has permafrost.
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Ice Cap
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Ice Cap: Snow, ice, permanently freezing temperatures so cold it rarely snows. (sometimes called polar deserts)
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Highlands
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Precipitation varies with elevation and other topography, and continental location _______ of south. ???
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Highland
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Precipitation varies with elevation. Temperature ranges from cold to cold. Located in high mountains.
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What are the three types of precipitation?
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Convectional: Typical in hot climates, occurs after morning sunshine heats warm moist air. Clouds form in the afternoon and rain falls.
Orographic: Associated with mountain areas, orographic storms drop more rain on the windward side of a mountin and create a rain shadow on the leeward side. Frontal: Mid-latitude frontal storms feature cold dense air masses that push lighter warm air masses upward, causing precipitation to form.` |
