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32 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
the subpolar point is defined as |
the point on earth's surface where solar rays arrive perpendicular to the surface |
|
the solstice is |
the time of year when the subsolar point is farthest from the equator |
|
the equinox is |
the time of year when the hours of sunlight and darkness are equal everywhere on earth |
|
it is the time of the equinox when |
the point where the subsolar point is directly above the equator |
|
the position of the subsolar point is confined to the latitudes between |
23 1/2 degrees N/S |
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when the subsolar point reaches the tropic of capticorn |
it is summer in the northern hemisphere |
|
incoming radiation from the sun |
is shortwave radiation |
|
earth genereally emits radiation that is |
longer wavelength than the Sun's emissions |
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counter-radiation of longwave energy in Earth's atmosphere is primarily due to |
the presence of water vapor and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere |
|
sensible heat is |
energy in the form of temperature |
|
latent heat is |
energy stored in evaporated water |
|
the average daily temperature is typically lower at Savannah, GA than at Las Cruces, NM because |
more of the energy budget is contributing to latent heating at Savannah |
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the term "continentality" describes |
climate affected by greater temperature ranges |
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an air mass is defined as |
a large body of air having relatively uniform humidity and temperature characteristics |
|
the general rule for air parcel moisture content is |
warmer air can hold more moisture and colder air holds less moisture |
|
a saturated air parcel |
is at 100% relative humidity |
|
relative humidity measures |
the amount of water in the air relative to the potential amount of water the air can hold |
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adiabatic heating or cooling is the result of |
vertical motions in the atmosphere |
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adiabatic cooling is the result of |
decreasing air pressure |
|
the wet adiabatic lapse rate is less than the dry rate because |
latent heat energy is released during condensation (becomes sensible heat) |
|
an air parcel that is rising and cooling at the dry adiabatic lapse rate may eventually cool at the wet adiabatic lapse rate if |
it reaches the dew point temperature |
|
as an air parcel rises up a mountainside |
it cools adiabatically because pressure decreases |
|
what provides the driving energy for atmospheric circulation and gets it moving in the first place |
the energy surplus accumulates in the tropics |
|
Hadley Cell convectional circulation is initiated by |
atmospheric heating near the subsolar point |
|
regions dominated by rising air in the Hadley Cells tend to be |
wet because the rising air enhances precipiation |
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regions dominated by sinking air in the subtropical highs tend to be |
dry most of the year |
|
the westerly winds are created by a combination of |
a combination of the thermal convection, the pressure gradient force, and the coriolis force |
|
climates that have a yearly wet/dry cycles are caused by |
shifting of the hadley cells under the subsolar point |
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the dominance of the asian low over India results in |
summer monsoonal circulation |
|
the monsoon of the southwestern united states commonly originates from |
flow of the Sonoran Jet |
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the energy for hurrican formation comes from |
warm ocean waters |
|
some hurricanes in the western Atlantic Ocean originate as |
thunderstorms over west africa |