Term
| Why are the tropics different temperatures and the poles are cold? |
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Definition
| Different parts of the earth are heated by the sun at different rates |
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Term
| Which region of the World is exposed to the most sunlight? |
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Definition
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Term
| What determines the seasons? |
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Definition
| Earth's titled Axis, It's not straight up and down. |
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Term
| Does the differences between the heat at the Equator and the cooler temperatures at the poles explain the seasons we experience? |
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Definition
| NO. The temperature difference is attributed to LATTITUDE. |
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Term
| Which hemisphere spends a lot more time in the day towards the sun? |
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Definition
| The Northern Hemisphere - this is why we experience "3 months" of summer. |
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Term
| What seasons does the sun aim directly at the equator? |
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Definition
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Term
| What season does the northern Hemisphere tilt TOWARD the sun? |
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Definition
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Term
| What season does the Northen Hemisphere tilt AWAY from the sun? |
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Definition
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Term
| What happens to air as it heats up or cools down? |
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Definition
| A convection current is formed. |
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Term
What direction does air go when it's WARM? Is it less dense or more dense?
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Definition
| Air rises when it is warmed because it has a lower density and lower pressure. |
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Term
| What is the result of the Earth's spherical shape spinning on it's own axis? |
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Definition
the Corlilos Effect
Warm air rises, has a lower density and lower pressure
Cold air sinks down to the poles, has a higher density and higher pressure |
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Term
| What is the Coriolis Effect? |
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Definition
the tendency of free floating objects (anything not attached to the earth ex water, air, airplanes) to turn to the RIGHT no matter what direction the air is going. |
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Term
what is the result of the Coriolis Effect on the atmospheric circulation of the earth? |
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Definition
Because of the corelius effect, the cells get cut down into 3 PARTS. |
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Term
| what 3 parts do the cells of the atmosppheric circulation get cut down to? |
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Definition
Polar Cells
Hadley Cells
Ferrell Cells |
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Term
| What drives the movement of the ocean surface currents |
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Definition
| Winds driven by the uneven heating of the sun and Earth spinning on it's Axis. |
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Term
| what are the two primary types of Wind that drive the oceans currents? |
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Definition
| Westerlies and TradeWinds (easterlies) |
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Term
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Definition
| Winds that form towards the poles above and below the subtropics from West to East. [image] |
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Term
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Definition
winds in Northern Hemisphere move East to West below and above the subtropics
Winds in the Southern Hemisphere move East to West below and above the subtropics
[image] |
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Term
Which way does the wind tend to shift in the Northern Hemisphere due to the Coriolis Effect?
What direction will the water continue to travel? |
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Definition
TO THE RIGHT. Water circulates in a clockwise motion.
The water will continue to move eastward. |
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Term
| Which way does water tend to shift in the Southern Hemisphere due to the Coriolis Effect? What direction will the water continue to travel? |
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Definition
Water shifts to the LEFT and waves circulate in a counterclockwise motion.
The water will move westward. |
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Term
| What is the net transfer of water due to the Coriolis Effect? |
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Definition
| 90 degrees relative to the wind direction. |
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Term
| What is the North Atlantic Gyre? |
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Definition
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Term
| What four forces affect oceanic circulation in the Northern Hemisphere to move to the right and Southern Hemisphere to move to the left? What forms because of this shift? |
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Definition
- Surface Winds
- Sun's heat
- Coriolis Effect
- Gravity
This causes gyres to form, a large movement oceanic currents in the same direction. |
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Term
| Why do Hurricanes veer to the opposite direction than expected in the Northern Hemisphere? |
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Definition
| High-pressure air wants to move to the center of the storm where there's extremely low pressure. All the points surrounding it slightly move to the right which makes the entire system move to the LEFT. |
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Term
| Explain Ekman's transport/motion theory? |
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Definition
| winds create surface currents 45 degrees relative to the wind direction and create a net transport of water of 90 degrees. |
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Term
| What two factors result in Ekman transport? |
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Definition
| Corilolis Effect and frictional forces |
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Term
| Why do trade winds come together towards the center of the Earth? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| Eddies are when currents ith different temperatures or salinities combine but they remain the same form. |
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Term
| What is Langmuir Circulation? |
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Definition
| when wind blows over water, it moves counter clockwise either as a divergent zone [COMING TOGETHER] or a convergent zone [SPREADING APART] |
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Term
| What does the water look like when during a convergence zone? |
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Definition
| water comes together and we see suds and debree |
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Term
| What does the water look like when during a divergence zone? |
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Definition
| water comes to fill the surface and appears to be SMOOTH |
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Term
| What is the basic definition of El Nino? Explain in more depth. |
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Definition
a reversal in current patterns associated with the regions around the equator.
Normally, trade winds move currents EAST TO WEST. During El Nino, trade winds weaken and currents move from WEST TO EAST, resulting in warmer water temperatures in North America.
El Nina is the reverse effect when the trade winds pick back up again, pushing the warmer water back to the WEST warming up China. |
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Term
| What's happening to the Tropics due to climate change? |
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Definition
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Term
| How are surface winds formed on earth? |
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Definition
| Uneven heating of the earth’s surface. |
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