Help
Options
Didn't know it?
click below
click below
Knew it?
click below
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
retry
shuffle
restart
0:00
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Katja Rincon EES 3.5
Study Stack 3.5
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Temperature | A measure of the average kinetic energy of molecules in the air, indicating how hot or cold it is. It determines the density and pressure of air masses. |
| Humidity | The amount of water vapor present in the air, representing moisture content. High humidity means more water vapor, which is essential for cloud formation and precipitation. |
| Circulation | The large-scale movement of air (atmospheric) or water (oceanic) that redistributes heat around the Earth. It acts as a global heat engine driven by solar energy. |
| Global winds | Major belts of air (trade winds, westerlies, polar easterlies) that move consistently across the planet. They are driven by uneven solar heating and the Earth's rotation. |
| Jet stream | Narrow, fast-moving bands of wind high in the atmosphere that steer weather systems. They exist at the boundaries between hot and cold air masses. |
| Atmosphere | The blanket of gases surrounding Earth, composed primarily of nitrogen and oxygen. It regulates temperature, protects life, and creates weather. |
| Ocean | The vast body of saltwater that covers most of the Earth's surface. It absorbs immense amounts of solar heat, regulating global climate. |
| Air mass | A huge volume of air with relatively uniform temperature and moisture throughout. It takes on the characteristics of the surface it forms over. |
| Cold front | The leading edge of a cooler, denser air mass replacing a warmer one. It usually causes rapid weather changes, such as strong winds and storms. |
| Warm front | The leading edge of a warmer, less dense air mass replacing a cooler one. It typically brings gradual, widespread precipitation and lasting cloud cover. |
| Precipitation | Any form of water—liquid or solid—that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface. Examples include rain, snow, sleet, and hail. |
| Temperature gradient | The change in temperature over a specific distance or area. A steep gradient, where cold and warm air meet, often drives intense weather systems. |
| Hurricane | A powerful, rotating tropical storm system with sustained winds of at least 74 mph. It forms over warm ocean waters and brings heavy rain and storm surges. |
| Thunder storm | A local storm produced by convective clouds, characterized by lightning and thunder. They are often accompanied by strong winds, heavy rain, or hail. |
| Convection | The transfer of heat by the vertical movement of fluids (air or water). Warm air/water rises, while colder, denser air/water sinks. |
| Conduction | The transfer of heat through direct contact between surfaces. It occurs when the ground heats the air immediately above it. |
| Radiation | The transfer of energy via electromagnetic waves, such as sunlight reaching the Earth. It is the primary way the Sun warms the planet. |
| Pacific Ocean | The largest and deepest ocean on Earth, heavily influencing global climate patterns. It is the primary basin for El Niño and La Niña developments. |
| Trade winds/easterlies | Consistent winds blowing from east to west in the tropical regions (near the equator). They drive ocean currents and are crucial for sailors. |
| Westerlies | Prevailing winds that blow from west to east in the middle latitudes. They act as the primary steering mechanism for weather systems in the temperate zones. |
| Global impacts | Widespread effects on climate and weather caused by interconnected systems like ocean currents and atmospheric circulation. Examples include drought or increased storminess worldwide. |
| El Niño | A climate pattern involving the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern Pacific. It causes global shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns. |
| La Niña | A climate pattern involving the unusual cooling of surface waters in the eastern Pacific. It often brings opposite impacts to El Niño, such as colder winters in some regions. |
| Warm ocean current | A stream of water that transports warm water from the equator toward the poles. It raises the temperature of nearby coastal air. |
| Gulf Stream | A powerful, warm Atlantic ocean current flowing from the Gulf of Mexico up the US East Coast. It significantly warms the climate of Western Europe. |
| Coastal regions | Areas of land bordering an ocean or sea. Their climate is moderated by the ocean, leading to milder temperatures and higher humidity. |
| Oceanic Conveyor Belt | A global, slow-moving system of deep-ocean circulation driven by temperature and salinity. It circulates heat and nutrients around the world |
| Coriolis effect | The deflection of moving air or water to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and left in the Southern Hemisphere, caused by Earth's rotation. It dictates the spin of storms and direction of winds. |
| Heat | A form of energy associated with the motion of atoms and molecules. It is unevenly distributed across Earth, driving all weather and climate. |
| Wind belts | The consistent, global zones of wind created by atmospheric circulation cells. They include the trade winds, westerlies, and polar easterlies. |
| Equator | The imaginary line at 0° latitude that receives the most direct sunlight. It is the warmest region and acts as the starting point for heat redistribution. |
| Poles | The northern and southern ends of Earth's axis, which receive the least direct sunlight. They are the cold "sinks" for global circulation. |
| Ocean gyres | Large, circular systems of ocean surface currents driven by global wind patterns. They redistribute warm water from the equator to higher latitudes. |
| Thermohaline circulation | The part of ocean circulation driven by differences in density, which are controlled by temperature ("thermo") and salinity ("haline"). It drives the deep-ocean conveyor belt. |
| Surface temperatures | The temperature of the top layer of the ocean or land. These temperatures drive atmospheric heating and the formation of storms. |
| Deep currents | Dense, cold, and salty water that moves slowly along the ocean floor. They are part of the deep-ocean conveyor belt and connect to surface currents. |
| Regional climate | The long-term, typical weather patterns of a specific, large area. It is determined by latitude, altitude, and proximity to oceans. |
| Climate zones | Regions classified by temperature and moisture. They range from hot/wet (Maritime Tropical) to cold/dry (Continental Arctic). |
| Seasons | Periodic changes in weather caused by the tilt of Earth's axis. This causes varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year. |
| Sea breeze | A local wind that blows from the ocean toward the land during the day. It is caused by the land heating faster than the water. |
| Coastal fog | A low-lying cloud bank that forms when warm, moist air moves over a cold ocean current or cold land. It is common in coastal regions. |
| Local climate | The specific climate conditions of a small area, such as a city or valley. It is heavily influenced by local geography, such as mountains or coastlines. |
| Moisture content | The amount of water vapor, rain, or humidity in the air. It determines the potential for clouds and precipitation. |
| Land-sea breezes | A daily cycle of winds caused by the temperature difference between land and water. Land breezes occur at night, sea breezes during the day. |
| Hadley Cells | Large, atmospheric circulation cells in the tropics. They move warm air from the equator to the subtropics, creating trade winds and deserts. |
| Upwelling | The process where cold, nutrient-rich water rises from the deep ocean to the surface. It often happens along coasts and supports rich fishing grounds. |
| Downwelling | The process where surface water sinks into the deeper ocean. It happens where water accumulates, often pushing nutrients away from the surface. |
| Earth’s rotation | The spinning of the Earth on its axis, which causes day and night. It also creates the Coriolis effect, influencing wind and ocean currents. |
| Maritime Tropical | Warm, humid air masses that originate over tropical oceans, bringing mild temperatures and high moisture. |
| Maritime Polar | Cool, moist air masses that form over high-latitude oceans, causing chilly, damp conditions. |
| Continental Tropical | Hot, dry air masses that originate over arid, landlocked areas, resulting in clear skies and high temperatures. |
| Continental Polar | Cold, dry air masses that form over large, high-latitude landmasses, bringing freezing temperatures and low humidity. |
| Continental Arctic | Extremely cold and dry air masses originating over the Arctic, producing frigid conditions and very little moisture. |
Created by:
Krincon26