All flashcards
Flashcard 1: What is the primary source of energy for the Earth's climate system?
Answer: The Sun. Provides 99.97% of Earth's energy through electromagnetic radiation.
Flashcard 2: Which current flows along the eastern coast of the United States?
Answer: The Gulf Stream. Warm Atlantic current moderating eastern US and European climates.
Flashcard 3: What term describes the gradual warming of Earth's surface?
Answer: Global warming. Rising average temperatures due to increased greenhouse gas concentrations.
Flashcard 4: What influences the global distribution of deserts?
Answer: High-pressure systems and descending dry air. Subtropical high-pressure zones create arid conditions around 30° latitude.
Flashcard 5: What is the definition of the Coriolis Effect?
Answer: The deflection of moving objects caused by Earth's rotation. Results from Earth's rotation deflecting moving air and water masses.
Flashcard 6: Identify the effect of volcanic eruptions on climate.
Answer: Temporary cooling due to aerosols reflecting sunlight. Ash and sulfur particles reflect incoming solar radiation back to space.
Flashcard 7: Define the term 'biome'.
Answer: A large ecosystem characterized by specific climate and species. Defined by temperature, precipitation, and characteristic vegetation.
Flashcard 8: Which human activity is the largest source of methane emissions?
Answer: Agriculture, particularly rice paddies and livestock. Anaerobic decomposition in flooded fields and ruminant digestion.
Flashcard 9: Identify the most significant human activity contributing to climate change.
Answer: Burning fossil fuels. Releases stored carbon, increasing atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations.
Flashcard 10: What is a consequence of deforestation on climate?
Answer: Increased carbon dioxide levels and reduced rainfall. Trees absorb CO₂ and release water vapor through transpiration.
Flashcard 11: What is the main driver of ocean currents?
Answer: Wind patterns and differences in water density. Surface winds and density differences from temperature/salinity variations.
Flashcard 12: What is the primary consequence of the El Niño phenomenon?
Answer: Disruption of weather patterns worldwide. Warm Pacific waters alter atmospheric circulation and precipitation patterns.
Flashcard 13: Identify the primary cause of Earth's seasons.
Answer: The tilt of Earth's axis relative to its orbit around the Sun. Earth's 23.5° axial tilt creates varying solar angles throughout the year.
Flashcard 14: State the primary cause of urban heat islands.
Answer: Increased heat absorption due to concrete and asphalt. Dark surfaces absorb more heat than natural vegetation or soil.
Flashcard 15: What influences the global distribution of deserts?
Answer: High-pressure systems and descending dry air. Subtropical high-pressure zones create arid conditions around 30° latitude.
Flashcard 16: Define the term 'permafrost'.
Answer: Ground that remains frozen for at least two consecutive years. Forms in areas where summer thaw doesn't reach subsurface layers.
Flashcard 17: Name the effect that causes Earth's winds to curve.
Answer: The Coriolis Effect. Earth's rotation causes deflection of moving air masses.
Flashcard 18: What is the primary source of natural aerosols in the atmosphere?
Answer: Volcanic eruptions and sea spray. Natural particles suspended in atmosphere affect climate and visibility.
Flashcard 19: Which process is responsible for the natural greenhouse effect?
Answer: Absorption and re-emission of infrared radiation by gases. Gases trap outgoing heat while allowing incoming solar radiation through.
Flashcard 20: Which climate zone experiences the most precipitation?
Answer: Tropical climate zone. Warm air near equator holds more moisture and rises frequently.
Flashcard 21: Identify the type of biome characterized by high rainfall and biodiversity.
Answer: Tropical rainforest. Warm, wet conditions near equator support maximum species diversity.
Flashcard 22: Name the process by which plants convert sunlight into chemical energy.
Answer: Photosynthesis. Converts CO₂ and water into glucose using chlorophyll and sunlight.
Flashcard 23: What is the main cause of acid rain?
Answer: Emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Industrial emissions form acids when combined with atmospheric water.
Flashcard 24: Which process describes the movement of water from the surface to the atmosphere?
Answer: Evaporation. Phase change requiring energy input, cooling the surface below.
Flashcard 25: Identify the main cause of sea level rise in recent decades.
Answer: Melting ice caps and thermal expansion of seawater. Warming causes ice volume loss and water molecules to expand.
Flashcard 26: Define 'weather'.
Answer: The short-term state of the atmosphere in a specific place. Current atmospheric conditions, changes over hours to days.
Flashcard 27: What is the dominant wind pattern in the tropics called?
Answer: Trade winds. Consistent easterly winds between 30°N and 30°S latitudes.
Flashcard 28: What is the primary function of the thermohaline circulation?
Answer: Regulating global climate by ocean heat distribution. Deep ocean circulation driven by temperature and salinity differences.
Flashcard 29: Define 'climate change'.
Answer: Long-term alteration in temperature and typical weather patterns. Distinguishes from natural climate variability by human influence.
Flashcard 30: Identify the main factor that affects the speed of wind.
Answer: The pressure gradient force. Air moves from high to low pressure areas, creating wind velocity.