Questions and Answers
How does the heating of land and water differ?
It takes less energy to change the temperature of the land compared to water, meaning land heats and cools more quickly than water.
What is temperature control?
Factors other than latitude that influence temperature, including heating of land and water, altitude, geographic position, cloud cover, and ocean currents.
Why do many clouds reflect a significant amount of sunlight back to space?
Because of their albedo.
What does the term 'albedo' refer to?
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Why do some coastal cities experience a moderation of temperature from water, while others do not?
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List four specific controls of atmospheric temperature: 1. Different heating of land and water, 2. Ocean currents, 3. Altitude and geographic position, 4. _____ and _____
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What is an isotherm?
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Study Notes
Heating of Land and Water
- Land heats and cools more rapidly than water due to lower energy requirements for temperature changes.
- Smaller land areas can reach higher temperatures compared to larger bodies of water.
- This difference in heating impacts the climate across various regions of Earth.
Temperature Control Factors
- Temperature control involves aspects beyond latitude, including land-water heating disparities.
- Influential factors include:
- Altitude
- Geographic position
- Cloud cover
- Ocean currents
Cloud Reflectivity
- Many clouds possess high albedo, allowing them to reflect significant amounts of sunlight back into space.
- High albedo contributes to moderating temperatures on Earth by reducing solar radiation absorption.
Albedo
- Albedo refers to the ability of a surface to reflect light, which significantly influences temperature regulation.
Coastal Temperature Moderation
- Coastal cities experience varying degrees of temperature moderation influenced by:
- Nearby ocean currents
- Wind patterns
- Geographic features such as mountain ranges and deserts
Specific Controls of Atmospheric Temperature
- Key controls include:
- Differential heating of land versus water
- Impact of ocean currents
- Effects of altitude and geographic positioning
- Role of cloud cover and corresponding albedo
Isotherm
- An isotherm is a line on a weather map connecting locations with equal temperatures, providing insight into temperature distribution across regions.
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Description
This quiz explores the differences in temperature control between land and water, as well as other factors influencing temperature. Understand how these elements impact climate in various regions of Earth. Perfect for students studying atmospheric science.
