Unit 2 Review: Weather and Climate

True

The curvature of the earth means that the same amount of solar radiation has to cover a larger surface area at the poles than at the equator, resulting in a lower angle of incidence at the poles.

<p>The atmosphere can reflect and absorb some of the sun’s radiation, causing less solar radiation to reach the Earth's surface.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Polar Regions</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>-18 degrees Celsius</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The &quot;solar radiation budget&quot; is a measurement of how much of the Sun's energy reaches the Earth's surface.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>About 50% of the Sun's energy reaches the Earth’s surface.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Continental Climate</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Land absorbs heat more quickly, but releases it more quickly compared to water bodies. Water bodies store solar energy as &quot;latent heat&quot; and release it more slowly.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Continental and Maritime climates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Increase humidity and precipitation</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Alaska Current</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An air mass is a large body of air with relatively uniform temperature, pressure, and humidity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Air masses transport their unique temperature, pressure, and moisture characteristics over long distances, influencing the weather patterns of the regions they travel over.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A front is a boundary zone that forms when two different air masses meet.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The degree of difference between the clashing air masses.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The speeds of the air masses.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>When a cold front overtakes a warm front, it results in a rapid drop in temperature, leading to heavy precipitation, gusty winds, and potentially severe thunderstorms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>When a warm front overtakes a cold front, the warm air gradually rises over the cold air, leading to gentle but longer-lasting showers and a gradual rise in temperature.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>As air rises, it expands due to less atmospheric pressure, causing it to cool adiabatically. Conversely, as air descends, it compresses, causing it to warm adiabatically.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Mountains act as barriers to air masses, leading to either isolation of climate or modifying the air mass as it passes over the mountain.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Orographic precipitation occurs when air masses are forced to rise over mountains, causing condensation and precipitation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The dry adiabatic lapse rate (DALR) is the rate at which unsaturated air cools as altitude increases (1°C per 100m), while the wet adiabatic lapse rate (WALR) is the rate at which saturated air cools as altitude increases (0.6°C per 100m).</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>High pressure is an area where air is sinking and pressing down, often associated with clear skies and calm weather.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Isobars connect points of equal atmospheric pressure, just like contour lines connect points of equal elevation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Isobars that are far apart indicate a gentle slope in atmospheric pressure, suggesting a relatively stable air mass and less significant weather changes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Closely spaced isobars indicate a steep pressure gradient, hinting at a strong and rapid movement of air masses, potentially leading to more significant weather changes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A convection current is a circular flow of air driven by temperature differences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The three cells created by convection currents are the Hadley Cell (0° to 30° latitude), the Ferrel Cell (30° to 60° latitude), and the Polar Cell (60° to 90° latitude).</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Deserts are often found at these latitudes because of the descending dry air associated with high-pressure systems in these regions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Low pressure systems are created by a concentration of solar energy, leading to warming, evaporation, and ascending air.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>El Niño is a climate pattern that originates in the Pacific Ocean, characterized by a warming of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. It usually involves a shift in atmospheric pressure that can have major impacts on weather patterns worldwide.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>El Niño can cause severe flooding, major droughts, and can increase the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses like cholera. It can disrupt society by causing migrations, poverty, and even war.</p> Signup and view all the answers