Upwelling in the Eastern Pacific

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What are some factors that have caused long-term changes in regional and global climates?

changes in solar energy, variations in Earth’s orbit, meteorite impacts, changes in the distributions of continents and oceans, mountain building, volcanic activity, and meteorite impact

What are some of the effects of climate change?

changes in temperature, clouds, winds, patterns and amounts of precipitation, and the frequency and severity of extreme weather events

What are mass extinctions and how are they related to climate change?

Mass extinctions are episodes in Earth's history where climate change happened too fast for many organisms to survive, leading to the death of vast numbers of species. Climate change driven by nonhuman causes can lead to mass extinctions

How have humans contributed to global change?

Human causes of global change, including climate change, are driving another mass extinction right now Signup and view all the answers

What is upwelling and how does it occur?

Upwelling is the process of cold bottom water rising to the surface in some places. It occurs where prevailing winds push surface water away from a continent, allowing cold bottom water to rise and take its place. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the impact of El Niño/La Niña on weather patterns.

El Niño/La Niña-Southern Oscillation is a cycle that affects weather patterns from the Americas to Australia and Indonesia. It can temporarily increase or decrease rainfall and temperature on the continents. Signup and view all the answers

Why does coastal Northern California have a different climate than Nevada?

Coastal Northern California has a different climate than Nevada due to the presence of the Coast Ranges and the Sierra Nevada. These geographic features cause moist air to be pushed upwards, cool, and condense, resulting in more rainfall and a cooler climate in coastal Northern California compared to Nevada. Signup and view all the answers

What factors have caused long-term changes in global climates?

Changes in solar energy, variations in Earth's orbit, meteorite impacts, changes in the distributions of continents and oceans, mountain building, volcanic activity, and meteorite impact. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between climate change and mass extinctions?

Climate change has caused mass extinctions in Earth's history, where many organisms were unable to adapt and survive. Signup and view all the answers

How does the sun's output of solar energy vary over time?

The sun's output of solar energy varies over time due to Earth's orbit around the sun and the tilt of Earth's axis, which change slowly in cycles of about 100,000 years. Signup and view all the answers

What are some of the effects of climate change?

Climate change involves changes in temperature, clouds, winds, patterns and amounts of precipitation, and the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. Signup and view all the answers

What are some of the factors that shape regional climates?

Regional climates are shaped by latitude, the transport of heat and moisture by winds and ocean currents, and by geographic features such as mountain ranges, large bodies of water, and ocean currents. Signup and view all the answers

Why does coastal Northern California have a different climate than Nevada?

Coastal Northern California has a different climate than Nevada because it is cooled and humidified by cold surface currents and prevailing westerly winds. The moist air first hits the Northern Coast Ranges and then the Sierra Nevada, where it is pushed upwards, cools, and causes moisture to condense and form clouds. This results in more rainfall or snow on the western side of the mountains, making the climate cooler and more moist. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of upwelling in the El Niño/La Niña-Southern Oscillation cycle?

Upwelling plays a role in the El Niño/La Niña-Southern Oscillation cycle by influencing the strength of the upwelling in the eastern Pacific Ocean off the coast of Peru. Changes in the strength of this upwelling are part of the cycle and can affect weather patterns from the Americas to Australia and Indonesia. The upwelling occurs when cold bottom water rises to the surface, replacing the surface water that is pushed away by prevailing winds. These changes in upwelling can temporarily increase or decrease rainfall and temperature on the continents. Signup and view all the answers