Causes of Climate
What are the three factors that influence climate?
latitude, mountains, air masses
What are the five MAJOR climate categories?
Tropical, Dry, Mild, Continental, Polar
What is an air mass?
A large mass of air that takes on the characteristics of where it formed.
How do humans contribute to climate change?
Carbon emissions and deforestation
What kind of air mass forms in the far north?
A place's distance from the equator
Who Invented the Climate Classification system?
Wladimir Köppen
What is the boundary between two air masses?
A Front
What is the greenhouse effect?
Gases in the atmosphere trapping heat
How have human activities (Emissions, Deforestation etc) impacted Earth's greenhouse effect?
More Greenhouse gases have been added to the atmosphere, increasing the greenhouse effect
How do mountains impact the surrounding region's climate?
They can block clouds from passing, reducing rain in some areas
What conditions result in a dry climate?
Little rain/humidity, very dry conditions
What kind of air mass forms over the caribbean?
Humid Tropical Air Masses
What short-term climate change event is the result of Earth's tilt?
The Seasons
What causes ice ages?
Changes in Earth's Orbit
A Continental Polar air mass moves further south. How will it affect the climate in its new location?
It will cool down air temperatures in its new location.
Which Major climate group contains Savannahs?
Tropical Climates
Which two air masses colliding results in an occluded front?
Two cold air masses
How can a Volcano impact the climate?
What did Köppen first use to try to group together climates?
Plants!
What is the name for a mountain blocking rain from reaching an area?
The Rainshadow Effect
What climate phenomenon is an Oasis an example of?
A Microclimate
What is the difference between cold and warm fronts?
In a warm front, a warm air mass is moving and collides with a cold air mass. In a cold front it is the opposite.
How does Earth's "Wobble" affect the climate?
It changes when you would expect seasons to occur.
How can La Niña impact the climate in the Americas?
Cools down the air in the region, lowering temperatures.