Latitude & Insolation
This term names the angle at which sunlight strikes Earth; it controls how much solar energy a location receives.
Angle of insolation (angle sunlight strikes Earth).
Name two pieces of data shown on a climograph.
Temperature and precipitation (monthly).
What heat transfer process explains warm air rising from the surface and cooler air sinking?
Convection.
Define prevailing winds in one sentence.
Prevailing winds are the most common wind direction in a region over time.
Explain why regions near the equator are generally warmer than regions near the poles.
Because equator receives sunlight more directly (higher angle) year-round → more concentrated energy.
Which of the six climate types listed in the review is characterized by hot year-round temperatures and very high precipitation?
Tropical.
True or False: Higher temperature means faster-moving molecules.
True — higher temperature corresponds to faster average molecular motion.
What is the windward side of a mountain and how does it affect precipitation?
Windward: side facing incoming winds; air rises, cools, condenses → more precipitation.
How does the tilt of Earth's axis affect seasonal temperature patterns at mid-latitudes?
Tilt changes the hemisphere's orientation to the sun; when tilted toward sun, higher insolation and warmer temps (summer); when tilted away, lower insolation and cooler temps (winter).
Look at a climograph that shows low precipitation through most months and cold winters with a warm summer peak — which climate type from the review best fits that pattern?
Severe (continental) climate (large seasonal temperature range, modest precipitation).
Explain why sand (land) heats and cools faster than water, using the term specific heat.
Water has high specific heat so it requires more energy to change temperature; sand (land) has lower specific heat so it heats and cools faster.
Using the review's South America example, explain why eastern Andes slopes are wet north of 30°S but the pattern reverses further south.
North of 30°S the prevailing winds are SE, so east side of Andes is windward and wet; south of 30°S prevailing winds shift so the west side becomes windward and wetter.
Given two cities: City A at 10°N and City B at 55°N. Which city receives a higher average angle of insolation and why?
City A (10°N) — receives higher average angle of insolation because it is closer to the equator.
A climograph shows monthly temps around 60–85°F year-round and a large precipitation spike in summer months totaling ~47 inches annually. Identify the likely city from the review and its climate type.
Tampa, Florida — Tropical climate (warm year-round, pronounced summer rainfall; ~47 in/yr).
Describe how proximity to a large ocean moderates a coastal city's temperatures through specific heat and heat transfer processes.
Oceans store and release heat slowly (high specific heat), so coastal areas warm more slowly in spring/summer and cool more slowly in fall/winter, moderating temperature extremes.
Describe how ocean currents contribute to climate, and name the main driver of deepwater currents mentioned in the review.
Ocean currents move heat around the globe; deepwater currents are driven mainly by differences in water density from temperature and salinity (thermohaline circulation); review notes cold, salty water sinking near poles as a driver.
Describe how angle of insolation and day length together produce the climates of polar regions (use both concepts in your answer).
Polar regions have low angles of insolation and very short daylight in winter (and long in summer but low-angle), producing low average incoming solar energy and very cold climates.
Given a climograph with Elev 6062 ft, strong seasonal temperature swings (20–70°F) and modest precipitation peaking in summer, name the specific city from the review and justify the climate type label using elevation and latitude.
Cheyenne, Wyoming — Severe/Highland influence: high elevation (6062 ft) and mid/high latitude cause large seasonal temperature swings consistent with severe/continental climates.
Explain why evaporation fog is more likely when water is warmer than the overlying air, and correct the false statement in the review that said otherwise.
Evaporation fog usually forms when water is warmer than the air above it so water evaporates into cooler air and then condenses; the statement in the review that fog is found when water is colder than the air is false.
A city is inland and experiences very hot summers and very cold winters. Using specific heat and other climate factors from the review, write a concise explanation (3–4 sentences) for why the city has a severe (continental) climate.
Inland (landlocked) cities experience larger temperature swings because land has low specific heat so it heats and cools quickly; without nearby oceanic heat storage and moderating winds, summers get very hot and winters very cold, producing a severe continental climate.