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Decribe the difference between the Earth's rotation and its revolution.
The Earth rotates 360 degrees on its 23.5 degree axis daily; it completes an elliptical revolution around the sun every 365 days.
What are the five basic elements of weather?
The five basic elements of weather are: Temperature, Atmospheric Pressure, Humidity, Wind, and Precipitation.
Which latitude zone has consistently warm weather?
The Tropics
Describe the difference between weather and climate.
Weather is a description of the meteorological conditions of a specific place at a specific point in time. Climate, on the other hand, os the overall general type of weather a place has over a longer period of time.
Where do koala's live? What is this relationship an example of?
Koalas generally live in Austrailia unless they are part of a zoo; This relationship is an example of a biome, where specific and distinct plants and animals are found living together - e.g. koalas and eucalyptus trees.
What word do we use to describe the amount of solar energy in the air? Speaking of which, what is another word we can use to describe the air surrounding the Earth?
Temperature is an indicator of the amount of solar energy in the air; When we talk about the air surrounding the Earth, we are generally refering to the atmosphere.
Where does orographic precipitation occur most frquently?
Orographic precipitation occurs most frequently in mountain ranges close to the oceans or large lakes. Large amounts of water enter the air, and prevailing winds drive the water vapor over the mountains.
This zone only recieves a small amount of direct sunlight during the year; most of what it recieves will be very slanted or non-existent.
Polar Regions
What are the 5 major types of climates?
The 5 major types of climates are: Tropical Rainy, Temperate, Cold, Dry, and Varied Highlands.
Which one of these is NOT one of the three basic biomes:
Forests, Grasslands, Wastelands, or Wetlands?
Wetlands (D.) are NOT one of the basic biome categories.
Where is Earth located in our solar system? Approximately how far away is it from our sun?
Earth is the third planet from the sun, and is situated about 93 million miles away.
How might the presence of a gulf alter the weather conditions of a certian area?
The presence of a gulf could increase the moisture in the air (humidity), which often intensifies storms and increases rainfall (precipitation); Warm gulf waters can also exacerbate already severe weather conditions by creating "instabilities" in the weather column, strengthening them to the point they can make landfall, like hurricanes on the coast and tornadoes further inland.
What are the 3 major lines of latitude? Why are they called this?
The three major lines of latitude are: The Equator, The Tropic of Cancer, and the Tropic of Capricorn. These are considered major lines because, in contrast to the other latitude lines, these ones are named.
Different climates can have different temperatures, humidity levels, and atmpospheric pressures. All of these can alter how quickly water boils, evaporates, and condensates. What do we call that point where water vapor begins condensation?
The point at which water vapor condenses back into liquid water is called it's dew point.
Which element of weather generally determines what kind of vegetation grows in an area, which would be reflected in a map of biotic zones?
Precipitation
What are alternate names for the spring and fall exinoxes?
Vernal (Spring) & Autumnal (Fall)
What phenomenon greatly influences the direction the wind blows? How did we describe it in our warm up from last week?
The Coriolis Effect greatly influences wind direction; In effect, it is as if the land is "yanked" out from under the winds, causing wind to continue to flow straight as the land veers away from it.
Which lattitude zone has distinct seasonal changes, and what are they a result of?
The Temperate Zone recieve mostly direct sunlight, which contributes to alternating winter and summer temperatures.
In your own words, explain the difference between climatology and meteorology.
Climatology is the study of long-tem weather conditions. In contrast, Meteorology has to do with the short term study and modeling of the atmosphere.
Weather:Climate::Meteorology:Climatology
How are climate zones related to latitude zones? What do they effect?
Latitude influences temperature and precipitation, which in turn affects weather patterns, plant and animal life, and the overall climate of a region. Landforms also alter the type of climate an area has.
Describe the difference between a solstice and an equinox using the sentence starter: "A solstice is related to....; This occurs when..." and "An equinox deals with ..... This happens when....".
A solstice is related to sunlight; it is the name given to the longest day of the year (as in the summer solstice) and the shortest day of the year (winter solstice). This occurs when the Earth's equator is at its greatest angular distance from the sun.
An equinox deals with timing; Twice a year, the length of a day and night is approximately equal all over the planet for an instant. This happens when the Earth is halfway through its elliptical orbit.
Given the location and climate of the area, what kind of weather phenomenon contributed to the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald? (see Great Lakes map).
A hurricane level storm, caused by the mixing of the polar easterlies from the higher lattitudes and prevailing westerlies from lower lattitudes.
Does the latitude zone an area is in affect the hydrologic cycle at all?
Yes, latitude significantly affects the hydrologic cycle by influencing temperature, evaporation and dew points, and atmospheric pressure, which in turn control precipitation patterns.
Considering that climates HAVE changed in the past (Post-Flood & 4000 years of alternating heating and cooling), should we be concerned about the causes of climate change, the extent of climate change, and man's possible role in it? Why?
We should be concerned about these questions because we are commanded to think about God's world in light of His Word; We should make decisions that demonstrate wise care and use of the earth's resources, and show love for others by avoiding actions or processes that waste or pollute those resources.
How are meteorology, climatology, and geography related to agriculture?
Weather and climate affect what kind and how much of different types of crops can grow in an area. Geography is also related to how crops grow, as their proximity to bodies of water and access to adequate sunshine determines how well they can grow.