Atmosphere
The atmospheric layer where our weather occurs in
What is the Troposphere?
Define weather
specific atmospheric conditions over short time periods within a small geographic areas
Define climate
describes patterns of atmospheric conditions across large geographic regions over long periods of time
What parts of BC has the highest mean annual precipitation
coastal regions and Vancouver Island
This atmospheric layer hosts most of the atmosphere's ozone
What is the Stratosphere?
layer of cool air occurs beneath a layer of warmer air
what is thermal inversion
What is climate determined by?
patterns of precipitation, temperature, elevation, latitude
Why is the Okanagan so dry?
Mountains cause a rain shadow
This causes the ozone layer to greatly reduce the amount of radiation that reaches the surface
Why doe O3 and O2 absorb or scatter incoming UV radiation?
Define warm front
warm moist air replaces cold dry air
What is climate influenced by
atmospheric and ocean circulation patterns
When moving air meets a mountain barrier, it is forced to rise. It results in clouds and precipitation on the windward side. Air descending the leeward side is much drier.
What is a rain shadow?
What are influenced by tectonic plates?
biome locations
Atmospheric layer that extends from 50 to 85km
What is Mesosphere?
Define cold front
cold dry air displaces warm moist air, wedges below it causing warm air to rise and form clouds
Near the equator, surface air warms, rises, and expands. This process releases moisture, producing heavy rainfalls
what are Hadley cells
Bc is mainly two broad mountainous regions
Rocky/Columbia/Cassiar/Caribou Mountains
and Coast range/cascade
Temperature increase in Thermosphere caused by:
O2 absorbing short wave solar radiation
Name 3 types of air pollutants
Persistent organic pollutants
heavy metals
toxic air pollutants
To what degree is the earth tilted
23.5
Extreme NE BC is in what physiographic region
What are Great Plains