Earth's Spheres/Latitude & Longitude
Insolation & Global Winds
Air Masses
Severe Storms
Ocean Currents & Albedo
100

What are Earth's spheres?

Hydrosphere, Biosphere, Atmosphere, Geosphere

100

What is Insolation?

Insolation is the amount of solar energy received at a location on Earth.

100

What is an Air Mass?

An air mass is a huge body of air that has similar temperature and humidity throughout.

100

What makes weather severe?

  • Damage property
  • Disrupt transportation
  • Injure people
  • Threaten lives
100

What is Albedo?

the percentage of incoming sunlight that a surface reflects

200
What do the prefixes for each sphere mean?

Hydro = Water

Atmos = Air

Bio = Life

Geo = Rock

200
Direct vs Indirect Sunlight 

Direct Sunlight

  • Energy concentrated into a smaller area
  • Greater heating

Indirect Sunlight

  • Energy spread over a larger area
  • Less heating
200

Common types of Air Masses?

  • Temperature:
    • Polar (P): Cold
    • Tropical (T): Warm
  • Humidity:
    • Continental (c): Dry (forms over land)
    • Maritime (m): Moist (forms over water)
200

How does a Thunderstorm form?

  • Warm, moist air rises.
  • Air cools and condenses.
  • Clouds grow vertically.
200

Example of High and Low Albedo

  • High Albedo = More Reflection
  • Low Albedo = More Absorption
300

Runs East to West around Earth

Latitude

300

What is Convection?

Heat Transfer Through Fluid Movement

300

What forms when two air masses meet?

A front

300

What is a Tornado?

A rapidly rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground.

300

When sunlight reaches Earth, some energy is

  • Absorbed
  • Reflected
  • Re-radiated as heat
400

Receives the most direct sunlight throughout the year

Equator

400

Air moves from __________-pressure areas to __________-pressure areas.

High to Low

400

If I was an continental tropical air mass, where would I be and what characteristics would I have?

Warm and dry, over land far from water

400

How do hurricanes gain energy?

Warm ocean water

400

What are Surface Currents?

  • Occur in the upper layer of the ocean.
  • Driven mainly by wind.
  • Influenced by Earth's rotation.
500

Divides Earth into the Eastern Hemisphere and Western Hemisphere

Prime Meridian

500

Hadley Cell vs Coriolis Effect

Hadley Cell: A large convection current that occurs between the Equator and about 30° latitude.

Coriolis Effect: the apparent deflection of moving air caused by Earth's rotation.

500

What is an occluded front and what weather does it bring?

  • Occluded Front: A cold front catches up to a warm front.
    • Weather: Complex weather, often a mix of rain/snow, then clearing.
500

A monsoon is a _______ system, not just heavy ________.

A monsoon is a wind system, not just heavy rain.

500

What are Deep Ocean Currents and what do they create?

  • Cold, salty water is denser and sinks.
  • Warmer water is less dense and remains near the surface.

Thermohaline Circulation

M
e
n
u