The Gulf Stream & Wind
What is the Gulf Stream?
A warm ocean current that brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico to the west coast of Europe
How much does the temperature drop for every 100 metres you go up a mountain?
0.6°C per 100 metres
In which climate zone does most of Europe lie?
The temperate zone
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What is the difference between the natural greenhouse effect and the enhanced greenhouse effect?
The natural greenhouse effect keeps the Earth warm enough for life
The enhanced greenhouse effect is caused by extra CO₂ from human activity, making the Earth warm up faster than normal
What is the difference between onshore wind and offshore wind?
Onshore wind blows from the sea to the land; offshore wind blows from the land to the sea
What is relief rainfall?
Rain that forms when wet air is pushed upwards against a mountain, cools down, and falls as rain
What are the two main features of a maritime climate?
Rain all year round and mild temperatures (the coldest month is on average above -3°C)
Name two plants that grow in the Mediterranean climate.
Olive trees, palm trees, fig trees or cork oak
What are glacials and interglacials?
Glacials = ice ages are cold periods when glaciers and ice sheets spread across the Earth
Interglacials are the warmer periods in between
What does onshore wind do to temperatures in summer and winter?
In summer it makes it less hot; in winter it makes it less cold so it keeps temperatures mild
What is the difference between the windward side and the leeward side of a mountain?
The windward side faces the wind there wet air rises here and it rains a lot.
The leeward side is sheltered there the air sinks, warms up and it stays dry
How is the Mediterranean climate different from the maritime climate?
It is warmer and has a dry summer instead of rain all year round
What is the taiga, and where in Europe do you find it?
The taiga is a belt of mainly coniferous (needle-leaved) trees, found in the colder parts of the temperate zone close to the polar regions
What are the effects of climate change on the Mediterranean region?
It is getting more dry. There will be more evaporation, less useful rainfall, water shortages and the risk of desertification, which is bad for farming
Why does onshore wind make winters milder in Western Europe?
The wind blows warm air from above the Gulf Stream onto the land, which stops it from getting very cold in winter
Mrs Wijfje starts a hike at 100 m altitude where it is 24°C. The top is at 2500 m. Does she need a jacket?
The difference in height is 2400 m.
2400 ÷ 100 × 0.6 = 14.4°C drop. 24 − 14.4 = 9.6°C at the top
No she is Mrs Wijfje she don't need no jacket
What is a continental climate, and how is it different from a maritime climate?
A continental climate has big temperature differences between summer and winter, with the coldest month averaging below -3°C. The further from the sea, the bigger these differences become!!
What is the tree line, and what landscape do you find above it?
The tree line is where it becomes too cold for trees to grow the warmest month is below 10°C. Above it you find tundra: a treeless landscape with low shrubs, grasses and mosses
What is albedo, and what role does it play during an ice age?
Albedo is how well a surface reflects sunlight. Snow and ice have high albedo
During an ice age, more sunlight is reflected, which makes the Earth cool down even further.
Why are Norwegian ports ice-free in winter, while Swedish ports at the same latitude do freeze?
The Scandinavian mountains block the warm onshore wind. Norway on the west side benefits from the warm sea air, but Sweden on the east side does not so it gets much colder there in winter
What is the difference between a lowland and a highland/plateau?
A lowland is flat land below 500 m
A highland/plateau is flat land above 500 m
Why do the climates in Europe gradually change from west to east? Name the 3 climates you pass through.
The further east you go, the less influence the sea and Gulf Stream have. You go from maritime climate → continental climate (big temperature differences) → tundra climate (warmest month below 10°C)
Why is there no sharp border between the deciduous forest zone and the coniferous forest zone?
Because the climate changes gradually. In between you find mixed forest, where both deciduous and coniferous trees grow together
What is a feedback loop in climate change? Give an example of one that speeds up global warming.
A feedback loop is a process that makes climate change stronger or weaker. An example that speeds up warming: when ice melts, the dark land or sea underneath absorbs more sunlight instead of reflecting it, which causes more warming, which melts more ice and so on