59 Cards in this Set
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Formation of tropical cyclones
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1. Surface convergence trigger (tropical wave), and little to no wind shear.
2. At least 80 degrees F sea surface temperature
-June 1st- Nov 1st
-Typically no greater than 20 degrees latitude N or S
3. Coriolis effect
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Air Masses
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sections of air with nearly the same temperature and moisture.
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source areas
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the place the air mass forms or attains its characteristics
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Origin of an mT, cT cP mP and A air masses
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cT- continental tropical- least influence in U.S. extremely hot and bring about droughts
mP - martime polar- clouds heavy rain show
mT- martime tropical- warm unstable moisturized air
cP- continental polar- cold and dry
A- artic air masses cold and dry
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What are fronts?
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An air mass is a large body of air that has similar moisture (density) and temperature characteristics. A front is a transition zone between two air masses.
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Cold front
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a warm-cold air boundary with the colder air replacing the warmer. As a cold front moves into an area, the heavier cool air pushes under the lighter warm air that it is replacing. Thewarm air becomes cooler as it rises. If the rising air is humid enough, the water vapor it contains will c…
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Warm front
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A warm front is the boundary between warm and cool (or cold) air when the warm air is replacing the cold air. Warm air at the surface pushes above the cool air mass, making clouds and storms. Warm fronts often bring stormy weather. Warm fronts often form on the east side of low-pressure s…
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Stationary Fronts
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A stationary front is a front that is not moving. Although the frontal boundary does not move, the air masses may move parallel to the boundary. Stationary fronts can also produce significant weather and are often tied to flooding events. Stationary fronts are represented on a weather map…
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Occluded Fronts
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An occluded front forms as the cold air behind the cold front meets the cold air ahead of the warm front. Which ever air mass is the coldest undercuts the other. The boundary between the two cold air masses is called an occluded front. Occluded fronts are represented on weather maps by a …
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midlatitude cyclone
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vast LOW-pressure system that migrates across the continent, pulling air masses into conflict along fronts
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how is a mid latitude cyclone related to cold, warm, and occluded fronts
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http://www.atmos.illinois.edu/~snodgrss/Midlatitude_cyclone.html
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tropical wet climate
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Temp: warm or hot all year
Precipitation: wet all year, may get two "peaks"
location: ITCZ zone
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tropical wet and dry climate
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Temp: warm or hot all year
Precipitation: summer wet, winter dry
Effectively as the ITCZ migrates away from the equator a zone of low pressure and converging air tracks it. At this zone of rising air seasonal rain occurs due to convectional forces. As you can see in the map the location…
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subtropical desert
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25-30 latitude
Dry hot deserts because of the descending part of the hadley cells
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Midlatitude Deserts
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Dry climate with very high temperature ranges and more precipitation than subtropical deserts. Found in Western U.S. and Asia.
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Mediterranean Climate
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climate region on the west coast of continents between 30 and 40 degrees latitude; winters are mild and wet and summers hot and dry.
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Humid Subtropical Climate
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occupies the eastern portion of continents between approx. 20-40 degrees latitude
-hot summers, mild-cold winters, and good precipitation for agriculture
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marine west coast climate
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a climate found on the windward coasts from latitudes 40 to 50 degrees and dominated by maritime air masses; winters are mild and summers are cool
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Humid-Continental Climate
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Climate found inland or on the eastern coast of continents, marked by cold winters, hot summers and some rain throughout the year
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Subarctic Climate
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A climate found north of the humid continental climate and south of the polar climate and characterized by bitterly cold winters and short, cool summers. Highest annual temperature ranges on Earth.
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Polar Climate
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characterized by average temperatures below 10 °C (50 °F) in all twelve months of the year
includes tundra and ice cap climates
causal: energy deficits due to low sun angle, low humidity
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highland climate
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complex pattern of climate conditions associated with mountains; highland climates are characterized by large differences that occur over short distances
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Climograph
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Graph of average temperature and precipitation over 12 month period
Ex. Mediterranean climate hottest during summer months with lowest precipitation during that time
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Biogeography
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The variety of life on Earth, its biological diversity is commonly referred to as biodiversity. The number of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, the enormous diversity of genes in these species, the different ecosystems on the planet, such as deserts, rainforests and coral re…
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different life forms of vegetation
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single tall woody stem: tree
multiple short woody stem: shrub
non-woody: herbaceous
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leaf chracteristics of woody plants
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broadleaf
needleleaf
evergreen
deciduous
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environmental factors influence vegetation and how does each do so
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climate: energy & water
topography: run-off, microclimate (climateon small local scale)
soil:nutrients, availability of water
biotic factors: animals-grazing, plants - competition, allelopathy
disturbance: wildlife, floods, landslides
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Tropical Broadleaf Evergreen Forest
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Near the equator. Tropical RainForest. Forest: Plenty of energy and moisture. Evergreen: no stressful season. Broadleaf: most efficient shape for primary role of leaf.
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Tropical Savanna
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Low latitudes (Tropics), drier portions of tropical savanna climate, lack of moisture, grasses can tolerate moisture limitations, fire is important here (promotes grasses and kills tree species)
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tropical grassland
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not enough rain to grow many trees, common in Africa, Savannah, dominated by grass
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Subtropical desert shrubland
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Above subtropics (25-30 degrees), no enough water for forest or for shrubs t be close together, scattered shrubs (succulence and small leaves), herbaceous annuals
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Temperate broadleaf deciduous forest
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Eastern/Southeastern U.S., forest because enough energy/water, deciduous because of longer winters, broadleaf efficient shape
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Needleleaf Evergreen (Boreal) Forest
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Severe continental climate (45-60° lat.)
Evergreen-durable leaves for long, stressful winter. Exceptions-some hardy deciduous tress, lots of mosses, lichen, herbaceous plants
E.g. Quebec, Canada
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Tundra
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Biome in far north.
Location: High northern latitudes.
Climate: Very cold, harsh, and long winters; 10-25 cm (4-10 in) of precipitation a year.
Soil: Nutrient-poor, permafrost layer a few inches down.
Plants: Grasses, wildflowers, mosses, small shrubs.
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Midlatitude grassland
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Midlatitude grassland
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Midlatitude desert shrubland
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Western U.S., contiguous shrub cover, no room for herbs
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Evergreen sclerophyllous shrubland
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West coast (Mediterranean climate), short growing season in spring
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What are drought-coping characteristics?
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small leaves=decreased water loss
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Chapparral
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A terrestrial biome limited to coastal regions where cold oceans currents circulate offshore, creating mild, rainy winters and long, hot, dry summers; also known as the Mediterranean biome. Chaparral vegetation is adapted to fire.
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how does vegetation of mountain ranges tend to be distributed
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vegetation scarce on southfacing slopes because they are warmer
lower - more vegetation because of drainage
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Contiguous Vegetation
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vegetation that is very close together
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What role does fire play in determining fire types
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Dryer climate with lack of moisture causes plants to burn easily, most plentiful are herbs that can grow back easily/quickly
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Physiological Drought
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Even though there is plenty of water, plants may suffer from drought-like conditions when it isn't available - a climate affect (too cold) to take up water, etc.
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Allelopathy
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Production of a chemical by a plant which inhibits the growth of its neighbors.
Found in pine trees, cactus, walnut trees
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soil profile
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display of soil horizons on the face of a freshly cut vertical exposure through the soil
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Soil horizons
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Layer of soil that differs in texture and color
O horizon: undecomposed plant litter
A horizon: mix of minerals & humus (decomposed organic material
E horizon: has lost something; Chemical elements and/or clay
B horizon: has gained something
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Soil texture
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size of mineral particles
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What are the particle sizes for sand, silt, and clay?
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Sand- 2.00-0.05 nm
Silt- 0.05-0.002 nm
Clay- less than 0.002
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Peds
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Units of structure in a soil horizon. They may be blocky, platey, or angular.
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What can you learn from soil's color
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dark - organic
red - presence of iron oxides
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5 Soil Forming Factors
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CLORPT
Climate
Organisms
Relief (topography)
Parent materials
Time
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Plant litter and Humus
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Litter is leaves, twigs, stalks,and other dead plant material.
Humus is what is left after the litter has decomposed, this is a black or brown gelatinous yet chemically stable organic matter.
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Biocycling
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Plants shed leaves, decomposes to hums, releases nutrients to soil, reused by plants or washed out by leaching
PLANTS RECYCLING NUTRIENTS
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What is CLORPT all about?
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-climate: precipitation and temperature
-organisms: biota: plants, roots, vegetation, organisms living in soil, fauna (worms=mixing)
-relief: topography flat v slope (slopes erode faster than flat area)
-parent material: rock types - soil develops differently depending on parent materi…
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adiabatic processes
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Below dew point = .6/100 m
Above dew point = 1/100 m
Condensation begins when you reach dew point
Dew point changes as you go up the mountain
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Cross-Section: Cold Front
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-narrow band of rising warm air at cold front
-widespread sinking cold air behind cold front
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Cross-Section: Warm Front
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-low clouds-middle clouds-high clouds
-Slope= 1 in 300
-Widespread region of rising warm air ahead of warm front
- Leads to widespread region of precipitation ahead of front
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Under what circumstances is cyclone formation helped by circulation aloft?
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Jet stream is going towards the north pole accelerates and slows down once approaches lower latitudes. This divergence aloft causes dynamic uplift and low pressures at the surface.
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midlatitude cyclone "steered" by circulation aloft
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beginning of cold front and warm front
cold front catches warm front by the acceleration of the jet stream
pulling cold air up creating a vacuum and that dynamic uplift follows it to the warm front
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GEO 155: Exam 2