OCNG Exam 2

• elliptical


  not a perfect circle, causes the seasons
• plane of the ecliptic


  plane traced by Earth's orbit around the sun
• Earths seasons

  Earths tilt causes the seasons
• Tropics

  23.5 N - 23.5 S, receives the greatest amount of annual solar radiation
• Arctic circle


  Above 66.5 N
• Antarctic Circle


  Below 66.5 S
• High angle of incidence


  concentrated solar radiation at low latitudes
• low angle of incidence


  solar radiation more diffuse at high latitudes
• Albedo


  the proportion of the incident light that is reflected back into space
• why is there a pattern to atmospheric heat

  oceans and atmosphere transfer excess heat from low to high latitudes
• warm air rises


  as it is less dense
• cool air sinks


  As it is more dense than warmer air
• convection cells

  rising and sinking air moving in a circular movement
• wind


  moving air
• Coriolus Effect

  Earth's rotation makes wind curve to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and the left in the Southern hemisphere
• Pycnocline


  abrupt change of density with depth
• Hadley Cell


  0-30 degrees latitude
• Ferrel Cell


  30-60 degrees latitude
• Polar Cell

  60-90 degrees latitude
• subtropical high pressure zones

  30
• polar high pressure zones


  90
• equatorial low pressure zones

  equator
• subpolar low pressure zones

  60
• trade winds


  From subtropical highs to equator
• prevailing westerly wind belts

  from 30-60 degrees latitude
• polar easterly wind belts

  60-90 degrees latitude
• weather


  describes conditions of the atmosphere at a given time or place
• climate


  the long term average of weather
• sea-breeze


  from ocean to land
• land-breeze


  from land to ocean
• Typhoons

  alternate name in North Pacific
• cyclones


  name in Indian Ocean
• Tropical Depression (TD)

  winds less than61 km/hr (38 mph)
• tropical storm


  Winds 61-120 km/hour (38-74 miles/hour)
• hurricane or tropical cyclone

  Winds above 120 km/hour (74 miles/hour)
• how to grow a hurricane

  the ocean temperature must be greater than 25 degrees Celsius
• why are their no hurricanes on the equator

  because their is no Coriolis effect
• Hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin


  June 1 to November 30
• Storm Surge

  increase in shoreline sea level
• Why was Hurricane Harvey different from others

  40+ inches of rain over 4 days