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Cards In This Set
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How does solar radiation vary?
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Solar radiation varies with latitude
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What type of solar radiation do high altitude regions receive?
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High latitudes = low angle of incoming sunlight (the same amount of energy is spread over a larger area)
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What type of solar radiation do equatorial regions receive?
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Equatorial regions = sun is directly overhead, tropics experience the greatest annual input and least seasonal variation in solar radiation
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What causes the Earth's seasons?
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The Earth's tilt causes the seasons Portions directly under sun receive the most radiant energy.
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How does the placement of the sun directly overhead change?
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Placement of the sun directly overhead changes seasonally.Axis of rotation is not perpendicular to orbitSolar nrg changes seasonally for N and S hems.
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What is equinox?
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Equinox is when the sun is directly over the equator, both N and S hems. receive equal solar radiation. Day and night = equal length
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What are the solstices?
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Midway between 2 equinoxes, are summer and winter solstices.Summer solstice = Sun as far North as possible
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What causes heavy rainfall in tropical environments?
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1) Sun heats air at equator2) Air expands and rises3) Hot, moist air cools as it rises4) Cool air = less water vapor5) Water condenses & forms clouds (heavy rainfall)
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What is the Hadley cell?
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Hadley cell is a circulation patternDominates tropical atmosphereAir rises near equator, flows towards N and S poles, descends in the subtropics Circulation is intimately related to the trade winds
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How is the Earth divided into cells?
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Falling air at 30˚ pulls in air from higher latitudesProduces two more cells from 30˚ - 60˚ and 60˚- 90˚N and S poles = 90˚
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What does coriolis effect cause?
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Coriolis effect causes winds to deflect. Force of Earth's rotation - causes water and air to be deflected right in the N hem. and left in the S hem.
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Do air currents in Hadley cell move directly N and S?
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No, air currents don't move directly N and SEquator = NE and SE trade windsTemperate latitudes = Westerlies (winds from West)High latitudes = Polar Easterlies (winds from poles to lower pressure areas)
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What are rain shadows?
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Rain shadows affect regional climateAir is forced up over mountain range, air cools as it rises, rain/snow fall on windward side of mountainCool, dry air flows down other side of mountain, pulls moisture from ground and plantsRain shadow = new, dry areaExample: E. Colorado, W. Kansas
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What are biomes?
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Biomes are regional types of ecosystems characterized by distinctive biological communities.
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What is a terrestrial biome?
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Regional type of ecosystem located on land.
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