global effects of winds
climate, nutrients, pollution, weather
effect of winds on climate
redistributes heat; takes heat from equator and distributes to the poles
nutrients
nitrogen and phosphorus
first and most important role of nutrients
productivity
productivity
biomass production
effect of winds on nutrients
transports nutrients
examples of the effect of winds on nutrients
sand blows off the Sahara Desert to the west carrying a lot of nutrients, increasing productivity in the middle of the ocean; sand blows off the Arabian Peninsula, increasing productivity in the Persian Gulf
examples of pollutants transported by winds
toxic metals, radioactivity, acid deposition, PCBs, DDT
example and source of toxic metal transported by winds
mercury - from burning coal
size of area acid deposition is transported throughout by winds
only moved regionally
why DDT is found in Antarctica
it was moved there by global winds
example of helpful substance transported by winds and what it does
iron - helps plants grow
topic important to the effect of winds on weather
Coriolis Effect
most aerosols in the air of the US are...
high in the atmosphere, from other countries, and dust
overall effect of aerosols and reason
cooling effect - they are bright or light in color
effect of bright surfaces on climate
bright surfaces reflect radiation and cool the climate
effect of dark surfaces on climate
darker surfaces absorb radiation and produce a warming effect
average temperature and precipitation over 30 year period
climate
climate is affected by what
latitude and elevation
an area's short-term atmospheric conditions - typically occurring over hours or days
weather
examples of atmospheric conditions
temperature, pressure, humidity, precipitation, sunshine, cloud cover, wind direction and speed
how pressure effects weather
effects fronts
type of weather associated with low fronts
bad weather (air rises, condenses, and forms precipitation)
type of weather associated with high fronts
lots of sunshine
how wind direction and speed effects weather
temperature (ex: when weather is 59� and rainy, the wind is from the north)
what ocean currents are formed based on
the rotation of the earth, temperature differences in the water, land masses, and density differences
how ocean currents are formed based on the rotation of the earth
Because the earth rotates, circulating air is deflected toward the right in the Northern Hemisphere and toward the left in the Southern Hemisphere, resulting in curved paths. This deflection is called the Coriolis Effect. Global winds drag on the water's
how ocean currents are formed based on temperature and density differences
Saltier and colder water (higher density) starts to sink. Fresher and warmer surface water (lower density) is pulled in to replace the sinking water, which in turn eventually becomes cold and salty (dense) enough to sink, initiating a current.
how ocean currents are formed based on land masses
irregularly shaped continents interrupt ocean currents and cause them to flow clockwise in roughly circular patterns between the continents in the northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere
currents produced by winds are not usually what
predictable or durable
where there is a current of warm, moist air rising and cool, dry air descending
convection cell
where can convection currents occur
air, water, and magma
how do convection currents affect our environment
In magma they cause plate tectonics. In water and air, they create water currents and winds and redistribute heat.
a narrow ribbon or current of warm water flowing N from the Gulf of Mexico, along the E coast of the U.S., to an area off the SE coast of Newfoundland, where it becomes the western terminus of the North Atlantic Current
Gulf Stream
Gulf Stream's impact on climate
produces a mild climate in Europe
when air and water are hit by sunlight and UV radiation, what occurs
warm air/water both rise, produce convection currents, etc.
when the sun's rays (UV radiation) hit the equator, what happens
they hit directly, allowing the earth to heat faster
when the sun's rays (UV radiation) hit the poles, what happens
some rays are deflected and other rays are dispersed, diluting the energy's effect (UV is more spread out, so less Infrared is produced and therefore less heat is produced)
which holds more moisture: warm or cold air
warm air
when warm air rises, what happens
it will cool back down, condense, and fall as precipitation
how tropical convection cells work
The intense sunlight at the equator is absorbed by the earth's surface, causing it to give off heat and warm the air above it. The air expands as it warms - becoming less dense - and rises, cooling as it does so. This cooler air moves higher and flows bot
what occurs at the equator (0�) in a tropical convection cell
warm air rises, atmospheric pressure is low, climate is wet (tropical rainforest)
type of habitat between the equator (0�) and 30� N or S in a tropical convection cell
forest
what occurs at 30� N or S in a tropical convection cell
cool air falls, atmospheric pressure is high, climate is dry (desert)
how polar convection cells work
While most of the air that sinks at 30� latitude returns to the equator, some of it flows pole-ward. At about 60� latitude N or S, this air mass meets much colder polar air. The warmer air is forced upward by the colder air, where most of it moves back to
what occurs at 60� N or S in a polar convection cell
air rises, atmospheric pressure is low
what occurs at the poles (90� N or S) in a polar convection cell
atmospheric pressure is high
what is it like in between tropical and polar convection cells
unstable; volatile weather
example of the instability or volatile weather in between tropical and polar convection cells
U.S. has tornados
how the rotation of the earth on its axis causes global winds to bend either clockwise in the northern hemisphere or counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere
Coriolis Effect
what seasonal changes cause winds
rotation of earth on its axis - 23.5� tilt - creates uneven heating and therefore winds
tilt of earth on its axis
23.5�
A lack of moisture on the side of a mountain facing away from prevailing surface winds (leeward side). Warm, moist air in prevailing onshore winds goes up the windward side of the mountain, cools, and condenses, causing precipitation, therefore losing mos
rain shadow effect
the side of a mountain facing away from prevailing surface winds
leeward side
the wind-facing side of a mountain
windward side
examples of the rain shadow effect in the U.S.
deserts are found east of the Rocky Mountains, and we get less snow east of the Appalachian Mountains
temperature of decompressing air
cool
temperature of compressing air
warm
result of water having a high specific heat
it has great stability in temperature - it takes a lot of energy to heat it and a large lack of energy to cool it
during the day air over land heats up faster and then rises, bringing cooler air over the ocean into its place - creating a convection current
sea breeze
at night air over land cools faster, so the warmer air over the ocean rises, bringing cooler air over the land into its place - creating a convection current
land breeze
large atmospheric body with similar features - temperature and moisture
air mass
two features that define an air mass
temperature and moisture
air mass that originates over the ocean
marine air mass
air mass that originates over the land
continental air mass
two types of continental air masses
tropical and polar
air mass that originates in the south, more moisture
tropical air mass
air mass that originates in the north, less moisture
polar air mass
where air masses end up in relation to each other based on temperature
warm air mass ends up on top, cold air mass on bottom, near the ground
where two air masses come in contact with each other - produces storms; there are not storms when the differences between the air masses are not that great
boundary
it forces up warm air mass, causing it to cool and condense, causing precipitation
cold front
it rises up over a mass of cool air
warm front
rising air masses cause what
precipitation
upwelling is created by what
Winds blowing across the ocean surface push water away. Water then rises up from beneath the surface to replace the water that was pushed away.
in Pacific North and South America winds blow in what direction
east to west
Cold, nutrient-rich water travels west to east then rises, causing what
an increase in productivity
easterly winds decrease/cease, Pacific Coast's waters warm, upwelling stops, productivity drops
El Ni�o
causes west coast drought
La Ni�a
variations of the climate within a given area, usually influenced by hills, hollows, structures, or proximity to bodies of water. One differs significantly from the general climate of a region.
microclimate
example of a microclimate
if you're in a hilly area, the air is colder in the valleys and warmer at the tops of the hills
example of something that can create microclimates
mountains
as you increase in elevation, it's the same thing as what
increasing in latitude
example of how mountains can create microclimates
in Wyoming when you ascend a mountain, you can start out in a coniferous forest and end up in an alpine environment
two of the tallest mountains in Virginia
Mount Rogers and Whitetop
height range of the tallest mountains in Virginia
5600-5700 foot range
biomes you could encounter as you ascend a mountain
tropical rainforest, deciduous forest, arboreal forest, polar/arctic grassland, ice (complete lack of vegetation due to erosion and winds)
what side of Virginia mountains does the sun generally pass by
the southern side
southern side of Virginia mountains
a little warmer and dryer
northern side of Virginia mountains
a little cooler and wetter (is more like a boreal forest)
what is the warmest and driest side of a mountain in Virginia
southwest side
plants usually found on mountains in Virginia
hemlock, laurel, mosses
urban areas are warmer because bricks, concrete, asphalt, and other building materials absorb more heat, and they slowly release it, and urban areas lack vegetation (trees) - as water is evaporated from trees it causes cooling
heat island effect
when water is evaporated from plants
evapotranspiration
large terrestrial regions characterized by similar climate, soil, plants, and animals
biomes
what determines whether an area of the earth's surface is tropical, temperate, or polar
temperature and precipitation
what are temperature and precipitation affected by
both latitude and altitude
how much rain do deserts recieve
less than 10 in a year
biomes in the eastern U.S. (and some Canada) from south to north
coniferous forest, temperate deciduous forest, coniferous forest
biomes in the U.S. from the Midwest and westward
temperate grassland (known as the bread basket of the world), coniferous forest with areas of polar and high-mountain ice (northwest), desert (southwest)
what determines whether an area of the earth's surface is desert, grassland, or forest
precipitation
areas where evaporation exceeds precipitation, < 25 cm/year
desert
where do deserts commonly occur geographically
between 30N and 30S latitude, interior continental areas, leeward side of mountains
what climate zones have deserts
tropical, temperate, polar
hot regions year round, barren sand dunes
tropical deserts
tropical desert example
Sahara
cooler winters, more precipitation, wide spread vegetation
temperate deserts
temperate desert examples
Arizona, deserts with cactuses
cold winters, warm summers, sparse vegetation
polar deserts
cold desert example
Gobi in China
are deserts productive
no
do deserts have low or high resilience
low resilience
why do deserts have low resilience
low productivity and little erosion from water
ability of an ecosystem to recover from a perturbation (disturbance)
resilience
disturbance
perturbation
typical human impacts on deserts
urbanization; graze livestock; offroad vehicle use; military operations; solar farms
in the west when you graze your cattle on range land, is it natural
yes
how do graze livestock impact deserts
cause a lack of biodiversity because cattle prefer certain vegetation
does offroad vehicle use have as big of an impact on deserts as grazing
no
mostly continental interior regions with insufficient precipitation to support trees (10-30 inches per year)
grasslands
grasslands have frequent what
fires
grasslands are what kind of systems
fire dependent systems
systems where a periodic natural fire is beneficial
fire dependent systems
frequent fires do what for grasslands
release nutrients which increases productivity and remove invasive species that compete with the grasses
what maintains grasslands besides fires
herbivores
example of an herbivore that maintains grasslands
bison
what do herbivores have the ability to do by grazing
increase productivity
what the arctic tundra has
permafrost
the soil water which stays frozen throughout the year (surface soil will thaw, but subsoil will not)
permafrost
what does the arctic tundra become like in the summertime
marshy with mosquitoes and migratory birds
grazers of the US's temperate grasslands
bison
top predators of the US's temperate grasslands
wolves
another name for tropical grasslands
savannahs
what are tropical grasslands or savannahs maintained by
grazers and elephants which tear trees down
human impacts on grasslands
agriculture and fossil fuels
the number one human impact on grasslands
agriculture
examples of fossil fuel extraction in grasslands
oil wells, strip mining of coal, in Canada - strip mining for tar sands
shrubland
chaparral
climate of chaparral
Mediterranean climate - mild climate and temperatures
where chaparral is located
in the Mediterranean and Califorinia
summers in chaparral
on the warm side and dry
winters in chaparral
mild, but rainy
chaparral is what (in relation to what it is maintained by)
fire dependent
chaparral is naturally maintained by what in addition to fires
mud slides
examples of fire dependent species
California Redwoods, Atlantic White Cedar (East Coast - New England to Florida), Lodge Pole Pines
a lot of fire dependent systems, especially conifers, require fire for what
regeneration
how fire allows species in fire dependent systems to regenerate
sap binds cone shut, heat causes sap to melt, cones pop open, releasing seeds
Are fires good or bad
there are good AND bad fires
forests require what (in relation to precipitation)
moderate to high annual precipitation
how much rain does Virginia get per year and how is it spread throughout the year
about 40 in per year, evenly spread throughout the year
types of forests
boreal, temperate, tropical
another name for a boreal forest
taiga
forest in the polar regions
boreal forest or taiga
conifers can be found where
in boreal and other forests
why do coniferous evergreens hold onto their leaves
to conserve energy
how does holding onto their leaves conserve energy for coniferous evergreens
they have a short growing season (need sunlight and heat [usually above 60�], so when the opportunity comes for them to photosynthesize, they're ready to begin making energy
coniferous evergreens have what that helps prevent evapotranspiration
a waxy cuticle
what are the conifers of the deep south
Bald Cyprus
How productive, biodiverse, and resilient are deciduous forests
high productivity (more productivity than a boreal forest), lot of biodiversity, very resilient
species found in deciduous forests
oak, hickory, beech, maple, ash, gum
tropical rainforests are in what latitudinal region
equatorial
what are tropical rainforests created by
convection currents, specifically the rising air masses in convection currents
how productive, biodiverse, and stable are tropical rainforests
highly productive (lot of biomass); great biodiversity; stable
limiting factors of tropical rainforests
light and nutrients
what causes accelerated decomposition in tropical rainforests
moisture/precipitation and heat
how are nutrients a limiting factor for tropical rainforests
decomposition happens at such a fast rate in tropical rainforests that as soon as the nutrients are made they are taken by organisms (all the nutrients are stored in the organisms)
location of a tropical rainforest in the US and a type of tree that grows there
Hawaii - Banyan tree
location of temperate rainforests in the US
near San Francisco
characteristics of temperate rainforests
rain and moderate temperatures
where many temperate rainforest are located
the windward (wet) side of mountains
human impacts to forests
agriculture, harvesting for timber and paper, mineral mining, air pollution...acid precipitation or deposition, tree plantations
tree-harvesting industry
silviculture
How acid precipitation or deposition impacts forests
the waxy cuticles of plants are destroyed by acid precipitation, allowing diseases to enter the plants more easily
planting one type of tree
monoculture
when large tracts of land are cleared what must be done for trees to grow back
the land must be replanted
when small tracts of land are cleared what must be done for trees to grow back
the land can be reseeded from trees in the surrounding area
mountains are what kind of ecosytems
diverse
mountains are diverse due to what
elevation and N-S orientation
human impacts on mountains
timber and mineral mining, hydroelectric dams, recreation, air pollution...acid deposition or acid precipitation
mountains are "?
islands of biodiversity
limiting factor for desert
water
limiting factor for arctic tundra
temperature
limiting factor for alpine tundra
temperature
what "alpine" means
mountain
what is alpine tundra
tundra that results from elevation
limiting factor for tropical rainforest floor
light
limiting factor for all of the tropical rainforest
nutrients
limiting factor for temperate deciduous forest
temperature
limiting factor for grasslands
precipitation
limiting factor for middle of the ocean
nutrients
what distinguishes climate zones
temperature
climate zones
tropical, temperate, arctic
what distinguishes biomes
precipitation
biomes
forest, grassland, desert
3 resilient biomes
tropical rainforests, deciduous forests, grasslands
3 non-resilient biomes
deserts, tundra, boreal forests