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CLIMATE CONTROLS
Radiation primary driving force for weather the flow of solar energy received by the Earth and atmosphere. Rotation energy flow varies on daily cycles (also on annual cycles revolution). It imposes these cycles on temperature and precipitation. Ocean currents- Nature of underlying surface- albedo Land/water distributionLocation: continental interiors have greater range in temperature than coastal regions Latitude TERM 2
climograph
DEFINITION 2 Climograph is a graphical representation of the basic climatic parameters, that is monthly average temperature and precipitation, at a certain location. TERM 3
who developed the Koppen system
DEFINITION 3 Wladimir Kppen in 1884 TERM 4
Koppen: Class A
DEFINITION 4 Tropical wet climates TERM 5
Koppen: B
DEFINITION 5 Dry Climates
Koppen: C
Mild mid latitude climates mild winters TERM 7
Koppen: D
DEFINITION 7 contiental midlatitude climates severe winter TERM 8
Koppen E-H
DEFINITION 8 Polar climates Higgland climates TERM 9
steppe climate
DEFINITION 9 (BSk and BSh)intermediates between the desert climates (BW) and humid climates TERM 10
Cfa
DEFINITION 10 is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and cool winters. This climate type covers a broad category of climates, and the term "subtropical" may be a misnomer for the winter climate. Significant amounts of precipitation occur in all seasons in most areas. Winter rainfall (and sometimes snowfall) is associated with large storms that the westerlies steer from west to east. Most summer rainfall occurs during thunderstorms and an occasional tropical storm, hurricane or cyclone.
proxy data
Proxy data is data that paleoclimatologists gather from natural recorders of climate variability, e.g., tree rings, ice cores, fossil pollen, ocean sediments, coral and historical data. By analyzing records taken from these and other proxy sources, scientists can extend our understanding of climate far beyond the 140 year instrumental record. TERM 17
theory of glaciation
DEFINITION 17 The theory, developed in the late 1830s and 1840s by Venetz, de Charpentier, and Agassiz, that most of Northern Europe, N. America and the north of Asia, had been covered by ice sheets during a period later termed the Pleistocene. The hypothesis was used to explain erosion, and the subsequent deposition of till or boulder clay, and the extinction of species such as the mammoth. Since that time, glacial theory has been developed to include multiple glaciation, and evidence of much older ice ages. TERM 18
General circulation model
DEFINITION 18 A General Circulation Model (GCM) is a mathematical model of the general circulation of a planetary atmosphere or ocean and based on the Navier-Stokes equations on a rotating sphere with thermodynamic terms for various energy sources (radiation, latent heat). TERM 19
biogeography
DEFINITION 19 The study of how environmental factors affect the locations, distributions, and life processes of plants and animal TERM 20
Ecosystems
DEFINITION 20 The term ecosystem refers to the combined physical and biological components of an environment.
Biomes
Biomes are climatically and geographically defined as similar climatic conditions on the Earth, such as communities of plants, animals, and soil organisms, and are often referred to as ecosystems. TERM 22
evapotranspiration
DEFINITION 22 Evapotranspiration (ET) is a term used to describe the sum of evaporation and plant transpiration from the Earth's land surface to atmosphere. TERM 23
2 controls for vegetation
DEFINITION 23 preci and temperature TERM 24
grassland biome
DEFINITION 24 Grasslands (also called greenswards) are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses (Poaceae) and other herbaceous (non-woody) plants (forbs). TERM 25
desert biome
DEFINITION 25 Desert Biome A desert is a place that gets just a bit of rain every year. Some deserts get almost no rain at all. A desert can be very hot in daytime and cold at night. Some deserts are cold all the time.
soil horizon
A soil horizon is a specific layer in the land area which measures parallel to the soil surface and possesses physical characteristics which differ from the layers above and beneath. TERM 32
eluviation
DEFINITION 32 In geology, eluvium or eluvial deposits are those geological deposits and soils that are derived by in situ weathering or weathering plus gravitational movement or accumulation.
