APES Ch 7 Climate & Biomes Vocab Flashcard

Front

Short-term changes in temperature, pressure, humidity, precipitation, sunshine, cloud cover, wind direction, and speed at a specific place and time.

Back

weather

Front

Largest air movement driven by convection (e.g., Hadley, Ferrel, Polar cells).

Back

atmospheric circulation cells

Front

Effect of a mass in a rotating system experiencing a force perpendicular to motion and rotation axis.

Back

Coriolis Effect

Front

Part of large-scale ocean circulation driven by density gradients from heat and salinity fluxes.

Back

thermohaline circulation

Front

Effects of warm/cold sea surface temperatures off the western South America causing climatic changes in tropics/subtropics.

Back

El Nino - Southern Oscillation

Front

Area with low precipitation due to a topographic barrier causing moisture loss on the windward side.

Back

rain shadow effect

Front

Circular ocean current formed by wind patterns and Earth's rotation.

Back

ocean gyre

Front

Wind from the predominant direction at a place or season.

Back

prevailing winds

Front

Air mass forced from low to high elevation over rising terrain.

Back

orographic lifting

Front

Region or climate with mild temps and distinct seasons.

Back

temperate