AP env,
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19 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 monsoon | wind system that influences large climate and reverses direction seasonally |
| la nina | every 4-12 years, cools ocean surface on west |
| hadley cells | vertical and horizontal wind patterns |
| el nino | every 3-7 years, lasts 1 year |
| doldrums | region of ocean near equator with calm winds |
| jet stream | high speed currents, affect local weather |
| polar easterlies | winds below latitude 60 degrees |
| westerly | travel S. and W. in northern hemisphere, west to north in southern hemisphere |
| climate | constant weather patterns after 30 years. ex-avg. temp. and precipitation |
| mesosphere | 80 km above earth's surface, where meteors burn up |
| thermosphere | 110 km above Earth's surface, thinnest gas layer; absorbs solar wind and reflects radio waves |
| stratosphere | top of troposphere, temperature is high b/c of thin ozone |
| dew points | temp. when water vapor condenses to water |
| convection currents | holds lots of moisture |
| coriolis effect | winds in N hemisphere deflect right, south winds deflect left |
| greenhouse effect | traps solar radiation |
| troposphere | 10-20 km, where ALL weather takes place and clouds |
| atmosphere | layer of gas held close to Earth b/c of gravity |
| why Earth unevenly heated | 1) more solar rays hit equator than poles. 2)tilt points away or closer to sun. 3) equator moves quicker than poles. |
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