Env Systems Fall Semester Review Part 4/4

Front

What is an El Nino event?

Back

An El Nino event is a climate pattern characterized by the warming of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, which can disrupt normal weather patterns globally.

Front

What is a La Nina event?

Back

A La Nina event is a climate pattern that is the opposite of El Nino, characterized by cooler than average ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific, often leading to increased rainfall in some regions and drought in others.

Front

What are normal conditions in the context of oceanic events?

Back

Normal conditions refer to the typical state of ocean temperatures and atmospheric patterns that do not exhibit the extreme variations seen in El Nino or La Nina events.

Front

How does Earth's distance from the Sun affect seasons?

Back

Earth's distance from the Sun does not cause seasons; instead, seasons are caused by the tilt of Earth's axis. During summer, the hemisphere tilted towards the Sun experiences more direct sunlight.

Front

What happens to air pressure and density as altitude increases?

Back

As altitude increases, both air pressure and density decrease due to the thinning of the atmosphere.

Front

What is the significance of ocean currents in climate?

Back

Ocean currents play a crucial role in regulating climate by distributing heat around the planet, influencing weather patterns and marine ecosystems.

Front

Define the greenhouse effect.

Back

The greenhouse effect is the process by which certain gases in Earth's atmosphere trap heat, preventing it from escaping into space, thus warming the planet.

Front

What is the role of the atmosphere in weather phenomena?

Back

The atmosphere is essential for weather phenomena as it contains the air, moisture, and energy necessary for processes like precipitation, wind, and temperature changes.

Front

Explain the concept of climate change.

Back

Climate change refers to significant and lasting changes in the Earth's climate, primarily due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, leading to global warming.

Front

What is the difference between weather and climate?

Back

Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific place at a specific time, while climate is the long-term average of weather patterns over a significant period.