Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
48 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Line on a topographic line that indicates an elevation |
Contour line |
|
A hachure usually means... |
there is a depression (hole) |
|
Contour lines close (make a loop) around ... or ... |
Hill or depression |
|
Contour lines make Vs that point ... when they cross a stream. |
Upstream |
|
Do contour lines cross each other? |
No |
|
Most of precipitation in CA falls in the ... part of the state, and in the ... |
Northern, mountains |
|
Major sources of water for California: |
Colorado River, snow in the mountains, rivers in Northern CA |
|
The main source of water for Southern California is... |
Colorado River |
|
What is the main purpose of the California Aqueduct? |
To get fresh water and bring it from Northern California to Southern California |
|
Which industry is the major user of California's fresh water? |
Agriculture |
|
Why is California's Central Valley especially good for agriculture? |
There is a lot of precipitation to water the crops. |
|
Air that is affected by both temperature and salinity is called... |
thermohaline |
|
Why is upwelling important? |
It gets rich in nutrients, fertilizes the surface |
|
River water enters the sea... |
Decreases in density |
|
Water evaporates from the sea... |
Increases in density |
|
The water becomes warmer... |
Decreases in density |
|
In which direction do ocean currents circulate in the Northern Hemisphere? |
Clockwise |
|
What causes vertical (deep) ocean currents? |
Temperature, density, salinity |
|
What causes horizontal (surface) ocean currents? |
Wind |
|
Other than evaporation, how else can water return to the atmosphere? |
Transpiration |
|
What are the 2 most abundant gases in our atmosphere? |
Nitrogen and Oxygen |
|
What are the 2 most gases percentages? |
Nitrogen = 78% Oxygen = 21% |
|
How do clouds affect Earth's temperature in the day? |
The earth is heated by the sun |
|
How do clouds affect Earth's temperature at night? |
Heat is emitted from the earth's surface |
|
In which layer does weather occur? |
Troposphere |
|
Which layer contains most of the earth's ozone? |
Stratosphere |
|
The division of the atmosphere into layers is based on... |
temperature gradient |
|
After earth's original atmosphere was blown away, what was the source of gases for the atmosphere? |
Volcanic eruptions |
|
Where did the free oxygen in our present atmosphere come from? |
photosynthesis |
|
Why is ozone important? |
Protects the earth from harmful UV Rays |
|
Why does Earth's atmosphere get thinner as elevation increases? |
There are fewer molecules of everything present, including oxygen |
|
Direct contact with a hot object is called... |
Conduction |
|
A heated fluid is called... |
Convection |
|
Energy moves across an empty space is called... |
Radiation |
|
Sunlight strikes Earth mainly in form of visible light. In what form does Earth re-radiate this energy? |
Heat |
|
What are the 3 main greenhouse gases? |
Methane, carbon dioxide, water vapor |
|
What causes the Coriolis Effect? |
Earth's rotation |
|
Because of the Coriolis Effect, wind in the Northern Hemisphere is deflected to the ... |
west |
|
Air moves from an area of ... pressure toward an area of ... pressure |
High to Low |
|
Why does high air pressure usually mean good weather? |
The air flows inwards from the surroundings and causing vertical motion. |
|
Which temperature of air, warm or cold, rises? |
Warm |
|
Which temperature of air, warm or cold, sinks? |
Cold |
|
When air rises, does it create an area of high or low pressure? |
Low |
|
A temperature inversion happens when ... air is trapped by ... air above |
cold, warm |
|
What negative impact does does this have? |
Pollution is trapped |
|
What seems to be the first step in the development of an El Nino? |
Trade winds begin to weaken and ocean temperatures become warm. |
|
Why are Santa Ana Winds warm? |
Air is compressed |
|
Why are Santa Ana Winds fast? |
They squeeze through narrow canyons. |