Climate - an average temperature in a specific region for a long time
Albedo - the amount of sunlight reflected off a surface back into Earth
Hadley Cells - the current in the atmosphere that is between the equator at 30 degrees North and South creates the trade winds
ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone) - the area of Earth that receives excessive amounts of sunlight where Hadley cells converge
Coriolis Effect - the effect caused by the earth's rotation in which deflection of a particular path occurs
Gyres - water circulation that travels clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counter clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere
Upwelling - ocean water currents moving upward towards the surface because of diverging currents
Thermohaline Circulation - the ocean circulation pattern on earth that drives the mixing of surface water and deep water
ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) - the erratic warming of the tropical South Pacific Ocean which disrupts trade winds and rain patterns causing dryer and cooler weather conditions
Rain Shadow - a region that consists of humid winds on the leeward side of a mountain range and precipitation on the windward side
Current Events: How El Niño will change the world's weather in 2014
Link: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jun/11/-sp-el-nino-weather-2014
Summary: The El Nino weather patterns have caused a mysterious chaos around the world in many weather observation facilities. The European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts has proved that there will be a 90% chance of a strike this year, in which impacts include global famines, flood, and even wars. This drastic weather change can have its pros and cons and affect the global atmospheric circulation in small, moderate, or full out blown changes. The weather movements of air is being monitored and oceanographers argue that this year there will be stronger El Nino events. This weather occurs every five years or so and peaks in December. The peak and weather itself causes a huge change in water supplies around the world and becomes devastating for agriculture. Although these weather patterns can negatively impact the world as a whole it still brings many people together by allowing research and planning before hand in order to prevent damage and major impact changes.
Chapter 4: Climates and Biomes
Human Impact- The human impact related to this whole unit includes many of different reasons. To start of the weather El Nino causes can drastically impact the life of many people who have jobs in the agricultural field, but to those who have a job in the field of climate and weather patterns, they benefit a great deal. They are able to work and provide research for all the upcoming weather changes. It also affects people because if there are weather changes and an increase in natural disasters then it could create a major impact in a person's daily life style
Human Impact- The human impact related to this whole unit includes many of different reasons. To start of the weather El Nino causes can drastically impact the life of many people who have jobs in the agricultural field, but to those who have a job in the field of climate and weather patterns, they benefit a great deal. They are able to work and provide research for all the upcoming weather changes. It also affects people because if there are weather changes and an increase in natural disasters then it could create a major impact in a person's daily life style
Environmental Impact- The environmental impact related to this unit occurs mainly in the troposphere. The troposphere is the layer of the earth in which air is located and many things happen such as the flight of planes, clouds, parachuting and other air activities. Weather also changes in this layer and can cause there to be precipitation, or snow/hail. These conditions can affect a particular environment based on the amount of agriculture growth and population
Economic Impact- The economic impact related to this unit includes the effect based on natural disasters. The more natural disasters that occur the more the economy falls because they would be spending money on recovering the damaged areas rather than focusing on growth. Another economic impact would be related to the biomes. Increased weather changes can effect specific biomes and the life that resides in it which in turn would cause the government to take action and try to save the biomes which again would require money.
Government Legislation- The government legislation related to the unit that has been passed includes FEMA. FEMA focuses on addressing aid for the natural disasters that occur and help in taking away as many hardships. Many other things were passed such as the Liability Act, Pollution Prevention Act, and the Pesticide Registration Improvement act of 2003. Also the Clean Air Act of 1970 was passed to regulate many emissions of harmful pollutants. These government legislations were passed to keep in order our environment, its climate, and biomes in which a variety of life survives.
Government Legislation- The government legislation related to the unit that has been passed includes FEMA. FEMA focuses on addressing aid for the natural disasters that occur and help in taking away as many hardships. Many other things were passed such as the Liability Act, Pollution Prevention Act, and the Pesticide Registration Improvement act of 2003. Also the Clean Air Act of 1970 was passed to regulate many emissions of harmful pollutants. These government legislations were passed to keep in order our environment, its climate, and biomes in which a variety of life survives.
