Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

GEOG 1180 > Chapter 1 > Flashcards

Chapter 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Law of conservation of energy

A

The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be converted to one form to another.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Solar Constant

A

Solar radiation at the top of the Thermosphere (measured in watts per square meter)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

System

A

any set of interrelated components or objects which are connected together to form a working unit or unified whole.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Types of System

A

Open

Closed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Open System

A

A system with inputs and outputs that interacts with the surrounding environment

♣ May gain or lose energy

♣ The output is not the same as the input

input -> process -> output

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Closed System

A

A system that is shut off from the surrounding environment, so that it is entirely self-contained in terms of energy and materials.

♣ no real difference in output/input

♣ no loss of anything.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Example of an open system

A

Photosynthesis

input: radiation from the sun, water, nutrients, co2
process: conversion of the energy and matter into stored chemical energy (plant sugars for example)
output: oxygen into our atmosphere

Another example:

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Equilibrium

A

The system remains balanced over time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Metastable Equilibrium

A

Results from an abrupt change from one state to another

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Steady-state Equilibrium

A

System values fluctuate around a steady average and maintains same operation level.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Dynamic Equilibrium

A

System values fluctuate around a stable average, but exhibits a trend overall.The trend can change over time.

“Thresholds/tipping points”
SyStem jumps to anew stable average condition.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Name the spatial themes

A

there are 5 SPATIAL THEMES

  1. Region
  2. Location
  3. Place
  4. Movement
  5. Human-Earth interaction
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Lithosphere

A

Earth’s crust and upper mantle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Atmosphere

A

thin gaseous veil surrounding the Earth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Hydrosphere

A

Water on Earth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Biosphere

A

Interconnected web that links organisms with their physical environment (flora, fauna, ecosystems)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Who developed the system of diving the earth by latitude and longitude?

A

Ptolemy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Latitude of the Arctic Circle and Antarctic Circle

A

66.5° - 90° N/S

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

International Date Line

A

180°

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Prime Meridian

A

0° (Greenwich, England)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Threshold

A

a moment in which a system can no longer maintain its character, so it lurches to a new operational level, which may not be compatible with previous conditions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Gravity

A
  • caused by movement in the Iron-Rich core
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Great circle

A

Any circle drawn on the globe with its center coinciding with the center of the globe, bisecting the earth into two equal halves.

The equator is a great circle.

The arc of a great circle can be used to measure the shortest distance between any two points on the surface of the Earth.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

One time zone spans how many degrees longitude?

25
Map
A representation, usually on a plane surface, of a region or place on Earth.
26
Scale
A proportion used in determining the dimensional relationship of a representation to that it represents
27
Map Projection
reduction of spherical Earth to a flat surface
28
2-D maps distort one or more
- Distance - Direction - Area - Shape - Proximity
29
Main Types of projections
4 MAIN TYPES - Cylindrical (Mercator) - Planar - Conic - Oval
30
Remote Sensing
The technique of obtaining information from a distance. Acquisition of data about Earth’s surface from a satellite orbiting Earth or from other long distance methods.
31
Active remote sensors
direct a beam of Energy at a surface and analyze the difference in Energy reflected back
32
Passive remote sensors
record energy emitted from a surface (particularly infrared and visible light)
33
Geostationary satellite
- keep pace with the Earth’s orbit 35,400 - | - remaining centred over a single area of the Earth’s surface
34
Orbiting satellite
- orbit around the Earth at differing speeds and orbits
35
Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
a computer system that gathers, stores, and analyzes geographic information, and displays it on demand.
36
Importance of GIS
helps geographers to monitor and calculate whether relationships between objects on a map are significant or merely coincidental
37
Geography
The study of interdependence and relationships among geographic areas, natural systems, processes, society and cultural activities over space.
38
Five themes of geographic education are
Location Place Movement Regions Human-Earth Interactions
39
Earth's 4 spheres
Atmosphere Lithosphere Hydrosphere Biosphere
40
Geography (Leonard tang)
Geography is the study of how, where and why things are organized in space through time.
40
Physical geography
``` Landscape ecology Biogeography Hydrology Geomorphology Meteorology Climatology Glaciologist oceanography Soils ```
41
Earth Systems Concepts
SYSTEMS THEORY SYSTEM FEEDBACK SHSTEM EQUILIBRIUM
42
Example of a positive feedback loop
The Arctic sea ice albedo positive feedback loop.
43
4 criteria of a system
A set of interconnected elements Boundaries exist No randomness Operates within acceptable limits
44
Types of scales
Written Scale Representative Fraction Graphic Scale
45
Written scale example
1 centimetre equals 5 kilometres
46
Representative fraction example
1:250,000 or 1/250,000 (no units)
47
Altering scale affects:
Area covered | Detail shown
48
Latitude
Angular distance north or south of the equator. Parallel to the equator?? ?????
49
Longitude
Angular distance east or west of prime meridian ???
50
Cylindrical Projection
Piece of paper, wrapped around earth, becomes a cylinder - Countries along the equator will be more accurate - Distortion at the poles
51
Cylindrical Projection
Piece of paper, wrapped around earth, becomes a cylinder - Countries along the equator will be more accurate - Distortion at the poles (things appear bigger) Standard line along the equator Mercator projection..
52
Standard Line
Where the point of contact is with the piece of paper in the projection.
53
Planar Projection
Standard 'point' at a pole.
54
Conic Projection
Standard line across the north america.
55
Small Circle
??
56
Solar wind
Clouds of electrically charged particles.
57
Energy from the sun
Electromagnetic | Solar Wind

GEOG 1180 (12 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions