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Geography 104 > Exam 1 > Flashcards

Exam 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Geography

A

The study of spatial relationships, how do things interact over space

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2
Q

Spatial Analysis

A

To explain patterns of distribution of specific features or phenomena across a physical space

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3
Q

How can geography be broadly classified as ?

A

Physical or Cultural (human)

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4
Q

Physical Geography

A

The spatial analysis of a physical components and natural processes that combine to form the environment (Ex: why are deserts where they are??)

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5
Q

Hypothesis

A

Attempts to explain the natural phenomena through experimentation and analysis and may eventually become a theory

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6
Q

Lithosphere

A

Rocks and stuff , litho=stone

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7
Q

Hydrosphere

A

all of the oceans, lakes, streams, ice

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8
Q

Atmosphere

A

the layers of gases surrounding the Earth , atmos=vapor

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9
Q

Biosphere

A

plants, animals

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10
Q

Oblate spheroid

A

basically there Earth is not a perfect sphere, its a bit flatter

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11
Q

Geographic Grid

A

A system used to locate oneself on the Earth’s surface and consists of latitude and longitude

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12
Q

Parallels

A

another name for lines of latitude

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13
Q

Latitude

A

Measure N and S, start at the equator

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14
Q

Longitude

A

Measure E and W, starts at the prime Meridian

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15
Q

Meridians

A

Another name for longitude lines

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16
Q

How do you write coordinates

A

Degrees, minutes, seconds. Start with latitude then go on to longitude.

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17
Q

Maps

A

Geographers greatest tool, models and simplifications of the real world

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18
Q

Great Circles

A

Cut the Earth exactly in half

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19
Q

Small Circles

A

Cut the Earth into unequal pieces

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20
Q

What does it mean that maps are projections”?

A

they take 3-D earth and “flatten” features onto a 2-D map

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21
Q

Projection type: Cylindrical-conformal

A

landmasses maintain their actual shapes

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22
Q

Conic Equivalent

A

Landmasses maintain their actual area

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23
Q

Azimuthal Stereographic

A

Provides a top down view of the poles

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24
Q

Mixed Projections

A

Combines aspects of the 3 main projections to use their advantages while minimizing their drawbacks

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25
Q

Mercator projection

A

Example of a cylindrical conformal. The most famous projection of a map of all time

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26
Q

Scale

A

used to describe how much a map has been reduced from its original size

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27
Q

Contour lines

A

Used on maps to show elevation

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28
Q

Remote Sensing

A

detecting objects on EArth’s surface without physical contact

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29
Q

RADAR

A

sends a signal out in 360 degrees and waits for it to return after bouncing off precipitation

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30
Q

LIDAR

A

sounds out light pulses at regular intervals and tracks how long it takes for them to return

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31
Q

GPS system

A

consists of artificial “stars” (satellites) that can be sued to narrow one’s location on Earth to within a few feet

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32
Q

GIS

A

software that combines data layers into a single map (customers, streets, land usage)

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33
Q

Subsolar Point

A

the point on Earth where incoming solar radiation is the strongest

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34
Q

Plane of Ecliptic

A

the imaginary plate or lane that the earth revolves around the sun

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35
Q

Aphelion

A

When earth is farther from the sun in July

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36
Q

Periphelion

A

Earth

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37
Q

Perihelion

A

Earth is closest to the sun in January

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38
Q

Circle of Illumination

A

The half portion of the earth that the sun is shining on

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39
Q

Axial tilt

A

The earth is constantly tilted 23.5 degrees

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40
Q

Insolation

A

incoming solar radiation

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41
Q

Tropic of Cancer

A

23.5N - where the sub-solar point is during the summer solstice; the farthest north the sub-solar point will migrate

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42
Q

Tropic of Capricorn

A

23.5S- where the sub-solar point is during winter solstice; the farthest south the subsoil point will migrate

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43
Q

Arctic Circle

A

66.5N - Above this line there will be 24 hours of lighting summer and 24 hours of darkness in winter

44
Q

Antarctic Circle

A

66.5S- Below this line there will be 24 hours of light in winter and 24 hours of darkness in summer

45
Q

equinox

A

“equal night”

46
Q

solstice

A

“sun stops”

47
Q

Radiation

A

energy being transmitted on the EM spectrum

48
Q

Shortwave:

A

higher frequency waves have more energy and smaller wavelengths

49
Q

Long waves

A

Lower frequency waves have less energy and larger wavelengths

50
Q

Constant gases

A

exist in the same amount and are spread evenly across the planet

51
Q

Variable gases

A

can very by location and over time

52
Q

Particulates

A

not gas, but small particles of matter suspended in air

53
Q

Water vapor

A

one of the most important gases ( allows precipitation)

54
Q

Greenhouse Gases

A

They block long wave radiation leaving Earth’s surface from reaching space through counter radiation( and is necessary for life as we know it)

55
Q

Ozone

A

blocks a large portion of harmful radiation

56
Q

Albedo

A

How well a surface deflects radiation. high reflectivity= high albedo

57
Q

Latent heat

A

stored in molecular bonds and cannot be measured

58
Q

Conduction

A

transfer from collision of atoms through molecules that are in contact with one another

59
Q

Convection

A

Upward movement of heat that causes mixing and currents like boiling water

60
Q

Radiation

A

Transfer of heat by electromagnetic radiation (travels as rays or waves)

61
Q

Global Radiation Budget

A

the balance between incoming and outgoing radiation

62
Q

air pressure

A

the amount of atmosphere at any given location or elevation

63
Q

Temperature inversions

A

trap pollution near the surface

64
Q

Troposphere

A

layer we live in , most weather occurs in this layer

65
Q

Stratosphere

A

layer above the troposphere, part of the atmosphere that contains the ozone layer

66
Q

Mesosphere

A

3rd layer up, this is the layer where meteors burn up

67
Q

Thermosphere

A

Upper layer of the atmosphere, super hot

68
Q

Surface temperatures

A

are a measure of kinetic energy transferred by collisions

69
Q

atmospheric pressure

A

the weight of the air pushing against the Earth

70
Q

atmospheric pressure system s

A

areas of slightly higher or lower pressure than the planetary average at sea level

71
Q

Lower pressure systems

A

also known as cyclones

72
Q

High pressure systems

A

also known as anticyclones

73
Q

isobar

A

a type of isoline that measures lines of equal pressure

74
Q

pressure gradient force

A

exists between the center of a low pressure system and the center of a high pressure system

75
Q

Coriolis Effect

A

Force created by earth’s rotation causes deflection in wind and water to the right in the northern hemisphere, and the left in the southern

76
Q

the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)

A

is an area with constant low pressure systems circling the planet near the equator

77
Q

subtropical highs

A

around 25-30 latitude a band of consistent high pressure

78
Q

Subpolar Jet

A

distinct changes between the cold polar air and the warm tropical air cause a very fast upper atmospheric wind

79
Q

Zonal Flow

A

The sub polar jet stream moves west to east with few deviations

80
Q

Meridional Flow-

A

the sub polar jet stream moves north/south throughout much of its path

81
Q

Gyres

A

large loops that form from ocean water patterns that help mix large bodies of water

82
Q

El Nino

A

a change in ocean circulation

83
Q

Hydrogen Bonding

A

Positively charged hydrogen atoms bond with negatively charged oxygen atom

84
Q

Adhesion

A

Water molecules easily bond with each other ( create surface tension on water)

85
Q

Cohesion

A

Water molecules “cling” to other surfaces

86
Q

Universal solvent

A

water dissolves many solids, allowing them to move about and become solid again when water evaporates

87
Q

Boiling Point

A

when the vapor pressure int he liquid equals the pressure surrounding the liquid

88
Q

Humidity

A

the measure of the amount of vapor at a given location

89
Q

Maximum Humidity

A

the most water vapor the air can hold before the vapor is forced to condensation

90
Q

Absolute humidity

A

the current amount of water vapor the air is holding

91
Q

Relative Humidity

A

the saturation level of the air determined by the current vapor content divided by the maximum vapor content

92
Q

Dew Point

A

the temperature at which the vapor in the air will condense into water droplets

93
Q

Saturated Air

A

when the air temperature is the same as the dew point, the RH is 100%

94
Q

Unsaturated Air

A

anything less than 100% RH

95
Q

Transpiration

A

plants releasing water from their stomatae into the atmosphere

96
Q

Adiabatic Processes

A

changes in temperature that occur due to variations in air pressure

97
Q

Condensation Nuclei

A

small dust particles that vapor can condense around

98
Q

Cirrus cloud

A

thin and wispy clouds made of ice crystals instead of water droplets

99
Q

Cumuls cloud

A

individual, puffy clouds that have a flat horizontal base

100
Q

Stratus

A

layer like grayish sheets that cover most or all of the sky

101
Q

Fog

A

condensation of vapor at very low alitutudes

102
Q

Advection fog

A

caused when warm air flows

103
Q

Sea fog

A

occurs when cool marine air comes in contact with cold ocean water

104
Q

convectional uplift

A

unequal heating causes parcels of air to rise relative to less heated areas

105
Q

orographic uplift

A

air is forced to rise due to topography

106
Q

convergent uplift

A

the air converging on the center of low pressure rises near the center of the low

107
Q

frontal uplift

A

moving air mass displacing an existing air mass forces parcels of air to rise

Geography 104 (1 decks)

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