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ISS 310 > Exam 2 > Flashcards

Exam 2 Flashcards

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1
Q

radiation (solar radiation)

A

the fuel that drives the atmosphere. Heats earths atmosphere, but mostly heats the earth

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2
Q

angle of incidence

A

angle at which solar radiation strikes a particular place at any point in time.

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3
Q

vernal equinox

A

March 20-21. the perpendicular rays of the sun strike the equator, and the sun is directly overhead. At noon in the N Hemisphere

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4
Q

autumnal equinox

A

September 22-23. the perpendicular rays of the sun strike the equator, and the sun is directly overhead. At noon in the N Hemisphere

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5
Q

Tropic of Cancer

A

23.5 deg N latitude. the intensity of solar radiation is reduced to 92% of the level at the equator.

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6
Q

Tropic of Capricorn

A

23.5 deg S latitude. the intensity of solar radiation is reduced to 92% of the level at the equator.

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7
Q

summer solstice

A

June 20-21. The sun is directly overhead at noon at 23.5 deg N latitude (Tropic of Cancer)

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8
Q

winter solstice

A

December 21-22. When the sun is directly overhead at noon in the N Hemisphere at 23.5 deg S latitude.

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9
Q

short waves (insolation)

A

most insolation is this with wavelengths of .2-5 microns. Sun rays.

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10
Q

long waves (energy)

A

Most of the energy reradiated by Earth

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11
Q

greenhouse effect

A

The heating of the atmosphere. The atmosphere limits the loss of heat, causing temp to rise

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12
Q

convection

A

movement in any liquid, caused when part of the fluid is heated. Heated portion expands and becomes less dense, therefore it rises

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13
Q

advection

A

Horizontal transfer of air. Heat in ocean currents is an example

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14
Q

condensation

A

the conversion of water from vapor to a liquid state

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15
Q

relative humidity

A

the actual water content of the air, expressed as a percentage of how much water the air could hold at a given temp

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16
Q

convectional precipitation

A

air warmer than its surroundings rises, expands, and cools by this expansion

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17
Q

orographic precipitation

A

horizontal winds move air against mountain ranges, forcing air to rise as it passes over the mountains. As it rises, it cools

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18
Q

frontal precipitation

A

forms along a front. air is forced up a boundary between cold and warm air masses

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19
Q

cold front Fig. 2-17a

A

When cold air mass advances against a warmer one. Wedges under warm air and forces it to rise.

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20
Q

warm front Fig 2-17b

A

a warm air mass that advances against a cooler air. Less intense precipitation

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21
Q

warm front map symbol

A

looks like a sun with rounded teeth coming from it

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22
Q

cold front map symbol

A

looks like a sun with sharp teeth coming from it

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23
Q

average atmospheric pressure (mbs)

A

at sea level is 1,013.2 millibars

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24
Q

coriolis effect

A

The deflection of wind (and any other object moving above Earth’s rotating surface)

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25
Fig. 2-22 highs and lows
caused by Earths rotation, deflects wind to the right of its expected path in the Northern Hemisphere. This causes spiraling circulation around high-and-low pressure centers. High (clockwise in N) Low( counter in north)
26
ITCZ
intertropical convergence zone. a zone between the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn where surface winds converge
27
general circulation of atmosphere
patterns vary with seasons. In Jan. the pressure and winds are arranged into broad zones according to latitude. In July, these have moved northward.
28
hurricanes
tropical cyclones with wind velocities exceeding 119 km/hr (74 mph) in North America
29
typhoons
tropical cyclones with wind velocities exceeding 119 km/hr (74 mph) in the North Western Pacific
30
cyclones
tropical cyclones with wind velocities exceeding 119 km/hr (74 mph) in the Indian Ocean and NW Australia
31
El Nino
a circulation change in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean that occurs every few years. The usual cool flow from the S America westward is slowed and sometimes reversed, replaced by a warm water flow from central Pacific eastward
32
tornadoes
formed when energy conditions in the atmosphere are such that extremely intense convection occurs
33
climate
The atmospheric circulation patterns we see on any given day as the result of energy distribution patterns occurring at that time, and these change rapidly
34
vertical climate zones
* Tierra Caliente (70-80F)- Sea level, Bananas, Rice, Sugar Cane, Cotton, Pineapples, and Oil Palms * Tierra Templada (65-75)- 3000ft, Coffee, Citrus Fruit, Field Crops * Tierra Fria (55-65)- 6000ft, Potatoes, Cereals, Apples, Vegetables * Puna (20-55)- 10,000ft, Grazing, Tree Line * Tierra Helada (below 20)- 14,000 ft, Snow Line
35
geomorphology
study of landforms and the processes that create them
36
tectonic plates
pieces of Earths rigid crust that move
37
volcanoes
surface vent where lava emerges. Clustered along tectonic plate boundaries
38
igneous rocks
formed when molten crustal material cools and solidifies
39
sedimentary rocks
result when rocks eroded from higher elevations accumulate at lower elevations.
40
metamorphic rocks
created when rocks are exposed to great pressure and heat, altering them into more compact, crystalline rocks
41
shields
vast areas of the continental crust
42
normal faults
near a divergent plate boundary, rocks break apart because they are stretched
43
weathering
process of breaking rocks into pieces ranging in size from boulders to pebbles, sand grains, and silt down to microscopic clay particles and dissolved solids.
44
glaciers
thick layers of moving ice
45
alpine glaciers
form wherever snow accumulates year after year without melting
46
continental glaciers
over 3 kilometers thick cover vast areas of Greenland and Antarctica
47
moraine
formed from the large amount of material dumped at the end of a glacier
48
outwash plain
a broad, gently sloping plain made from the meltwater leaving the glacier and depositing the debris close to the glacier
49
V shaped valley
In an unglaciated mountainous area caused by a stream
50
U shaped valley
Formed when an alpine glacier flows through a V shaped valley, scouring away the rocks and rounds out the bottom
51
tsunami
an extremely long sea wave created by an underwater earthquake; the wave may travel hundreds of kilometers an hour
52
soil
a dynamic, porous layer of mineral and organic matter at Earths surface. Contains Rocks, Organic matter, dissolved substances, organisms, water from rainfall, and air
53
parent material
Mineral matter such as rocks or transported sediments from which soil is formed
54
soil horizons (O, A, B, C)
O-Organic matter A-Contains waste from burrowing animals, material that has moved down from the O layer. This is the most nutrients for plant life B-Formed from materials that have been moved down from the A layer by water C-parent material
55
oxisols
A deeply weathered, heavily oxidized soil of the humid tropics. Red in color
56
mollisols
Grassland soil of subhumid-semiarid land, dark with plentiful organic material. Important agriculture soil in MW
57
ultisols
red to yellow in color. well weathered soil with clayish B horizon. Found in warm humid climates
58
spodosols
acidic soil formed under coniferous fores, with a light-colored, sandy A horizon and red-brown B horizon in which iron accumulates
59
vertisols
soils with high content of clay minerals that swell and shrink on wetting and drying. Deep cracks open up in the Dry season
60
alfisols
a moderately leached soil of humid subtropical and midlatitude forests, with clayish B horizon
61
histosols
organic soils found in peat bogs and other areas of organic matter accumulation
62
aridisols
dry, desert soil with limited organic matter, limited chemical weathering, and accumulations of soluble minerals
63
soil fertility
ability of a soil to support plant growth by making nutrients available.
64
A
Tropical Climate
65
Af
Humid Tropical, warm, humid, no dry season
66
Aw
Seasonal Humid tropical, warm, humid, dry low-sun season, wet high-sun season
67
B
Dry
68
BW
Desert
69
BS
Semiarid
70
C
Mid Latitude, warm summers, cool winters
71
Cfa
Humid Subtropical, hot summers, no dry season
72
Cfb
Marine West Coast, warm summer, no dry season
73
Cs
Mediterranean, dry, warm summers,and cool, wet winters
74
D
Mid Latitude cold winters
75
Dfa
Humid Continental, hot summer, cold winter, no dry season

ISS 310 (4 decks)

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